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Going in the right direction. Why not introducing ‘Mares only’ obstacles and ‘Mares only’ tracks?
That Close Brothers Nov H’cap Chase was a pretty decent race for anything short of Arkle, RSA or JLT material.
The most obvious thing to happen in the next 5-6 years will be a ‘Mares only’ fifth Festival day. 100% certain. There will be a Mares Bumper and so on….
Nowadays Dawn Run could have won a Mares Novice, Mares Hurdles, and Mares Chase treble! What a time to be alive.
BUY THE SUN
If they were going to have a Mares Chase, then I agree that the Novices Handicap was the race to lose.
Not convinced the Mares Chase belongs on Gold Cup day, especially if it proves to be as uncompetitive as the Mares Hurdle and the Dawn Run.
It looks like a way of moving the Grand Annual away from Gold Cup day after all the bad publicity it generated.
I thought the Mares Hurdle was competitive myself. Honeysuckle v Benie was a highlight for me.
Ruby,
There already is a mares only day at Cheltenham. For the last three years, the second day of the April meeting has consisted of seven races for fillies and mares, and yes, that includes a bumper.
Would Dawn Run, who remember was a novice that had fallen at Cheltenham on her last start, have bypassed the Gold Cup in 1986 in favour of a Mares Chase? And deprived those of us present that day, of one of the great Cheltenham memories.
Run this new race at the existing restricted meeting in April, and a top class mare can do both. Too sensible for the idiots now running our sport.
Absolutely spot on AP. I am surprised that this view is not the general consensus.
Perhaps this anonymous poll might elucidate things?
I saw David Fitzgerald and another alleged pundit on RTV last night. They reviewed the action from Ludlow but then went on to talk about the Novices Handicap Chase being dropped from the festival and how it was a terrible decision.
Neither seemed to realise that the race has been moved to Sandown. If owners want to run their precious novice chaser in the race, they still can.
Why does everything have to be about Cheltenham and the festival?
The last thing this sport need is another race to suit the needs of Mullins or Elliott purchases.
Benie Des Dieux should fall out of the Mares’ Only programme after winning at the absolut highest level in Jumps Racing (a winner of the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil). What is she doing in restricted events against her own sex? Okay, I’d accept a prep run first time out, but then I’d rather see her at the highest level again instead of running at level weights against horses rated two stones inferior to her.
Roksana was a fortunate winner in 2019 and Apple’s Jade beat two Mullins’ mares (Limini and VVM) back in 2017. Otherwise they would have the race renamed to “The Supporting Willie Mullins Mares Hurdle”……
Not expecting too many to rock up for this new mares race and not likely to be a good betting heat. Very likely a bore fest. Novices handicap should have been retained.
I like the optimism on here. There will only be a festival behind closed doors, this crap government have lost the plot and covid will still be here in March and beyond.
All comers, all ground, all beaten
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