Daily Racing Thread Saturday 11th. February 2023

With all the talk of the decline of British racing this week following the Grand National entries, I thought it worth looking at the Newbury card from 13 years ago to see how it compares to today's, especially regarding the quantity and quality of animals on show.

In 2010 the card commenced with the novices handicap chase that saw Diamond Harry (won the following season's Hennessy) give 3lbs and a 2 length beating to Bensalem (won the following season's William Hill Handicap Chase at the festival) in a 3-runner race. Ironically there are also 3 runners today but it looks a penalty kick for McFabulous against poor opposition.

In the handicap hurdle, favourite Alfie Sherrin (rated 132) won at 5/2 for Nicholls, Walsh and Barber / Findlay with 18 runners going to post. The horse was later sold to JP McManus and transferred to Jonjo O'Neil but did manage to win the Festival Handicap Chase in 2012. The 2023 running sees just 8 entries and, ironically, Paul Nicholls has one here owned by Paul Barber - Bryony rides Flemenstide off a mark of 122.

The Aon chase of 2010 saw Denman (one of 6 runners) go off at 1/6 under AP McCoy in what was intended to be a cosy victory as a "getting to know you" for horse and jockey for the Gold Cup. Famously, Denman hit the 4th last hard and the 3rd last even harder and put McCoy on the turf. Ruby Walsh took the victory on another Nicholls runner, Tricky Trickster, in a huge shock. Denman (182) was rated 29lbs clear of his nearest rival Air Force one and 33lbs clear of the winner. The 2023 renewal has 7 runners, no superstar and is a much tighter event with just 4lbs separating the top 5 on ratings and a very open betting market.

The 2010 Totesport Trophy Hurdle saw 23 runners go to post and there was some compensation for McCoy as he rode Jonjo O'Neil's Get Me Out Of Here to victory for McManus. Today's Betfair Hurdle is equally competitive with 17 going to post (the race is now run after the Game Spirit Chase).

The Game Spirit Chase of 2010 saw more drama involving a superstar as Master Minded (rated 178, 10lbs clear of Voy Por Ustedes) pinged the first 3 fences in the home straight (including a staggering leap at the ditch) before absolutely ploughing through the last. Somehow Walsh managed to stay on board and he was so far in front that he could gather the horse and saunter to a wide-margin victory. Another Nicholls hotpot in the shape of Greaneteen (rated 170) will be hoping for a smoother passage today with 15lbs in hand of his only serious rival.

The novices hurdle of 2010 was won by one of my favourite horses - Nicky Henderson's top weight Bellvano (rated 137) prevailing at odds of 8/11 against 11 rivals. He would go on to win the 2012 Grand Annual under the greatest ride I have ever seen from Paul Carberry before sadly suffering a fatal injury in his next race at Fairyhouse. 9 runners go to post for today's equivalent but the top weight Holetown Hero is rated just 121 making this a significantly weaker race.

Finally the bumper will have a certain Chesterfield fan glued to the screen but will Go To War prove to be as good as the 2010 winner Al Ferof?

In conclusion I think today's card is certainly a weaker affair than 2010 - missing the absolute superstars and to a large extent the higher rated horses (also in the handicaps). The Betfair Hurdle will always attract a good field due to the prize money but it is worth noting the Denman Chase pays just under 40 grand to the winner and Tricky Trickster took home £28,639 13 years ago. The prize money for the Game Spirit is in the same ballpark. Compare that to the Grade 2 bumper at the DRF last Sunday which paid €59,000 to the winner and it shows that these races are badly underfunded.

 

The headline race of the card too. Fingers crossed it doesn’t become a walk over.