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.

[Quevega]

This David Power jockey cup seems to have had some impact, some horses seem to be running more often than maybe otherwise.

If it’s still close by aintree we might see more matches than usual.

Looks like a decent idea.
Just need to lose some of the midweek shite staged at old shitey courses.

[Istabraq]

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

Some rain overnight but the course will probably need it, been dry for a while and current good to soft (and drying) may well be quick enough to put a few off,
I'd be more worried about the sun on Saturday and the prospect of them jumping the last down the back straight....

[EnvoiAlien]

I get the odd email from my time in racing, most I just spam off but thought I'd copy/paste this given the subject has been discussed here over the last few days, no idea if I;m sharing whats already known as haven't read everything in the thread, I got this earlier from the BHA..

Cheltenham Festival Handicap Qualification For Novices 2025

Owners and Trainers are reminded that paragraph 15
of the Weights and Handicapping Code has been modified for the majority of handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival and novices are required to have the minimum number of runs by February 23^rd, 2025 (inclusive) as outlined below:



Steeple Chases Where Novices Require a Minimum of 4 Chase Starts

21485 The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 1)(Premier Handicap)

21496 The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase (Limited Handicap) (Class 2)

21494 The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 1)(Premier Handicap)

21504 The Trustatrader Plate Handicap Steeple Chase (Clas 1)(Premier Handicap)

21507 The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2) (Sponsored by the JRL Group)



Steeple Chases where Novices Require a Minimum of 3 Chase Starts

21486 The National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2)

21505 The Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 1)(Grade 2)(Registered as The Golden Miller)



Hurdle Races where Novices Require a Minimum of 5 Hurdle Race Starts

21495 The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 1)(Premier Handicap)

21506 The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 1)(Premier Handicap)

21515 The William Hill County Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 1)(Premier Handicap)

21516 The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 2)



Hurdle Races where Novices Require a Minimum of 3 Hurdle Race Starts

21487 The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 1)(Premier Handicap)

[Eggs]

….good stuff EnvoyAllen very useful.

I’ve added this to the Declaration dates info and suggested it’s promoted as a sticky thread for useful reference.