General Chat

[Quevega]

Just need to sort the fucking wifi/internet connection now and wer'e laughing.

[Quevega]

Yeah, nothing can be perfect, I just remember a time, as I'm sure you do, when there were 18 meaningful races and all were different.
Beam me back to the 80s....

Choices mate, they're fucking everywhere.
Preferred 3 channels on Telly myself.
A world when we had attention spans and patience.

Now every youngster has ADHD or something similar.
And the older generation are developing autism and asberger symptoms as a form of self defense.

[archie]

https://www.attheraces.com/news/2024...nges-explained

Other changes, around pricing and where you can drink and park etc.

No more downing a pint between races cos some kid in a blue Gilet says you can't control yourself from throwing it at people or jockeys.

I'd absolutely keep drink away from trackside or the bookies. Apart from the mutts who think it's smart to throw a £7 pint at a £300k thoroughbred, people dodging around carrying a pint, looking for a price and colliding with a muppet whose nose is blocked by white powder and is glued to his iphone is a recipe for carnage.

[Killiney]

I have had all my NHC bets (including free bets) returned bar those on the Echange

[Quevega]

I'd absolutely keep drink away from trackside or the bookies. Apart from the mutts who think it's smart to throw a £7 pint at a £300k thoroughbred, people dodging around carrying a pint, looking for a price and colliding with a muppet whose nose is blocked by white powder and is glued to his iphone is a recipe for carnage.

Don't worry, stick to the members and they'll continue to police you and those around you. (they've renamed the Totalitarian enclosure)

I'm not a believer in assuming everyone will misbehave so everyone should therefore be restricted/policed.
Freedom for all I say.
Especially at those prices

Tattersalls and Best Mate. I'll take my chances. And look after myself.
I think the downing a pint between every race might be part of the issue.
Most Northern tracks have relaxed the drinking rules near the course (York and Donny) and it's been a far more enjoyable and relaxing experience. That includes Leger day and Ebor etc.

The drugs is another matter altogether. And you're implying that everyone who imbibes/partakes becomes a Nob. I'm more inclined to think that Nobs become bigger Nobs but they were Nobs to start with anyway.
And he won't be glued to his iphone cos there's no fucking reception.

For diversity and inclusivity.
Women can be Nobs also.
So can trans.
And all races.
And ages.

[Killiney]

According to the Racing Post today the’new’ Turners is to become a limited Hcp so no mention of it being an ‘open’ hcp anymore. I think the intention is to limit the weight range to 20lbs.

[Exar Essay]

According to the Racing Post today the’new’ Turners is to become a limited Hcp so no mention of it being an ‘open’ hcp anymore. I think the intention is to limit the weight range to 20lbs.

Jesus. This is being very badly handled.

Jockey Club is also reporting limited status and that it will be a Grade 2. The Jockey Club state that the race is being moved from Sandown on Imperial Cup day. So it will have similar conditions to this race ... which doesn't appear to be a 0-145 handicap, unless I am missing something. I can't see anything in the entry requirements.

https://www.racingpost.com/results/54/sandown/2024-03-09/860250

The Jockey Club then confirm that it is "similar to the race which was previously at the festival until 2020".

So is it 0-145 or not?

[Runragged]

That's the intention isn't it. Make every race a better spectacle for the average Joe. I'd say it's every chance of working as well. Arkle and BANC both be more stacked now you'd think. As well as the two novice handicaps stacked with plots...

Antepost fans, who are generally the core racing fans, aren't really the consideration.

There's only one group at the forefront of this and that's the bookmakers! 3 more competitive races to line their pockets during the busiest week of the year as opposed to the want of purists hoping to see the best horses competing at their best trips. The NH Chase is a joke now. Assuming prize money doesn't change then even more trainers will just target the Irish National instead in 2 1/2 weeks time. Last year was 270k Euros to the winner as opposed to £61k for the NH Chase. Novices have a great record in the IN which was won this year by a 140 rated novice. You also have the Kim Muir at Cheltenham over 3m 2f where novices also have a great record. Yes, less prize money (£36k to the winner last season) but more than half the field turn out to be exposed horses only there for a day out for the owners.

Having ruined the Cross Country as well then they would have been better turning the race into a 4m open chase, giving a marathon trip option for the likes of those short of grade 1 class without having to concede masses of weight in the XC now.

[somer1]

Cant be too many more nails to bang into the lid of the coffin of ante post racing!

[Lobos]

Hills have opened their TWAR markets Lobos

Scared to take a look!

Impaire Et Passe @ 5/1 stands out. Ballyburn is ok if you want a big lump.

[Quevega]

There's only one group at the forefront of this and that's the bookmakers! 3 more competitive races to line their pockets during the busiest week of the year as opposed to the want of purists hoping to see the best horses competing at their best trips. The NH Chase is a joke now. Assuming prize money doesn't change then even more trainers will just target the Irish National instead in 2 1/2 weeks time. Last year was 270k Euros to the winner as opposed to £61k for the NH Chase. Novices have a great record in the IN which was won this year by a 140 rated novice. You also have the Kim Muir at Cheltenham over 3m 2f where novices also have a great record. Yes, less prize money (£36k to the winner last season) but more than half the field turn out to be exposed horses only there for a day out for the owners.

Having ruined the Cross Country as well then they would have been better turning the race into a 4m open chase, giving a marathon trip option for the likes of those short of grade 1 class without having to concede masses of weight in the XC now.

It's worth remembering that this is a UK based festival that has suffered at the hands of the dominant Irish raiders. I love them all, but there is no doubt that these changes are a much needed help to the UK trainers and connections. To give them a better chance of Festival glory that helps any yard going forward.
The Irish National is of no real consequence to the UK trainers, few have any interest going up against half a dozen Mullins horses and the Elliot battalion anyway.

The issue might be that the UK horse population has got so sparse that they still struggle to fill the races in the short term anyhow.
But the hope is that over time the UK yards can get horses into these new/refreshed races and be competitive.

[Killiney]

Still on subject of NHC the drop in trip was reportedly in part a response to the calamitous race when a number of amateurs were hauled before the stewards for not no pulling up their horses when they had no chance. I think one of the horses died. The changes to standards for the amateurs also occurred as a result. Runragged is in my opinion correct on saying the 4 mile trip would make the race more distinct from the other handicaps at the meeting. The change to allowing professionals would then make more sense.

I see the amateurs are up in arms as they say they were not consulted - that seems like an own goal.

[Fouroverthrutwo]

Jesus. This is being very badly handled.

Jockey Club is also reporting limited status and that it will be a Grade 2. The Jockey Club state that the race is being moved from Sandown on Imperial Cup day. So it will have similar conditions to this race ... which doesn't appear to be a 0-145 handicap, unless I am missing something. I can't see anything in the entry requirements.

https://www.racingpost.com/results/54/sandown/2024-03-09/860250

The Jockey Club then confirm that it is "similar to the race which was previously at the festival until 2020".

So is it 0-145 or not?

It's not been very well communicated to say the least! The Racing Post originally reported an open handicap and now it is being touted as a limited handicap (whatever the criteria are for that). What is clear is that it will be for novices only and they must have run in at least 4 steeplechases prior. I'm sure we'll be having a discussion closer to the time about the eligibility of a horse that's had 4 chase starts but fallen lor pulled up someway through one of those races. Clear and concise communication is key.

[Kautostar]

Do you still need 4 chase runs to run in the novice hcap or is that just for novices running in non hcaps? I assumed the normal 3 runs would apply here and 4 for the non novice hcaps?

[Quevega]

I can't get my head around those that think turning the XC into a Handicap is a bad idea.
Except for the selfish insular angle of the antepost punter of course

How can it be right to see 2 horses rated 160+ beating horses rated around the 140 mark by 20+ lengths every year, and although we;ve had some decent match races over the years. That was probably only the Gigginstown/Elliot yard milking prize money and cleverly keeping the race at least competitive at the very top of the market.

Had they opted to run just one horse most years then we'd have had more years with odds on shots winning. They probably knew they had to make it interesting to keep the gravy train on track.

And moaning like O'Leary the other day saying Tiger Roll would never have won a National is fucking nonsense.

These types can still run in the race as a prep for the national or to get their appetite for racing back, but they won't have a stone in hand on the other poor horses from next year.
Fucking lording it in the parade ring every year like they've climbed Everest with their balls out.

The weight is no issue as they normally carried 11st 7 when it was a conditions race anyhow and conceding weight to inferior horses has always been fair game.

And the getting his appetite back for racing by getting the "winning feeling" is fucking shite also, as it didn't stop them running down the field in graded races to get his mark down.