'I'd look at where the track is worn, where the cover isn't as lush'

A racecourse is no more than a big field, not markedly different from your lawn, and underneath the well-tended grass the composition of the soil can differ greatly. Some areas drain quickly, some areas retain water like a sponge – and you can't see what's going on. But you can feel your way.

Before almost every race meeting jockeys and trainers can be seen walking the track, testing the going, digging in a heel or a stick to gauge resistance. The official going is well advertised and broadly accurate, but it never hurts to draw your own conclusions, as hugely experienced Flat jockey Steve Drowne explains.

"If there's been significant rain, I would walk the course. Ascertaining the state of the ground is not an exact science – if there's been rain all week but the last 24 hours have been dry, it can be okay on top but as soon as you get under the first couple of inches it's sticky and holding.