Key punting factors to consider when assessing two-year-old races

Punting on juvenile races can be a tricky business for a number of reasons at the best of times, but when racing hopefully returns in Britain next week, and Ireland the week after, it promises to be even harder.

In a normal season, the opening two-year-old contests generally have little to no form to go on. Instead, punters are required to use a different set of skills to try to unravel races. But this will not be a normal season and, given how the start has been truncated, usual practices will likely need adapting.

Starting off a shorter run-up

With a much smaller window between the start of the season, June 1, and Royal Ascot, June 16, trainers will be keen to get a prep run into the juveniles who have been showing up best at home in the hope they can book their ticket for the royal meeting.