Things we lost in the fog: Chris Cook rues the clues we might have missed in the Boxing Day mist

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In the end, there was a lot to enjoy about the festive racing but we got off to a rocky start with fog blanketing many of our tracks on the day after Christmas. It was a surprisingly widespread phenomenon, affecting Leopardstown as well as Market Rasen (450 miles apart), Aintree as well as Wincanton (225 miles).

If you're into satire, perhaps you got a wry smile out of the fact that so many key form races for the Cheltenham Festival were hidden from view. Perhaps you told yourself: "We'll learn as much from this race as we usually do..."

It was a frustrating time to be watching from home. We sat down in expectation of a feast and found ourselves served only at intervals. 

Screens went completely grey for up to half a minute at a time. Commentators fell silent or attempted witticisms. Cameras panned madly in search of movement. 

It wouldn't have mattered so much back in the 80s; all these horses would have been out again in the next fortnight. But we're in an era now where the good horses have their runs more spaced out. 

Jockeys, trainers and officials on the track at Chepstow on Welsh Grand National DayCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

For quite a few of them, the fleeting glimpse we caught of them last week is all there's going to be until they rock up at Cheltenham, potentially at short prices. We've lost key chances to assess them.

I see some debate on social media about whether races should take place in such circumstances. Is it a spectator sport or not? If it is, why are we running so many quality races and handing out so much prize-money when spectators are struggling to see? Wouldn't it have been better to come back at the weekend and try again? 

Anyway, here's my recap of five important races that were affected. As you'll see, a lot of quality action was marred.

Formby Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

The second running of a race created to replace the Tolworth was no treat for spectators. Runners disappeared into the murk at two points on the Mildmay course, at the start of the back stretch and for the mid-section of the home straight. TV viewers saw a rear view of the runners entering the final straight, thanks to which we got some sort of flavour of how even-money favourite Potters Charm asserted his superiority. Still, it would have been nice to get a clearer view of a horse who is now third-favourite for the Turners at the Cheltenham Festival. 

Potters Charm: won the Formby on Boxing DayCredit: Grossick Racing (racingpost.com/photos)

Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase (Grade 1)

You know it's going well when the commentator says: "They should have cleared the second-last by now..." A large section of Leopardstown's top bend was obscured from TV cameras on St Stephen's Day and the runners were out of sight for about 20 seconds on the first circuit. Their disappearing act was shorter on the last spin round and I feel we got the gist: Stellar Story made at least two serious mistakes, leaving Croke Park and Better Days Ahead to fight it out. There was only a head in it at the line, so this was an absorbing battle. Too bad we weren't able to relish it all the way round.

Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)

There can't have been many races in which the runners spent more time off-camera than on it but that's what happened here. The field was briefly visible as they approached the first turn, then for a short spell in the back straight and again after the home turn. Nothing was seen of the final flight, which was presumably where Nietzsche Has asserted. We caught up with him in time for the final five seconds of the race. Somewhat surprisingly, he's off to stud now, so we don't have to worry about how good he was. Still, it would have been nice for backers of Hot Fuss and Opec to get a clearer idea of where things went wrong for them.

Croke Park: edged stablemate Better Days Ahead in a thrillerCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase

Ach, what a pity for one of our finest handicap chases to be ruined as a spectacle. Even when it's run under a cloudless sky, the Welsh National takes a lot of following, as all those runners jostle for position. This was hopeless and not just for those watching from home; the commentator began by noting that only the final fence could be seen from the stands. "We might see them as they come over fence number four," he added, teasingly. In the end, we had a pretty good sight of them up the final straight. But most of the back straight was a washout on both circuits and there will be lots of people left feeling they never got a run for their money. When they went into the fog, their horse had every chance. By the time they emerged, he was clearly beaten. There's no fun in that game.

William Hill Committed To Top Prices Handicap Chase

Back to Aintree, where the super-dry Ian Bartlett tells us: "The second fence is an open ditch ... which we're not gonna see." The fog had got worse since the Formby and Bartlett's ability to fill air time with no material was put under pressure. "They leap over that one, with Gustavian, hopefully, presumably, still out in front..." We surely all wanted to see more of Fortunate Man, the five-year-old winner who could be a significant talent for years to come. Ikarak, the disappointing second-favourite, apparently made mistakes, but we only know that because his jockey reported it.

Runners at Chepstow on Welsh Grand National dayCredit: Alan Crowhurst (racingpost.com/photos)

Here's hoping we've used up all this season's fog in one week. 

Ten weeks from now, we'll be all excited, trying to sort out winners for the biggest week of our year. "How worried should I be about that favourite?" you'll ask yourself. "Let's have a good look at his last run ... Oh, yeah ... Five minutes of grey."

Read these next:

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Go racing this January: the best racedays to visit - including the all-new Berkshire Winter Million, Festival Trials day at Cheltenham and ladies' day at Uttoxeter 

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