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WITH rain all around the country for the first time in weeks we will see the word “soft” somewhere in the going description at several racecourse venues, and that is a reason for us punters to be even more cautious than normal.

Bookmakers love to shorten a horse under such circumstances when the going changes dramatically and along with most of them as nervous as a deer in a field of lions, any run on such a horse will see the odds plummet so much so that the “soft” ground animal becomes overbet and their odds no longer reflect their real chance in the race.

Windsor, Goodwood, Newmarket and to a lesser extent, Beverley, are all set to be affected by these betting patterns, so buyer beware!