General Chat

[Pendil]

https://www.attheraces.com/blogs/kev...-be-speeded-up

Interesting column from Kevin Blake, worth a read

So he is proposing the end of the Arkle the Marsh and the RSA. Some chance but he feels he has to be controversial

[Kevloaf]

So he is proposing the end of the Arkle the Marsh and the RSA. Some chance but he feels he has to be controversial

He's proposing making them 0-155 handicaps isn't he.


I agree with the article, just because things have happened the same way for a long time doesn't mean they're the best way to continue.


The more exciting and competitive at the top level they can make it the better...

[Pendil]

He's proposing making them 0-155 handicaps isn't he.


I agree with the article, just because things have happened the same way for a long time doesn't mean they're the best way to continue.


The more exciting and competitive at the top level they can make it the better...

So the 0-145 novices handicap chase has gone and now is replaced by a 0-155 novices handicap over all distances. Whoopee

[Outlaw]

He's proposing making them 0-155 handicaps isn't he.


I agree with the article, just because things have happened the same way for a long time doesn't mean they're the best way to continue.


The more exciting and competitive at the top level they can make it the better...

He makes some good points thou plenty will see it as radical, as fans the more big clashes or elite novices taking on open class now and again(even if one race on route to the fez) would be a real positive as a fan. I'd happily say bumpers are for 4/5yo only and can only run in a maximum of 3. It wouldn't bother me if they binned festival bumpers either tbh if push came to shove. The hcap route he proposers i couldn't even entertain with the level of hcapping at present it really is all over the place.

[Kevloaf]

So the 0-145 novices handicap chase has gone and now is replaced by a 0-155 novices handicap over all distances. Whoopee

Have you read the article?

Do you have any concept whatsoever of the point of it?



I can't believe Outlaw has liked that comment as well.


A huge, huge misunderstanding of the point of the article. Such short term thinking. The state of handicapping now is such a bizarre reason to disregard the idea. Open your mind, think long-term?!




Pendil - are you joking? You think that's a direct replacement? Do you grasp the point? It's not replacing 0-145 novice chase for 0-155 novice chase as the only change, the 0-145 handicap chase was for horses that don't want to run in the OPEN Novice Chase...... if you get rid of that option, it makes the 0-155 novice handicap chase more relevant AND improves the Open Graded equivilant race.



How is that hard to understand?



Read it properly before making such sarcastic comments, whoopee!

[Outlaw]

Have you read the article?

Do you have any concept whatsoever of the point of it?



I can't believe Outlaw has liked that comment as well.


A huge, huge misunderstanding of the point of the article. Such short term thinking. The state of handicapping now is such a bizarre reason to disregard the idea. Open your mind, think long-term?!

Not at all i'm all for anything to promote more competitive racing and the chance to see big guns taking on each other more often(Hendo are you reading). The hcapping is poor at the min i stand by that, you go down the route of 0-155 and what is stopping trainers aiming there horses for one day in march to run off 135 for example? I appreciate that is the other end of what we have now as it basically is just uncompetitive novice races week in week out.

[Pendil]

Have you read the article?

Do you have any concept whatsoever of the point of it?



I can't believe Outlaw has liked that comment as well.


A huge, huge misunderstanding of the point of the article. Such short term thinking. The state of handicapping now is such a bizarre reason to disregard the idea. Open your mind, think long-term?!




Pendil - are you joking? You think that's a direct replacement? Do you grasp the point? It's not replacing 0-145 novice chase for 0-155 novice chase as the only change, the 0-145 handicap chase was for horses that don't want to run in the OPEN Novice Chase...... if you get rid of that option, it makes the 0-155 novice handicap chase more relevant AND improves the Open Graded equivilant race.



How is that hard to understand?



Read it properly before making such sarcastic comments, whoopee!

Yes yes yes and yes whoopee

[Kevloaf]

Not at all i'm all for anything to promote more competitive racing and the chance to see big guns taking on each other more often(Hendo are you reading). The hcapping is poor at the min i stand by that, you go down the route of 0-155 and what is stopping trainers aiming there horses for one day in march to run off 135 for example? I appreciate that is the other end of what we have now as it basically is just uncompetitive novice races week in week out.

The handicapping is out of sync for sure...and until we get an Anglo-Irish OR system we'll probably never get what we all would really desire?

Nothing would stop them doing that (running a horse off 135) but the glory would be horses winning the proper races rather than the handicaps.... with prize money (hopefully reflective) it'd work out just fine. Trainers may hold one back for a year, but that'd be it, just a year....

Yes yes yes and yes whoopee

Sorry for thinking what you said was wrong. Whoopee!

[Outlaw]

The handicapping is out of sync for sure...and until we get an Anglo-Irish OR system we'll probably never get what we all would really desire?

Nothing would stop them doing that (running a horse off 135) but the glory would be horses winning the proper races rather than the handicaps.... with prize money (hopefully reflective) it'd work out just fine. Trainers may hold one back for a year, but that'd be it, just a year....

Yeah dream scenario is hcapping that covers both but that's for people way above my paygrade to sort. At present far too many horses get assigned 6/7lbs+ for winning weak races or form taken too literal when other horses underperform etc.

The glory of having a horse who you think is prob a 150+ horse who could of competed in the novice races but instead seemed destined for the novice hcap is one of the many things wrong with having the hcaps but it is there to be exploited(or was). I'm all for getting horses into open age contests fully by the time a new season starts & they are 7yo, i agree on his point many are mollycoddled along for 3 years when having full bumper seasons, and by 8 if you have one year of injury after that you potentially have one full season for a craic at a top race, as at 10 very very few can compete with the next generation.

[Green Goddess]

Hi Team,

Found this when trawling YouTube. People might find them useful. Its Davy Russell, Jamie Coddington, Patrick Mullins and Sean Flanagan previewing the Leopardstown Christmas festival. Lots of references to Cheltenham.

im pretty sure its the webcast that DJ mentioned on UTA.

You need an hour to view, but hey, what the hell else are you doing?

https://youtu.be/oB4Jhw97eQw

[Green Goddess]

Sorry, should have been clearer. Not much Cheltenham races talk but lots of talk about horses who will end up at Cheltenham.

A lof of the content was covered by Racing Post articles but interesting nonetheless.

[Green Goddess]

https://issuu.com/weatherbys/docs/jumpers_to_follow_-_2020-09-06_-_a5_mid_season_upd

Mid-season update of Paul Fergusons jumpers to follow if anyone is interested. No great surprises but kills 15 mins.

[darlojim]

How do I get into the whatsapp group for quick news on injuries? Managed to cash out easywork - what a real shame though he looked to have a bright future.

[Saxon Warrior]

In case this hasn’t been posted.

Here are the full list of racecard entries for the first two days of Ireland’s meetings on December 26th and December 27th.

Leopardstown 26th December - https://status.hri-ras.ie/entries/Mi...20201217010828

Limerick 26th December - https://status.hri-ras.ie/entries/Mi...20201217010828

Leopardstown 27th December - https://status.hri-ras.ie/entries/Mi...20201217010828

Limerick 27th December - https://status.hri-ras.ie/entries/Mi...20201217010828

[Diamond Geezer]

..........and happy Christmas one and all