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General Chat

HesTheOne said:
After Kevin Blake’s comments on the mares chase, If you could remove a race or 2 what would you choose?

NHC to be a 150 handicap was a good suggestion I seen, let the strong guns take the BANC route if they are of that quality.

Mares Chase and Hurdle to take place on trials day instead, with the winners taking on the geldings at Cheltenham was a good suggestion too.

scrap the 2.5 mile novice chase and keep the novice chase options for Cheltenham 2m or 3m. Arkle and BANC would benefit tremendously for it.
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Bumper, Turners, NH chase, Mares novice, Mares chase, Boodles, Kim Muir. Back to 3 days.
 
Something I’ve been pondering for a few days…

A lot of time is given to PP / BFSB market moves as generally being a guide to the market with Mullins runners, presumed to be due to Ruby Walsh etc, but I wonder how much is the fact that they can see the “right” people making moves on the exchange now that they are the same firm as Betfair? There must be some accounts that are always on the right side of market moves that are active on the exchange only…

Might have had one or two too many Neck Oils though :boxing:
 
Is the NH chase the oldest race at the festival?

My initial reaction to Quevegas comment on binning it was to think of the tradtion of it.

But when I think on it, pre changes it had become quite the unedifying spectacle - we used to have Cheltenham on in the office and the NH chase was the race that lost us that privilege. Since the changes its been uncompetitive. Rock and a hard place. I actually could see a case for it getting yeeted
 
robith said:
Is the NH chase the oldest race at the festival?

My initial reaction to Quevegas comment on binning it was to think of the tradtion of it.

But when I think on it, pre changes it had become quite the unedifying spectacle - we used to have Cheltenham on in the office and the NH chase was the race that lost us that privilege. Since the changes its been uncompetitive. Rock and a hard place. I actually could see a case for it getting yeeted
Click to expand...

Grand Annual is the oldest isn't it? National Hunt chase is clear 2nd though. Foxhunters after that.

Classic pub quiz question though
 
robith said:
Is the NH chase the oldest race at the festival?

My initial reaction to Quevegas comment on binning it was to think of the tradtion of it.

But when I think on it, pre changes it had become quite the unedifying spectacle - we used to have Cheltenham on in the office and the NH chase was the race that lost us that privilege. Since the changes its been uncompetitive. Rock and a hard place. I actually could see a case for it getting yeeted
Click to expand...

One of the biggest barriers to change and one of the main reasons any sport begins to wane in popularity is the determination to maintain tradition and history.
And old people. They might be wise, but they're not that forward thinking or open minded, for obvious reasons.

All changes take time to become accepted and create their own traditions and history. But the elder statesmen won't allow it, or will fight it.

Same in other aspects of life really, innate selfishness of the human mind.
 
Dandrew99 said:
Grand Annual is the oldest isn't it? National Hunt chase is clear 2nd though. Foxhunters after that.

Classic pub quiz question though
Click to expand...

Grand annual is the oldest but it stopped being raced for a while so the nh chase has the most renewals
 
HesTheOne said:
After Kevin Blake’s comments on the mares chase, If you could remove a race or 2 what would you choose?

NHC to be a 150 handicap was a good suggestion I seen, let the strong guns take the BANC route if they are of that quality.

Mares Chase and Hurdle to take place on trials day instead, with the winners taking on the geldings at Cheltenham was a good suggestion too.

scrap the 2.5 mile novice chase and keep the novice chase options for Cheltenham 2m or 3m. Arkle and BANC would benefit tremendously for it.
Click to expand...

It’s radical but I would reduce the novice hurdles and chases to two races and run them over 2m2f and 2m6f. The Supreme horses and speedier types from the Ballymore would make the 2m2f competitive and then the stayers from the Ballymore join the AB brigade over 2m6f. It should ensure we still have all the same horses turn up and give them all a decent shout. Same principle over fences.
 
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JackieMoon33 said:
It’s radical but I would reduce the novice hurdles and chases to two races and run them over 2m2f and 2m6f. The Supreme horses and speedier types from the Ballymore would make the 2m2f competitive and then the stayers from the Ballymore join the AB brigade over 2m6f. It should ensure we still have all the same horses turn up and give them all a decent shout. Same principle over fences.
Click to expand...

Sadly if the number of novice races were to be reduced would you not just get more of those horses cheating their way through Winter and targeting a handicap over a distance that suits ?
 
Istabraq said:
Sadly if the number of novice races were to be reduced would you not just get more of those horses cheating their way through Winter and targeting a handicap over a distance that suits ?
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I’d be banning novices from all handicaps as part of my reform :excitement:
 
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If anybody is after some digs for Cheltenham week in the next village North of the course(Bishops Cleeve) something has become available that isn’t publicly advertised yet. Rates are easily the cheapest you’ll get within 10 miles of the course let alone 2.

Can be for the week or any day of that week. I’m booked up but have stayed here a couple of times and the hosts are great. Bus stop 200 yards away & can walk back in 40 mins if wanting to avoid the mass exodus post fez days.

Only heard from the hosts last night so putting it out there for anyone before they list it online bex week. Feel free to DM me if interested and will pass on details or discuss anything more you want to know.
 
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No getting out of the course early next Saturday

looks like the Clarence House will be the last race at 4 45
 
Davy Russell ruled out for the rest of the day after a heavy fall in the first at Navan. Hopefully it’s not serious and he won’t be regretting his decision to come back
 
Spent all day patiently explaining to 365 that my bets at Haydock today should be voided, not greyed out as the meeting was abandoned. They don’t know their own rules, claiming they would void as a ‘gesture of goodwill’… good grief…
 
Clarence House now moved to 3 35 Saturday

Second last race with a handicap to finish
 
That’s annoying as it seems to have shuffled the Cross Country off the ITV coverage
 
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