General Chat

[BuckingThe Trend]

Qualifying runs for Festival Handicaps


There has been a lot of questions about the number of qualifying runs required for Festival Handicaps. Below is my understanding of how many runs you need to qualify for each Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. Happy for some smarter than I to double check and confirm, or correct, as the case may be.

All Non-Novices require 3 runs to qualify for a Class 1 or 2 Handicap Hurdle/Chase.

For Novices the number of runs required are :

Ultima - 4 runs
Boodles - 3 runs (Novice only)
NH Chase - 3 runs (Novice only). 0-145
Coral Cup - 5 runs
Cross Country - 4 runs
Grand Annual - 4 runs
Turners Novice Handicap - 3 runs (Novice only). Not limited to 145.
Pertemps - 5 runs
Plate - 4 runs
Kim Muir - 4 runs. 0-145
County - 5 runs
Martin Pipe - 5 runs. 0-145

[ComplyOrDie]

Qualifying runs for Festival Handicaps


There has been a lot of questions about the number of qualifying runs required for Festival Handicaps. Below is my understanding of how many runs you need to qualify for each Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. Happy for some smarter than I to double check and confirm, or correct, as the case may be.

All Non-Novices require 3 runs to qualify for a Class 1 or 2 Handicap Hurdle/Chase.

For Novices the number of runs required are :

Ultima - 4 runs
Boodles - 3 runs (Novice only)
NH Chase - 3 runs (Novice only). 0-145
Coral Cup - 5 runs
Cross Country - 4 runs
Grand Annual - 4 runs
Turners Novice Handicap - 3 runs (Novice only). Not limited to 145.
Pertemps - 5 runs
Plate - 4 runs
Kim Muir - 4 runs. 0-145
County - 5 runs
Martin Pipe - 5 runs. 0-145

Looks pretty much what Jake Price put up in a Tweet in December

[JackieMoon33]

That is my understanding, even though I do keep forgetting.

[Runragged]

I disagree as per the Jockey Club Press Release:

• Currently horses must have run at least three times (chases) or four times (hurdles) to be eligible to run in non-novice handicaps at The Festival. From 2025, this will be increased to four chase and five hurdle runs.

This implies all horses must have run four chase or five hurdles, not restricted to novices.

[AaronLad]

I disagree as per the Jockey Club Press Release:

• Currently horses must have run at least three times (chases) or four times (hurdles) to be eligible to run in non-novice handicaps at The Festival. From 2025, this will be increased to four chase and five hurdle runs.

This implies all horses must have run four chase or five hurdles, not restricted to novices.

Yeah I'd agree with you here.
I've emailed Dominic Gardiner-Hill who Is in the Handicapping department at the bha for some clarification.

[Rooster Booster]

What are people disagreeing with ?

[Runragged]

What are people disagreeing with ?

We believe that all horses require at least 4 runs for the non novice handicap chases and 5 runs for the handicap hurdles.

The BHA rule quoted ie. "All Non-Novices require 3 runs to qualify for a Class 1 or 2 Handicap Hurdle/Chase" applies to all other races away from the Cheltenham Festival.

[Rooster Booster]

We believe that all horses require at least 4 runs for the non novice handicap chases and 5 runs for the handicap hurdles.

The BHA rule quoted ie. "All Non-Novices require 3 runs to qualify for a Class 1 or 2 Handicap Hurdle/Chase" applies to all other races away from the Cheltenham Festival.

Okay who are you disagreeing with

[AaronLad]

Okay who are you disagreeing with

Jake price from twitter it appears

[Runragged]

Qualifying runs for Festival Handicaps


There has been a lot of questions about the number of qualifying runs required for Festival Handicaps. Below is my understanding of how many runs you need to qualify for each Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. Happy for some smarter than I to double check and confirm, or correct, as the case may be.

All Non-Novices require 3 runs to qualify for a Class 1 or 2 Handicap Hurdle/Chase.

For Novices the number of runs required are :

Ultima - 4 runs
Boodles - 3 runs (Novice only)
NH Chase - 3 runs (Novice only). 0-145
Coral Cup - 5 runs
Cross Country - 4 runs
Grand Annual - 4 runs
Turners Novice Handicap - 3 runs (Novice only). Not limited to 145.
Pertemps - 5 runs
Plate - 4 runs
Kim Muir - 4 runs. 0-145
County - 5 runs
Martin Pipe - 5 runs. 0-145

Disagreeing with this, which as said is very similar to what some guy called Jake Price has put on Twitter, pretty much stating it as fact, when it may not be true.

[Rooster Booster]

Jake price from twitter it appears

If that’s the same as bucking the trends post aren’t they agreeing with you btt has 4 runs for chases and 5 for hurdles - do you disagree with that ?

[Rooster Booster]

Disagreeing with this, which as said is very similar to what some guy called Jake Price has put on Twitter, pretty much stating it as fact, when it may not be true.

So what do you think it is maybe just put your numbers next to his

[Runragged]

I disagree as per the Jockey Club Press Release:

• Currently horses must have run at least three times (chases) or four times (hurdles) to be eligible to run in non-novice handicaps at The Festival. From 2025, this will be increased to four chase and five hurdle runs.

This implies all horses must have run four chase or five hurdles, not restricted to novices.

This... As quoted from the Jockey Club Press Release at the time.

[AaronLad]

If that’s the same as bucking the trends post aren’t they agreeing with you btt has 4 runs for chases and 5 for hurdles - do you disagree with that ?

I understand from the jockey club press release that all horse require 5 runs for open handicap hurdles and 4 runs for open handicap chases.

The post from bucking the trend, which cod says is what jake price posted in December, implies non novices are only required 3 runs.

[Rooster Booster]

This... As quoted from the Jockey Club Press Release at the time.

Yes and isn’t that exactly what btt has put