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Great. £70K race, and 2 runners. Nothing could be done about the 2 non-runners, but why only 4 declared at the overnight stage?
And trainers/owners moan about lack of opportunities/prize money!
The two Open Handicaps at Ascot run at 17f and 19f with top-weights off 147 and 150 respectively have a number of runners who wouldn’t look out of place in the Peterborough, as of course wouldn’t My Way De Solzen.
So something of an unfortunate clash perhaps.
I’m actually a little puzzled that Ungaro runs at Aintree tomorrow instead of in this contest, given his effectiveness at the track (won the novice over the same C&D on the undercard last year) and a campaign which I believe was being geared towards the King George.
A great shame for Huntingdon, this, and as always with the big races at the smaller tracks, I fear there will be certain quarters calling for the Peterborough to be taken from the course (whether or not it’s actually anybody else’s to have).
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
I think you have hit the nail on the head Drone.
Racecourses and the race planning department really should work together to try and avoid such clashes – everyone would benefit.
One of the problems with having big races at three meetings on the same day is the availability of the top jockeys. Connections don’t like to run their top horses without the stable jockey – whether that’s justified or not, it’s a fact.
My business partner helped to set up sponsorship of the valuable Kingmaker Novice Chase at Warwick, but when trainers were approached about running in the race, they always raised the problem of jockeys being unavailable due to a clash with Ascot.
Eventually, the race was moved to the end of the Warwick card and the sponsor paid for a helicopter to transport the jockeys. This worked once, but then the weather intervened about five years in a row and Warwick gave up the race.
AP
Its got to the point wether to believe a horse has an injury or not, when every big race comes along there is always 2 or 3 high profile horses pulled out. Watch a spate of fancied horses been withdrawn from the Hennessey during the week.
Jump racing is getting more and more like Flat racing, witness the way high class chasers of recent years, War of Attrition & Kicking King, have been campaigned, the cotton wool treatment. Bring back the eighties and early nineties when high class chasers took each other on, on a regular basis. There is nothing to lose by been defeated, (no balls, no stud fees).I have might doubts as to wether Aces Four has an injury at all.
I posted as a responsible owner to let everyone know asap. Don’t think that I will bother again.
David, I’m sure everyone other than marz is grateful that you have marked their card re Aces Four.
Removing the Peterborough from Huntingdon would without doubt take from the race. It highlights further the impact that the bonus schemes are having. An example is the Fighting Fifth, firmly established within the racing calender, however, I doubt the horses being primed for next Saturdays event would be heading north minus WBX’s bonus.
Reverting the Peterborough back to a Thursday fixture is a possible solution…..attendances then become an issue. Or possibly a link with another significant mid week fixture, Exeter’s Haldon Gold Cup could be established?
I posted as a responsible owner to let everyone know asap. Don’t think that I will bother again.
First off I didn’t realise your the owner, maybe the horse has a slight injury, but I will remain forever sceptical, with the way the stars of NH are been campaigned these days. The fun seems to be gone out of it fear of defeat seems to be the deciding factor, and Cheltenham been the be all and end all.
Yes I am sure you are right. I shouldn’t have reacted like that but statements like the one below bewilder me.
"I have might (sic) doubts as to wether (sic) Aces Four has an injury at all."
For what purpose would we feign injury?To avoid a chance of winning a share of £70K in a 3 horse race? To lose the £500 it cost to enter?
Yes I am sure you are right. I shouldn’t have reacted like that but statements like the one below bewilder me.
"I have might (sic) doubts as to wether (sic) Aces Four has an injury at all."
For what purpose would we feign injury?To avoid a chance of winning a share of £70K in a 3 horse race? To lose the £500 it cost to enter?
Except my apoligies, but isn’t so dissapointing that a race of that value had only four decs. Simpity for owners are wearing thin.
MM,
I own or part own two sprint handicappers, a 3-y-old that made his debut over hurdles this week and an 8-y-old flat stayer that has never jumped a fence.
Which of those do you think I should have entered for the Peterborough Chase, just to avoid the possibility of you having to sit through a 2 runner race?
AP
DPRP
I for one certainly appreciate an owner taking the trouble to inform the public via this forum in such a timely manner.
Racing Demon runs of 166 today. I expect most owners have been scared off because if they get within a few lenghts of him, the handcapper will murder them.
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