Which race will we lose next year ?

[Faugheen_Machine]

Yes based on the experience for most of the horses that enter. I’d be fine with a 4 mile handicap for experienced horses but 4 miles for novices is too much too soon and you’ve only got to look at the number of fallers, fatalities over the past 2 years to see that. I know it’s one of the oldest races with a rich history but I think it’s shouldn’t be a race for novice chasers.

Where do we draw the line though? Is it ok to run novices over 3.5 miles?
The fatalities are mainly due to them jumping fences, perhaps we should stick to hurdles?

I think if we start calling these races cruel then the whole sport is only going in one direction, and it won't be for the better.

[charlie]

Where do we draw the line though? Is it ok to run novices over 3.5 miles?
The fatalities are mainly due to them jumping fences, perhaps we should stick to hurdles?

I think if we start calling these races cruel then the whole sport is only going in one direction, and it won't be for the better.

Very well put.

[Stormez]

I think I’d get rid of the triumph! If you’ve got a 4yo good enough to win a grade 1 then send it to the supreme. They may not have won but all the recent 4yo’s that have ran in it have ran with credit.
And I find the Fred winter a really interesting betting race so would like to keep that!

[The King Pimm]

Where do we draw the line though? Is it ok to run novices over 3.5 miles?
The fatalities are mainly due to them jumping fences, perhaps we should stick to hurdles?

I think if we start calling these races cruel then the whole sport is only going in one direction, and it won't be for the better.

I’m not real interest in getting on the health & safety soap box with this one but I just think in the modern age where horse racing is under constant scrutiny & criticism from many quarters I think the 4 miler is always going to be more vulnerable to nasty falls given the distance, jockey & horse experience and type of course Cheltenham is as it’s undulating and stiff. I love horse racing as a sport but like many contact sports injuries are inevitable and worse still sometimes fatalities. Running often a young NH horse with often less than a years genuine chasing experience over 4 miles at a packed racecourse with some inexperienced jockeys on board will result the chances of horses falling increasing. I don’t care that much but i don’t like the 4 miler as much as the other races

Too answer your question I would limit novice chases to 3 mile. That won’t suit all horses but I think 3 mile for novices is long enough.

That said I don’t watch point to point racing so maybe making statements I’m too inexperienced to make. I appreciate its natural for horses to jump and maybe 4 miles is not too much for young horses? I’m basing it on the professional horse racing I tend to watch.

[Saxon Warrior]

I think that this year is the "last chance saloon" for the amateurs given the way the 4-miler finished last year.

If any if them get stick happy at the end of the Kim Muir or the NHC then one of them will go for sure.

A chase replacing a chase makes great sense.

There are already loads of 3M chases at the meeting. Ultima, Kim Muir, RSA, with the Foxhunters and Gold Cup a little further.

Its up to the amateurs to try their best to save their races this time round.

[Faugheen_Machine]

Too answer your question I would limit novice chases to 3 mile. That won’t suit all horses but I think 3 mile for novices is long enough.

We wouldn't have had Coneygree win the Gold Cup if this was the case and Long Run won a King George and Gold Cup at 6.

The qualifying rules that have been put in place will stop unsuitable horses running in the race and that is fair enough to me.

The only issue I have is that you are calling the race cruel. If it is cruel, then the whole sport is cruel.

[robith]

I wouldn't blink if they binned the Grand Annual, detest it, such an unedifying spectacle. Actually annoyed they moved the Martin Pipe to after it as I could always end my festival early but now I have to still endure it

[charlie]

Personally I would get rid of the bumper. Nobody is really going to care too much if we lose the one flat race at the home of jump racing, and there are plenty of bumpers elsewhere at the DRF, Aintree and Punchestown for owners/trainers to get stuck in.

The one thing I would be strongly against is scrapping a race where there's an inference that said race is viewed/deemed/perceived as more dangerous/negative than others. It's a slippery slope that.

[TC2]

completely echo FM's thoughts here, binning the NH chase would be going down the wrong road completely. i didnt understand the decision to move it to the last race on the first day, when the ground has been churned up. think they'd be better off moving it back to where it was

[archie]

If I was racing's dictator, I'd ban 2yo races on the flat and 3yo races over obstacles. It follows on from that that there would be no Fred Winter. However, in the real world, the Fred Winter was introduced to make the Triumph a little less like a game of chance from the cavalry charge that it used to be. I've seen no such excuse for the Close Bros and see no reason for its existence.

[charlie]

If I was racing's dictator, I'd ban 2yo races on the flat and 3yo races over obstacles. It follows on from that that there would be no Fred Winter. However, in the real world, the Fred Winter was introduced to make the Triumph a little less like a game of chance from the cavalry charge that it used to be. I've seen no such excuse for the Close Bros and see no reason for its existence.

We really should have an 'If I was racing's dictator' thread

[Kevloaf]

So collating all this data, what we really want is a 3 day festival

[Liammet]

So collating all this data, what we really want is a 3 day festival

Loved the 3 day festival Kev
Can just about handle the 4 days
But 5 days, please noooooooo

Some people would watch anything
Mares chase,mares bumper,2.5 mile hurdle
Junior x country,veterans race
Veterans races start at 10 yrs which would mean this year some of the veteran horses would be 2 yrs younger than a horse running in a novice chase

What next ?
A handicap for handicapped horses
A race for gay,transgender and gender neutral horses

Does any of these people go to the festival for the 4 days ?
Personally I come out on the Friday limping ( from both legs )
Arse like a baboon from 4 days of worthingtons in the Istabraq bar
And they want me to do a 5th day

Please STOP

Rant over

[Stormy Antarctic]

Personally I dislike the pertemps final. The whole qualifying system stinks. They’d never lose it though as there are too many qualifying races.

[Lobos]

Can't they get rid of the Champion Hurdle this year please ? At least Honeysuckle would then be 100% certain to run in the Mares !!