General Chat

[Istabraq]

just noticed this on the BHA site


Early notice for 2023/24: National Hunt flat race changes


The following changes will be introduced for the start of the 2023/24 season:

1. A maximum of three runs permitted in National Hunt Flat races.

The only exceptions will be where:

the fourth run is in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, or the Grade 2 NHF at Aintree. Where the fourth run is in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, a further fifth run is permitted in the Grade 2 NHF at Aintree.
In the case of fillies and mares, a fourth run is permitted in either the Listed Mares’ NHF at Sandown in March or the Grade 2 Mares’ NHF race at Aintree. If the fourth run is in the Listed Mares’ NHF at Sandown in March then a further fifth run is permitted in the Grade 2 Mares’ NHF race at Aintree.

2. 6-year-olds no longer permitted to run in National Hunt Flat races after the final day of the Jump season (April 2023).

100% behind this.
Good progress...

[JackieMoon33]

100% behind this.
Good progress...

Now to get novices banned from handicaps…..

[Odin]

Now to get novices banned from handicaps…..

Does the new 4 runs before handicap rule not go far enough for you?

For me, I think it gets the balance right between stopping the obvious novice plots and allowing trainers to try and plot a novice who may not be top level to have a chance of winning a good race. Possibly naive on my side I'll accept...

[JackieMoon33]

Does the new 4 runs before handicap rule not go far enough for you?

For me, I think it gets the balance right between stopping the obvious novice plots and allowing trainers to try and plot a novice who may not be top level to have a chance of winning a good race. Possibly naive on my side I'll accept...

If they get them out early then four runs is easy enough to manage whilst still giving the horse a decent break in between. For me it dilutes the championship novice races and plays into the hands of the big, powerful yards. Let’s have the best novices run against each other.

[Istabraq]

Now to get novices banned from handicaps…..

I would be 100% behind this also.
Actually I’ll correct that, it’s the first season novices whose abilities have been deliberately hidden I have issue with, I’d probably not take issue with second season novices in handicaps if I’m honest…

ps - create a 5yo programme where the final goes to Kempton/Haydock/Fairyhouse or somewhere around Spring festival time and they’re unlikely to plot a route to the County….

[Odin]

Yeah I can see the thought process regarding the big yards and their ammo.

Love this idea of a 5yo programme that finishes at a spring meeting - it could easily finish this weekend alongside the challenger series at haydock surely...

[RoadToCheltenham]

just noticed this on the BHA site


Early notice for 2023/24: National Hunt flat race changes


The following changes will be introduced for the start of the 2023/24 season:

1. A maximum of three runs permitted in National Hunt Flat races.

The only exceptions will be where:

the fourth run is in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, or the Grade 2 NHF at Aintree. Where the fourth run is in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, a further fifth run is permitted in the Grade 2 NHF at Aintree.
In the case of fillies and mares, a fourth run is permitted in either the Listed Mares’ NHF at Sandown in March or the Grade 2 Mares’ NHF race at Aintree. If the fourth run is in the Listed Mares’ NHF at Sandown in March then a further fifth run is permitted in the Grade 2 Mares’ NHF race at Aintree.

2. 6-year-olds no longer permitted to run in National Hunt Flat races after the final day of the Jump season (April 2023).

Whereabouts is this on the site? I can't seem to find it.

[The Fellow]

near the bottom of the page RTC

https://www.britishhorseracing.com/press_releases/jump-pattern-committee-update-22-23-season/

[Geegees]

Fern lock looked to be cruising the whole way round the just decided to stop 2 out… can’t believe annamix came back from the dead to win that race either

[JackieMoon33]

These expensive PTP mares seem to really struggle to produce the same level under rules. I really have no explanation why but, as I’ve mentioned before, I’ve always been against these mares for the MNH. I know there have been some successful PTP mares but they seem to be more miss than hit, especially the last batch.

Kudasheva, Deeply Superficial, Between Waters and now (possibly) Theatre Native. I’ll give the last mentioned a temporary pass as that was a tough debut and Henry is not one for bumpers, but she went off fav so wasn’t unfancied.

I’m definitely going to keep my boycott of them going forward.

[Istabraq]

I see Mighty Potter runs today at Fairyhouse but he was also entered in the Bowl at Aintree.
Which suggests Elliott hasn’t written off sending him off on his travels and a Gold Cup campaign as was suggested.
I think he’s a bit of a screw but he’s a screw with plenty of talent and could well turn out to be the closest thing to competition Galopin des Champs has….

[darlojim]

FWIW - sounded like Impaire will be going 2 and half at punches...

Said on RTV extra re. Nick rockett 'is he entered at punches? if he is hes probably in the 3miler, he wont be going against IEP anyway'..

[gwaaan]

Fairly impressive that from Nick Rockett! Should make a grand 3 mile chaser!

[That Horse]

RIP The Gunner Yeats

[Lobos]

FWIW - sounded like Impaire will be going 2 and half at punches...

Said on RTV extra re. Nick rockett 'is he entered at punches? if he is hes probably in the 3miler, he wont be going against IEP anyway'..

Nice. Makes sense.