General Chat

[AaronLad]

There is definitely some ambiguity. Jake's response on this is "As far as I'm aware, a press release does not constitute a race condition" so he still believes it is 3 races for non-novices in both Open Hurdles and Open Chases.

Do you ever wish you hadn't started something !!! But would be good to get the clarity.

@Aaron Lad have you had a reply from your BHA contact ?

I wouldn't call him a contact, just the person I've ended up at after an initial email to the bha, in their automated reply their is a link to a list of contacts for different departments, he was the one for the Handicapping department.
Once he has replied (if he does) I'll update.

[Guinness Village]

The mark ball preview looks a good offering again this year

[AaronLad]

I wouldn't call him a contact, just the person I've ended up at after an initial email to the bha, in their automated reply their is a link to a list of contacts for different departments, he was the one for the Handicapping department.
Once he has replied (if he does) I'll update.

Hi Aaron,
The minimum run requirements apply to novice horses in the open Handicaps, rather than all eligible horses to run in the race. A Novice hurdler would need to have run at least 5 times over hurdles to run in the open hurdle handicaps, and a Novice chaser at least 4 times over fences to run in the open chase Handicaps. For horses who are no longer a novice, they do not need to have met the minimum requirement in order to enter the open Handicaps, albeit the vast majority of those horses will likely have done so anyway.

For the Novice only Handicaps, the horse needs to have run three times to be eligible.

Hope that explains everything.

Thanks,
Kind regards


Well, it would appear that non novices do not need to meet the required runs.

Clarified.

[Stormez]

The mark ball preview looks a good offering again this year

I’ve not been for a couple of years but has always been a great evening when I’ve attended.

[DenmanSacre]

Hi Aaron,
The minimum run requirements apply to novice horses in the open Handicaps, rather than all eligible horses to run in the race. A Novice hurdler would need to have run at least 5 times over hurdles to run in the open hurdle handicaps, and a Novice chaser at least 4 times over fences to run in the open chase Handicaps. For horses who are no longer a novice, they do not need to have met the minimum requirement in order to enter the open Handicaps, albeit the vast majority of those horses will likely have done so anyway.

For the Novice only Handicaps, the horse needs to have run three times to be eligible.

Hope that explains everything.

Thanks,
Kind regards


Well, it would appear that non novices do not need to meet the required runs.

Clarified.

Not what I thought but good to get it clarified. I do think this can be exploited quite easily though going forward.

[AaronLad]

Not what I thought but good to get it clarified. I do think this can be exploited quite easily though going forward.

Especially by certain trainers with lots of horses

[Runragged]

Not what I thought but good to get it clarified. I do think this can be exploited quite easily though going forward.

Gives that option of what to do with the French horses who break their maiden tag early...

[BuckingThe Trend]

Hi Aaron
The minimum run requirements apply to novice horses in the open Handicaps, rather than all eligible horses to run in the race. A Novice hurdler would need to have run at least 5 times over hurdles to run in the open hurdle handicaps, and a Novice chaser at least 4 times over fences to run in the open chase Handicaps. For horses who are no longer a novice, they do not need to have met the minimum requirement in order to enter the open Handicaps, albeit the vast majority of those horses will likely have done so anyway.

For the Novice only Handicaps, the horse needs to have run three times to be eligible.

Hope that explains everything.

Thanks,
Kind regards


Well, it would appear that non novices do not need to meet the required runs.

Clarified.

So is the general consensus that my interpretation of Jake Price's data correct ?

[BuckingThe Trend]

Thanks Aaron. Much appreciated.

[Wayward Lad]

Especially by certain trainers with lots of horses

So Willie was fishing for a Rating from the British handicapper for Kitzbuhel in Fridays race at Windsor, as he doesn’t need another run be for the County Hurdle

[Lobos]

Some nasty weather potentially heading Cheltenham way for Friday so Trials day could be quite testing.