Classy Wissahickon leads the way as all-weather campaign heads for the heights

Britain was no place to be in January for anybody with an aversion to snow, wind, rain or practically anything else the British winter routinely throws our way. Add in a virulent dose of equine flu this month and those of us who decided to eschew the sunshine of Dubai or the south of France for a working holiday at home may well already be questioning our own sanity.

One saving grace for the stay-at-home racing fan, however, has been the quality of an all-weather season that is building to what promises to be a thrilling climax on Good Friday, April 19 at Lingfield. All-Weather Championship Finals Day, the culmination of more than 200 fixtures through the autumn and winter, has gained a strong following in its five-year journey, and the sixth running promises to be another nail in the coffin of those 'flat-earthers' who believe high-class racing should be reserved for the turf.

There have been many admirable human achievements since the unveiling of the finals in 2014, and since the beginning of the current term on October 3, but it's by the standard of horses that any equestrian sport must stand or fall, and the 2018-19 campaign has unearthed a number of stars to follow in the footsteps of previous Finals Day winners.