IT is a myth that racing on artificial surfaces involves a negligible variation in the speed of that surface, and nowhere is that more apparent than at Southwell, where the difference between the fastest and slowest going allowances may be around 75lbs. That is equivalent to the difference in times between soft going and good to firm or between Frankel and a run-of-the-mill handicapper.

The surface at Southwell has been riding fast lately, but the course management has persisted in describing it as “standard”.