You read that right. We’ve fixed it. It’s sorted.
Unfortunately, unlike world peace and the environment, horse racing is a harder puzzle to solve. So many moving parts contribute to a sport in turmoil: a declining equine population, prize money bottoming out, talent condensed within too few stables – all make up just a few of the reasons why the state of flux is hard to arrest. These elements can affect us as punters too.
Fortunately, GG has some of the sharpest minds around to focus on the real issues. So I got in touch with all of those who make our site great to think about being Leader Supreme of the BHA for one day only and how they would fix the jumps season. Here are their responses:
Andrew Mount
“I would introduce independent going assessments, rather than rely on the clerk of the course, as the official verdict can be a major work of fiction. Having a roof over some tracks to eliminate the threat of low sun is a less realistic wish!”
Dave Young
“Disclosed dimensions of fences at all tracks.
We often hear the phrase “these fences take some jumping” but it’s beyond me why in this day and age, the actual information isn’t widely available.
In 2018, Haydock was highlighted for having fences “excessively high and stiff”, to the point where even the day after they’d been amended, they were still deemed “quite high and on the stiff side” by a BHA investigator
At that time, the head of media for the BHA Robin Mounsey suggested that “disclosing changes to fence construction could be made mandatory”
I don’t believe anything has changed in terms of the information provided since then, but I do think it should be available and to know of any changes, we need to know how they currently stand in the first place.”
Matty Sutcliffe
“The one thing I would change about the National Hunt programme is the novice rules.
The term ‘novice’ implies a lack of experience. Mister Coffey is still a ‘novice’ despite contesting the Grand National and the Grand Sefton, two stiff tests of jumping. Flying Fortune was eligible for the Persian War despite having eight runs over hurdles and winning three of them.
‘Novice’ races under rules should only be restricted to horses who have run in no more than a certain number of races (five?) in their respective disciplines, as opposed to horses who have not won a race prior to the end of the season.
Alternatively, I’d allow novices to carry a 3lbs allowance in open company, which could result in bigger field sizes in graded races.”
Steve Chambers
“Move Cheltenham To February!
All National Hunt trainers have one eye on the big spring festivals, with Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown all coming in quick succession. We crave the big clashes between the UK & Irish heavyweights and invariably these big bouts take place at Cheltenham,
But, if we moved Cheltenham to mid-February then we could not only get the stars to do battle at Cheltenham, but then there would be another time for a possible ‘Round II’ at Aintree or Punchestown.
Aintree can be a meagre three weeks after Cheltenham at times, which isn’t enough time for some horses to recover, but if the festival is in February then you could have a good six to eight weeks to get your star primed for another crack at Aintree or Punchestown a few weeks after that.”
Joe’s BloGG
It should not be the case that Langer Dan, with form of 6P90, should emerge as a true champion at the biggest meeting of the year with the market giving him one of the most favourable chances of winning.
Yes, as it’s my column, you’re getting mine in a bit more detail.
I want you to try and cast your mind back to the last result in jumps racing which truly tugged at your heartstrings and opened up the tear ducts. I defy you to find one from within the last two years.
If we’re being generous, you could potentially claim the 2023 Mares’ Hurdle was a fitting conclusion to Honeysuckle’s sensational career, while the 2022 Grand National represented an extraordinary climax to Sam Waley-Cohen’s amateur career. The mare was close to transcending the emotional reach of racing beyond its usual followers, especially with Rachael Blackmore aboard, but she was also a horse who went unbeaten for 16 straight races. She was at the very pinnacle of the sport.
Blackmore’s own Grand National triumph in 2021 was a seminal moment, but she achieved it for a trainer who had won basically everything at that season’s Cheltenham Festival and rode in the colours of the sport’s ownership behemoth in JP McManus. It was an underdog moment for breaking the glass ceiling, but it was achieved from the top floor rather than the basement.
Underdogs are what we need more of. It has been mooted as an idea for the National for a while but “win and you’re in” qualifying races should be the case in far more places to give the lower echelons a greater chance of punching upwards.
Giving smaller yards the opportunity to be represented in bigger handicaps, both at the Cheltenham Festival and throughout the season, gives them and their owners greater visibility on the showpiece days. The trickle down effect of this should not be underestimated, evening out the spread of top performers and ensuring that success is rewarded for the entire season rather than those with too low a handicap mark being balloted out.
Cheltenham should be placed and worshipped on a higher pedestal. But it should not be the case that Langer Dan, with form of 6P90, should emerge as a true champion at the biggest meeting of the year with the market giving him one of the most favourable chances of winning.
Getting a horse well-handicapped is an art form arguably even older than winning races when it comes to the jumps. It should not be one that disappears entirely, but for a sport so concerned with optics, every race, including the handicaps, should be about rewarding those who do not just turn up on the day, but week in week out. More qualifiers, more “win and you’re ins”, and the holistic approach will benefit us all.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Breeders’ Cup Day 1 Tips – Four Picks For Friday’s Del Mar Action
Our resident value tipster Matthew Sutcliffe is going Stateside with his latest column, as our star man previews Friday’s action at the Breeders’ Cup. It’s a stunning two days of world class flat racing at Del Mar and here are his best bets for day one of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championship… Published: 9.15am,…
Wed 30 Oct 2024
Classic Cliches – Fascinations & Irritations of this Racing Week
I am an avid listener of the Football Cliches podcast, so to blatantly rip off one of their episode formats, here are some racing fascinations and irritations from the past week and ahead to the weekend.
Fascination – UK vs US Odds at the Breeders Cup
This column will pivot to 100% National Hunt action in the near future, but I can’t help but cast an eye across the pond to a race which could mark history. In the US, the great beast that is City Of Troy is increasingly likely to go off with at least one rival ahead of him in the market.
On these shores, Aidan O’Brien’s current masterpiece has touched lows of 6/4 at times in the build up or the Breeders’ Cup Classic. We know his true ability, yet we do not know how he will handle Del Mar’s dirt surface. As a result, US bookmaker DraftKings have him at 5/2, with leading home hope Fierceness at 3/1, breathing down his mane.
This fascinates primarily because this is far from the only example of the two nations’ odds being, well, at odds with one another. Although the Turf is regularly the domain of European raiders, Far Bridge, flying the flag for the US, is 6/1 with DraftKings, but can be backed at 12/1 over here.
It is not like we cannot watch replays of each horse nowadays to fuel our betting fires. Yet, there still seems to be a patriotism element to betting at the Breeders’ Cup which could open up a genuine betting angle for those on either shore: back the US-trained horse whose price is least representative of that on the American sportsbooks.
One example for readers – while City Of Troy and Fierceness look set for a two-way showdown for favouritism, NEXT, who is unbeaten in seven races at a slightly lower level, is just 8/1 with DraftKings, but is 33/1 over here. Thank me later (or reply on Twitter calling me a fraud).
Irritation – Valgrand’s Handicap Mark
Quite a few judges have made the point about Valgrand receiving a 22lb increase to his handicap mark for waltzing away with the Grade Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle last Friday. It left me questioning what the purpose of a handicapper really is.
Of course, determining a horse’s fair ability is one thing, while the idealised version is that in a five-runner handicap, they want a five-way dead heat. However, how does Valgrand’s new mark of 140 really serve British jumps racing? As field sizes continue to deplete, encouraging trainers to run their charges regularly should be a new consideration for the BHA’s team of handicappers.
Giving Dan Skelton’s horse such a rating will only provide the opposite impetus. Graded assignments only until some big handicaps at the end of the season will now be the measure of Valgrand given he had only previously lived up to a mark of 118. The same yard’s L’Eau Du Sud, who danced every dance in big handicap company last term, including finishing runner-up in the Betfair Hurdle and County Hurdle, is still only rated 138. The novice would have to give him 2lb after just three hurdles starts.
Regardless of how you measure the form, this does no favours for jumps racing. A little leniency to at least give hope for greater field sizes should not be considered untoward.
Tip for the Weekend
Next in the Breeders’ Cup Classic – 33/1 with William Hill
Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
Make sure you’re following us on all our social media platforms to keep up to date with all the latest horse racing news and the best tips.