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[Spectre]

Maybe a stupid questions thread?

I’ve never figured out why horses tend to go PTP, then bumpers (Flat Racing), hurdles before some end up back over fences.

Im at a loss to understand that sequence.

Tradition. Bumpers in my opinion are a wasted season for most horses at the top end. I'd only use bumpers for less mature types that really do need a season under their belts.

A high profile example would be why is Sir Gerhard not over hurdles at his age.

It's also part of the reason why French horses usually appear more forward and mature. Most haven't have been over obstacles much earlier than their British and Irish counterparts.

Whilst he uses bumpers, how many horses do you see Willie keep back for a whole year to mature? Usually when he uses bumpers for his very good horses it is a 'generational delay' thing, or racecourse experience for horses that don't settle.

[Istabraq]

Tradition. Bumpers in my opinion are a wasted season for most horses at the top end. I'd only use bumpers for less mature types that really do need a season under their belts.

A high profile example would be why is Sir Gerhard not over hurdles at his age.

It's also part of the reason why French horses usually appear more forward and mature. Most haven't have been over obstacles much earlier than their British and Irish counterparts.

Whilst he uses bumpers, how many horses do you see Willie keep back for a whole year to mature? Usually when he uses bumpers for his very good horses it is a 'generational delay' thing, or racecourse experience for horses that don't settle.

Bumpers were a means of introducing a horse into NH racing, generally in the UK 25 years ago or so a horse would run in a PTP or two, get bought at the Summer sales, then the following season have one run in a bumper then go hurdling.
In Ireland there was always a greater focus on bumpers with far more bumpers than in the UK, so much so they used to have (may still do) eight of them at the Punchestown festival, and when the bumper was introduced at the Cheltenham festival (1991 ?) it kind of kick started a greater focus for UK trainers on the division.

I remember Colin Tizzard once say that the modern way is impatient with owners demanding instant success with the French breds and win races at 4/5/6, at the time he had Cue Card as a youngster and he was saying he doesn't expect to see CCs full potential until he's 8 or 9 and even said a number of his horses won't see a racecourse until they're 5.

Ultimately if you have a top class 5yo French bred he/she will be gone by 9/10, you have a UK bred that starts their career at 5 and there's every chance they'll be running as well at 10 as they were at 7 and will probably still be putting in performances at 12+...

[Redbridge]

Bumpers were for those of us that could not afford shoes.

[Spectre]

I get the educational aspect, but there are plenty of horses where Bumpers just aren't necessary. For me that's not about an impatient owner specifically (although it can be sometimes), it's about whether it's necessary to delay a horse's hurdle campaign. I fa horse is mature enough for hurdles at 4, 5, or 6 why the default bumper campaign? Even more so for horses that have already had a PTP campaign.

Many trainers send there horses to bumpers just because that's what you do. I once challenged a trainer I had a horse with and asked him why he wanted to run my horse in a bumper rather than get on with a hurdles campaign, and he had no answer other than a bit of mumbling and fumbling. You'd get the same mumbling and fumbling from many more trainers than him if you asked them.

[Istabraq]

I get the educational aspect, but there are plenty of horses where Bumpers just aren't necessary. For me that's not about an impatient owner specifically (although it can be sometimes), it's about whether it's necessary to delay a horse's hurdle campaign. I fa horse is mature enough for hurdles at 4, 5, or 6 why the default bumper campaign?

I don't disagree Spectre but graded bumpers pay just as much as graded hurdle races in Ireland (or at least used to), if the pot is there many owners/trainers will be incentivised to target it...

[Spectre]

I don't disagree Spectre but graded bumpers pay just as much as graded hurdle races in Ireland (or at least used to), if the pot is there many owners/trainers will be incentivised to target it...

That’s a fair point Istabraq, and they still do pay as much.