“It is why we are getting more top mares going against the males in the top races”
Yes that is the whole point. Statistically, if the system works, shouldn’t mares be winning the champion hurdle 50% of the time?
“there is a strong argument that the likes of Lossiemouth, Honeysuckle and Annie Power would have still won their Champion Hurdles even if they were racing on level weights against the males.”
Is there? 1lb=approx 1 length? At levels according to that formula
Annie would have been beaten by MTOY and Nichols Canyon
Epatante would have been beaten by Sharjah
Honeysuckle and Sharjah (on ground softer than his ideal, perfect for her) would have been close and strictly speaking if 1lb=1 length he would have won
Honeysuckle would have been pushed and again if taking 1lb=1l literally, beaten by a 5yo Zanahiyr, Epatante would have been beaten by him
Golden Ace would have won the freak race (though not if State Man had stood up) comfortably from Burdett Road
Lossie and TNL would have been close (dead heat taken literally) but she probably have won anyway
Sharjah and Zanahiyr (and Burdett Road and The New Lion) were/are good horses but not stars that were robbed by the weight allowance. Poor old My Tent Or Yours would have got his win though 