Just seen this online, some significant changes to the UK jumps pattern for next season: The Tolworth Hurdle is moved from Sandown to a new Boxing Day fixture at Aintree (good - Sandown's hurdle course in winter is often like the Somme) The International Hurdle is moved to Cheltenham Trials day end of Jan - don't care, nothing race at an intermediate distance that has found few fans over hurdles The Desert Orchid Chase becomes a limited handicap - good, better honours his memory In the biggest rewrite of the jumps pattern for many years, races well known to punters like the Kennel Gate Hurdle at Ascot, the Dipper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree, Haydock’s Champion Hurdle Trial, the John Francome Chase at Newbury’s November Carnival and the Future Stars Chase at Sandown, have all been run for the final time - sad loss of some prestigious races More details here but I guess we will need the full details to help understanding.
Good start, about time they got rid of Sandown as a graded course outside of the 2 mile chase division. The International needs removing completely and not sad about any of the others either. Now to cull 50% of meetings
Does anyone remember that extremely costly waste of space Racing for Change. What a joke that was. I had a right rant about that, not even touching the sides of the root problem. I wish I could find that. I know I mentioned the necessity to cut down on the venues and attracting more runners per venue, making those more profitable
Must say I'm truely shocked that both the Kennel Gate and the Leamington Novices' Hurdles (both Grade 2) have been 'removed'. I always thought both were more than decent contests and offered connections a real chance to test their better novice hurdlers. Educational and informative and all that... Where are these novice hurdlers potentially on the 'cusp' supposed to go now?!? Not sad that one of the worst named races in the calender has gorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn. The Haydock Park Champion Hurdle Trial never really did what it said on the tin. However, I can see some logic re the moving, to a later date, of the International. Does make it, potentially, more of a Champion Hurdle trial. However, whether it will ever be supported by the relevant connections is another matter... In the novice chase section I can see no sense in the removal of both the Dipper and Ayr's Future Champions. Why, I say, why?!? And as for the John Francome going. Madness with a capital 'M'. In my opinion what better test for a staying novice chaser than 3 miles around Newbury. As someone once said this race provided wonderful 'Education, Education, Education...'. Meanwhile the 'new' Desert Orchid and Peter Marsh races are only going to work (and attract really, really decent performers or even horses slightly below that level) if they have loads of money chucked at them. Something I doubt will happen. And as for the removal of the Future Stars Intermediate (Sandown) and Grade 2 Many Clouds (Aintree). Again where are horses on the 'cusp' or, alternatively, emerging from the novice ranks supposed to go?!? In summary my view is good re the International and Haydock Park Champion Hurdle Trial but somewhat shocking re most of the rest. A couple of amendments that I'd propose. Reinstate the Finale Juvenile Hurdle as a Grade 1 (my dander is still up re this heat being downgraded). And please, please, please do something about the race that used to be the Hennessy Gold CUp. Growing up this used to be one of the highlights of the entire calendar but I don't think its an exaggeration to say that this contest is now not far away from being turned into just another run of the mill handicap. Throw some top money at the race and give it the chance to attract the very, very best staying chasers. No horse should be deemed 'too good' to run in this Royal Berkshire feature.
