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There's a chance I've imagined this (and I've not bothered checking) but was last season not similar? With a lot out late due to the ground in the autumn.

I agree with the point that it's disappointing as a spectacle though.
 
2nd race at ascot now a walkover due to non runners :watermelon:
 
To be fair, we are past mid November and haven't seen a frost yes - I cant remember that ever happening in my lifetime. It was 18 degrees in London last week and its still double figures now! I don't really have a big problem with owners and trainers deciding not to run horses, but I have a problem with them handling it poorly and communicating poorly. Thats obviously highly subjective, but I feel sorry for people who've bought tickets to see horses and they aren't showing up, one race is a walkover, its just not good for racing. Ascot should spend a few million on a better irrigation system, it's not like they can't afford it.
 
Ok, so if we're heading towards a drier Oct/Nov, get rid of all of the summer races or trainers need to start getting savvy, purchase up all of the horses that are bred for better ground and start picking up the prize money in these 3-4 runner fields where most of the big guns will side track in favour for "better ground" and/or the festival
 
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1965 Chase now 2 runner race! David Maxwell on a 1/6 shot in a grade 2. 24 hours ago you'd be laughing your head off
 
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One to note next year.. may try it out

Oct and November, these big grades ones, its definitely worth taking a look at the antepost race card for those that will DEFINIELTY run in the race no matter the going, that have a chance, and that race being their Gold Cup. With a view that the shortie will be redrawn.
 
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I've had a look through the winners of the novice races from last year's festival and I make Edwardstone the only one that had run by this time last year, of the 8 (I think) races...

That makes me think the situation isn't too dissimilar, and also that it's probably best not to get carried away with those that have!
 
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Benjy23 said:
I've had a look through the winners of the novice races from last year's festival and I make Edwardstone the only one that had run by this time last year, of the 8 (I think) races...

That makes me think the situation isn't too dissimilar, and also that it's probably best not to get carried away with those that have!
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Nice one, I had a gut feeling this was the case
 
Some bookmakers slow to move on non runners
I think there is an angle here if you want to punt short prices
example - 50 on kilcruit at 1/5 pays 60
50 on kilcruit at 6/5 when Jwm was pulled pays 77 with rule 4

Better example was Nube Negra last week when it was announced on tv that Edwardsone would not run
100 on nube negra before bookmakers reacted paid 140 with the rule 4
100 on sp paid 110
 
Best year for ante post punting for the last few years, there is some shocking prices in some races but on the whole there is plenty of value out there still
 
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opatcho said:
Ok, so if we're heading towards a drier Oct/Nov, get rid of all of the summer races or trainers need to start getting savvy, purchase up all of the horses that are bred for better ground and start picking up the prize money in these 3-4 runner fields where most of the big guns will side track in favour for "better ground" and/or the festival
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Interesting point. Where on earth are all of the summer horses?! I don't really follow it all during cricket season but I can only assume that the programme has been culled. Chepstow/Cheltenham in October was always interesting to see whether the hard fit summer horses could beat the first time out winter horses. Now, if the ground is "good" it's just peppered with small fields. The horse population must be shrinking at an alarming rate and absolutely sod all is being done quickly enough to keep up with it
 
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Liammet said:
Disappointing for everyone
However,if I had booked and was travelling to Ascot I would feel cheated
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Yep lots of disgruntled people at Ascot yesterday, including me. Met one bloke that came down from Leicester, he was distraught, bless him.
Left it as late as possible before booking my ticket on Friday, and even waited till Sat morning to do the train fare.
Thought i was pretty safe then to see the 3 horses in particular i went there to see and ended up seeing none of them.
Then i got a 3 runner race,a walkover a 2 runner race, a 4 runner race and a 5 runner race.
Had a brief chat with the Sky Sports presenters, asked if they would use their platform to maybe suggest to Ascot some sort of refund or maybe discount scheme for a future meeting, suggesting to them that maybe the going descriptions were not totally accurate!!, they would not have that, so i knew i werent getting anywhere there.
I then looked for and asked around for a racecourse management office , but apparently there werent one.
I did however find a nice lady in a reception area who was really understanding of my points, and gave me a note pad to write my comments about the days experience, and my suggestions for compensating punters who came to Ascot.
I will let you know if i hear anything back although i dont really expect to.
Still at least all those in the bars were happy!!
 
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I think everyone can see that the system/programme is broken, so something needs to be done now (/12 months ago). The days of hiding behind excuses like it's a summer jumps problem, or it's the ground have to end. Haydock had "perfect" jumps ground yesterday (soft) yet there was a 5 runner novice hurdle, 7 runner handicap that used to get over double that, a 4 runner graduation chase and a 5 runner grade 1.

I would send out a census tomorrow to all UK trainers and try to get an exact number of horses in training in each category. I'm imagining something like this already exists but probably doesn't have the level of detail needed. I'm thinking that, for each horse for a designated time period (start of Dec - end of April) you need their best guess of:
Type (nvh, h, nvch, ch, bumper, not in training)
OR
Optimum trip (2, 2.5, 3, marathon)

From that, it would be easy enough to work out how many horses fit each category and, by using an appropriate average field size, how many races are required based on an assumption of a horse running once a month (or whatever is deemed average). Rip up the programme from 1st Jan onwards and replace it. Over the years, this would provide plenty of data to form an optimum race programme.

Rant over. We'll reconvene after Newbury next week :cat:
 
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Graded races have always suffered from poor turnouts, could be a number of reasons for this but the one I hear alot is that a 130 horse runs to within 15/20 lengths of a 160 horse and the handicapper gjves him/her a few pound that stops them from winning any race for a year.
No question there are others too and it’s something racing needs to look at, but maybe we shouldn’t be massively surprised when our big festival races, Arkle, Turners and NH Chase in particular, attract only a handful of runners these days.
I have total sympathy for those who went racing yesterday though…
 
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I was at Haydock yesterday. We go to the Betfair Chase every year and that is easily the quietest I've seen it. Great for getting a pint as there was never a queue but worrying that attendances are trending in the wrong direction.
 
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Faugheen_Machine said:
I was at Haydock yesterday. We go to the Betfair Chase every year and that is easily the quietest I've seen it. Great for getting a pint as there was never a queue but worrying that attendances are trending in the wrong direction.
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I'd have been there but work got in the way - a blessing in disguise as APT was the last leg of some nice roll ups with Brandy Love and Champ Kiely.
 
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