Festival’s 28th Race

There was a piece in ‘The Guardian’ over the weekend in which they stated that the addition of another race at the Cheltenham Festival, from next term, was almost a done deal and that it will replace the ‘Charity Race’ held on the Thursday of the meet. This latter race incidentally looks to be on its ‘last legs’ due to the intervention of those old rogue’s, the Health & Safety boys.

There was much conjecture in the paper about what the new race would be with the most probably predicted to be either a mares only steeplechase, a mares only bumper or a Grade 1 Hurdle over 20 Furlongs. To be honest I wouldn’t want any of these as they would merely be other heats which would dilute the product and take quality horses away from already established events. In fact I’d like to see the Festival returned to 18 races featuring nothing but Grade 1 championship events, ultra-tough handicaps and races for the very best of the Corinthian jockeys. These new races like the Ryanair, JLT, the novices handicap chase and Mares Hurdle offer little to the meeting in my view. They simply make it a parody of its former self.

But as the latter point isn’t going to happen I’d give my vote for a ‘28th race’ to a Veteran’s steeplechase. This would be for horses aged 10YO+ and be run over either 3 miles or 28 furlongs. I’d be happy for the race to be either a handicap or a conditions affair. Such an event would showcase some of our older stars who have given so much over the seasons and prove a fitting finale to their careers. And I tell you what sponsors would be queuing up to put money into such a ‘feel good’ event. Many of such horses often run in handicaps at the Festival in which they have little to no chance against well handicap, unexposed, younger animals. So that the product isn’t diluted by the addition of this race I’d limit it to horses rated no higher than 155. Therefore, the very best 10YO+ horses will continue to contest the existing Grade 1 heats rather than be able to opt for an easier alternative.

But what do you think??? What would be your suggestion for a 28th race???

 

A 6 furlong steeplechase, like they have at Portman Park

 

I agree with SBC that a 2m4f G1 hurdle would be a bad idea. Take this years CH for example, I fancy atleast a couple of Faugheen, The New One, Jezki and Hurricame Fly would be running in the 2m4 race, and diluting quality of the CH. There's a 2n4 G1 at Aintree, that's enough for me

 

A Mares bumper of course!

 

You are just using 1 race as an example though Oddy, and it was Best Mates 3rd win. Although it was a weak era for steeplechasers Best Mate was head and shoulders above the rest around Cheltenham. So you can understand why other horses didn't want to take him on.

I think you are also confusing not staying, with not having enough class. The 2m4 division is far weaker than the 2m and the 3m division, as it isn't a championship distance. The examples you have given are all bad examples as Dynaste, Cue Card, and Albertas Run are all G1 winners over 3 miles or more. Riverside Theatre was a runner up in a KG aswell. So I'm not really sure how you can come to the conclusion that they where Ryanair horses because they didn't stay further. They won the Ryanair because it is a lower quality race than the GC.

Cue Card for me though was best at 2 miles even though he did stay further, and he would have been campaigned as a 2 miler after he was runner up in the Arkle if the Ryanair wasn't around. The Ryanair gave him an option to dodge Sprinter Sacre. You look at when SS was at his peak CC was the horse who got closest to him of all his opponents, even Sizing Europe was beat far more convincingly. That Arkle the 2 ran in was probably the highest quality 2 mile race in a very long time at the festival. Menorah and Al Ferof where we'll beat in it aswell.

 

Yes the championship race would have been of a higher quality, and the best chaser for a very long time would of had more competition than a couple of old has beens like Sizing Europe and Big Zeb. Top horses in there day, but at 11 and 12 they should not have been the main challengers. Cue Card would have beat both of those with ease that day.

The horses in question haven't just won a feltham chase. Cue Cards won a betfair chase, Alberta's Run won an RSA. Also every horse there has at the very least been runner up in a G1 out of novice company over 3m+

You also have to factor in how a Gold Cup is run, it is not always ran at a fast pace. I've never been convinced about Kauto Star staying a truly run Gold Cup, but he managed to win 2, as he took advantage when the pace was slow those years.

So it's always worth running a horse with slight stamina questions, as you can never be sure how the race will be run

 

Looking at it at a slight different angle I don’t think the Ryanair (like many of the ‘new’ races) really deserves its place at the Festival. Run it as a Grade 1 in mid Feb, the end of March or mid April by all means but as a Championship event at the NH spheres most prestigious meeting its not for me.

To slightly alter Ted Walsh’s famous rant re the World Hurdle no owner or trainer when they send a fledgling chaser onto the schooling grounds for the first time ever says, whilst striking their breast with force, ‘By the grace of God I hope I win a Ryainair with that one’. It is ultimately a race for horses who haven’t got the speed to win the Champion Chase or the stamina for a CGC. Only by failing at either or both of these traits is a Ryanair ever considered.

Also, to win it is rather like winning a Supreme Novices on the bridle by 10 lengths. You do have to wonder if after dancing down the hallway and then placing the trophy on the old mantelpiece the winning owner wonders soberly, ‘Cor blimey what would have happened if we had run in the CGC?!?’. I certainly think Cue Card’s owners must have had this thought in the back of their mind after his success.

 

I think you have to draw the line somewhere Oddy, there are races run over all sorts of distances throughout the NH season, but adding in more G1s over different trips is only likely to dilute the others. Most horses whilst they have an optimum trip are versatile, so the best ones will be able to adapt to running over either 2 miles or 3m2. There really is no need for a race in the middle.

Il put a question to you, how do you think this seasons Champion Hurdle would look if you put in a G1 hurdle race over 2m4?

Would Mullins be running both his stable stars? Would The New One be running?

Im not saying for certain but I think there would be a very good chance that 2 out of the first 4 in the betting wouldn't be running

 

They will probably get there way in the end Oddy, but it doesn't mean I have to agree with it.

I'm not saying I don't enjoy the Ryanair as a race, like you say they often have some great finishes. Albertas Run was involved in a few great scraps to the line. I just don't think it should be run at the festival, as it takes something away from the bigger races.

The Thursday in my experience is the best day to go as it's the quietest. I'm not a big fan of going to Cheltenham during the festival as it's to busy for my liking. I have much more fun watching it in the pub with the lads. I have been on Gold Cup day once, and I'd never go on that day again, you can barely move and your queuing up for 15 mins just for a beer. Then once you finally get your beer, there is some jobs worth stopping you from taking the beer out onto the front to watch the next race. At least on the Thursday you get served in a couple of minutes so there's time to drink before the next race

 

I forgot about the piss you need in between each race aswell

It is just not possible on the busy days to go piss, beer, race. A lot of people do there bets beforehand, but if you wanted to have a bet aswell, you have no chance

 

I'm with you on that, much prefer watching it in the pub

Not sure about the 2mile 4f hurdle race but it is a little strange that you have to run a further 50% to compete in a championship race. Would Hurricane Fly run in the 2m race this year if he could run in a Ryanair Hurdle probably not but he won't be winning anyway so it wouldn't detract from the race. I believe TNO, Faugheen and Jezki would all still run in the Champion. The race it may affect is the World hurdle but that is the weakest of the 4 anyway. You might even have had Annie Power taking on the boys in a Ryanair hurdle

 

Couldn’t agree more. I’ve been on CGC day twice in the past and can honestly say I never enjoyed either day. Have only been racing 3 times in my life and not enjoyed the day – these 2 and ‘Celebration Mile’ day at Goodwood a few years back.

I found that the course was packed to the absolute limits, 90% of the clientele were blind drunk by 1 o’clock and so many people in attendance knew nothing whatsoever about racing (people crib Royal Ascot for this latter point but in my opinion Cheltenham on CGC day is far, far worse).

I wouldn’t go again even if the Racecourse offered me free admission and lunch with a minor Royal.

 

I have never been a strong supporter of Hurricane Flys credentials at Cheltenham, but you cannot dismiss his chances completely. He's 3 from 3 in G1s this season, and if it was to turn up soft he'd have a chance.

You mention Jezki the reigning champ as a certain runner this year regardless, but I think there's a good argument to say he wouldn't even be a champion hurdle winner if there was a 2m4 G1 last year. His win last season was a surprise to connections, as My Tent Or Yours was considered the better horse by McCoy and JP, so they may have sent Jezki to the 2m4 race instead a trip he was a G1 winner over.

I don't think it's a guarantee that the New One would run against Faugheen, he probably would, but he's not the quickest so the opportunity of being an odds on favourite in a weaker race over a distance he may be more suited to, could be to tempting to turn down for connections

 

I'd put a polytrack round the side and introduce a new 10 furlong Group 1 flat race.