ALL-WEATHER racing has without doubt had its critics in the past, but I shudder to think what state the sport would be in now but for the three sand tracks at Wolverhampton, Lingfield, and Southwell over the past few weeks.

Thankfully the area around Southwell has remained clear of foot-and-mouth disease.

And the go-ahead executive have extended today's card to nine races to accommodate the high number of entries from trainers desperate to get a run into their horses.

A couple of the juveniles engaged in the opening Bet Direct Maiden Stakes had a spin at Doncaster last week, including Primarosa (1.40), who lost all chance on that occasion with a tardy start.

In the circumstances the filly did well to finish seventh, especially as jockey Keith Dalgleish was not hard on her once she began to feel the pinch in the closing stages.

Primarosa is sure to improve for the experience, which coupled with her advantageous stands side draw could reward supporters at a decent starting price.

In the later seven-furlong Levy Board Handicap, Diamond Rachael (3.10) makes plenty of appeal.

She's a versatile filly showing solid winning form on both grass and fibresand.

Trainer Norma Macauley had given the selection a two-month break prior to staying on nicely to take fifth spot over six furlongs four days ago, an outing which will hopefully have brought her to concert pitch.

Her Majesty The Queen has a runner, Snow Bunting, in the Tips Online Maiden Stakes at 3.10.

The three-year-old has been gelded since finishing third on his sole start at Newbury last term, a performance that suggested he should find the winners' enclosure before long.

Yesterday's headline horse, Vodka (4.10), bids to win his second race within the space of 24 hours, having done the business at Musselburgh.

He didn't appear to take too much out of himself and his call at the Midlands track fits in neatly with the stable's travel arrangements because Vodka can simply collect the contest en route back to base at Maidstone in Kent.

In the Bet Direct Fillies' Handicap, Gamitas (5.10) possesses bags of scope for improvement.

She is a daughter of Dolphin Street, a sire whose two-year-old crops have generally been a shade disappointing.

My theory is that his offspring need time to mature, exactly the strategy adopted by her shrewd handler Alan Jarvis.

Given time to strengthen up over the winter, Gamitas signalled a first success was imminent when third to Zaheemah last time out.

l Ginger McCain hopes to have riding plans for his two Martell Grand National hopes settled within the next few days.

McCain, who sent out Red Rum to win the National three times, has booked Warren Marston to partner Amberleigh House.

But he is is still on the lookout for a rider for Hanakham, winner of the 1997 Royal & SunAlliance Chase for Ron Hodges. He describes the horse as having ''a super chance''.

McCain said yesterday: ''We haven't got a jockey for Hanakham yet but Warren Marston will ride Amberleigh House.

''I do feel that Hanakham is a class horse with a super chance and we've got to get the right pilot.

''We certainly want to get it sorted out in the next couple of days.''

McCain was denied the chance to gallop his Aintree hopes at Haydock on Saturday.

But he believes they will be ready to do themselves justice a week on Saturday.

He added: ''We've kept banging away at them on the gallops and they are going to go to Liverpool as fit horses.''