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It’s the biggest day in American jumps racing on a proper jumps course with full competitive fields and a lot of Anglo-Irish interest. Entries will be out Wednesday but nominations can be viewed on the NSA website. Note The Mean Queen suffered a setback and is out of the AGN https://nationalsteeplechase.com/racing/
The annual task of explaining that the $250k “American Grand National” is in fact a hurdle race is made all the more difficult this year by John Hanlon bringing over a bona fide chaser in Hewick with the expressed intention of using the race in preparation for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Hanlon says that American hurdles are “a mix between a fence and a hurdle”. I would respectfully dispute that. They are hurdles. They are taller in dimension than NH hurdles but a good portion of that can just be brushed through. They’ve been in use for over 40 years so this is pretty well established. The American equivalent to steeplechase fences are timber races but if Hewick is a sloppy jumper over brush I’d hate to see him attempt post and rail.
All this is to say that the 5/2 ante post bet on Snap Decision right now is a steal and the 4/6 on Hewick is nuts. The antepost odds on Snap were even better prior to The Mean Queen’s defection but they are still worth it. He’ll be odds-on in parimutuel wagering. Global Citizen is more of a hurdler than Hewick but his ability to stay 2 5/8 miles on a hilly course (it’s in the name) is doubtful. The wildcard is of course Noah and the Ark who shocked with his massive victory in the Lonesome Glory but he’s about 20lb worse than Snap Decision and was carrying 28lb less, he’ll be at level weights this time.
The undercard races are also worth a look. Gordon Elliott is bring over two rather modest runners in Soviet Pimpernel who will likely enter the Appleton <130 ratings hurdle and Ted Hastings who will be in very deep in the Foxbrook for novices, along with 3yo The Insider who’s getting an easy $50k paycheck in the Gladstone. There’s also a 4yo hurdle and a new $100k 2-mile flat stakes that will have an intriguing mix of flat horses stretching out and jumpers cutting back. Also probably the world’s richest maiden hurdle ($50k) which is unfortunately replacing the filly & mare stakes that got cancelled due to lack of entries
. All in all a great day of jumps racing and one that will have actual television/Youtube coverage in the US through Fox Sports.I lied, the overnight entries for Far Hills just came out today https://nationalsteeplechase.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/FarHills-Overnight-MonEntries1.pdf
Jockeys Danny Mullins, Davy Russell, Nicolai deBoinVille, Jordan Gainford and Kielan Woods are all coming over for the $$$.It’s supposed to rain on Thursday, up to half an inch (~1cm) but sunny the rest of the week, so probably “good” ground.
It does feel like the UK bookmakers are, dare I say, biased in favor of their own? It’s understandable as European invaders have done exceptionally well in this race as 4 of the last 6 winners were making their first US start. I suppose the closest comparison to Hewick would be 2018 winner Jury Duty but Jury Duty was a more polished jumper, had a higher rating over hurdles, and had a race set up perfectly for him with the yielding ground wearing down several of his foes.
Love this thread – it’s piqued my interest in the contest.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Everyone seems to be enjoying their little “vacation”. Elliott’s and Hanlon’s horses ae being boarded at Ricky Hendrik’s farm in Pennsylvania
We went to visit Hewick this morning at Ricky Hendriks' farm as he prepares for the Grand National at @FarHillsRace on Saturday. Thanks for making the trip, @jhanlonracing! pic.twitter.com/e8V7ahYB8h
— NSA (@JumpingwithNSA) October 12, 2022
Yesterday we stopped by Morningstar Farm to meet the @gelliott_racing contingent racing at @FarHillsRace on Saturday. Good luck to:
THE INSIDER (IRE) in The Gladstone
SOVIET PIMPERNEL (IRE) in The Appleton
TED HASTINGS (IRE) in The Foxbrook pic.twitter.com/leEzinujJ1— NSA (@JumpingwithNSA) October 12, 2022
while Global Citizen (who can now claim to be accurately named) is getting the star treatment in Maryland
https://twitter.com/USASteeplechase/status/1580199082076708865Here’s the quick analysis from Joe Clancy https://thisishorseracing.com/opinion/the-outside-rail-by-joe-clancy/far-hills-2022-a-first-look/
And great news: the full card will be covered on “America’s Day at the Races” on Fox Sports (preceded by British Champions’ Day coverage in the morning!), and non-Americans/people without cable will be able to watch on Youtube on NYRA’s channel
Can’t promise good camera quality or good camera angles but having jumping on national television is huge, jumps racing’s exposure in the states is so much lower than flat racing which is already pretty darn low. The Champions Day lead-in will hopefully snag some flat racing fans curious about this weird steeplechase thing.It’s race day! Live stream is up on Youtube https://www.sharkhanlonracing.ie/far-hills this link should work if you can’t directly get the youtube link. First race is up shortly.
Ground is officially “yielding” (the races at Aqueduct are off turf lol) but Hanlon described it yesterday as being “on the softer side of good” so that’s probably what it translates to by Irish standards.
And some insane stuff happened overnight. These threads will explain better than I can.
https://twitter.com/USASteeplechase/status/1581167256033460226Whips will not be allowed in the jump races today at @FarHillsRace. Riders can use them for safety purposes into fences if necessary but can not be used to improve position. The flat race will be under hisa whip rules. Madness, but anyway, it is what it is. @USASteeplechase
— Keri Brion (@Keri145) October 15, 2022
So long story short the state racing commission announced that whips will be allowed for encouragement in the flat race but for the jumps races it can only be used for safety. The original whip ban was a product of animal rights loons and I can only think this surprise is also their responsibility. Madness.
The Insider with Davy Russell up much the best in the Gladstone. Really jumps well. Will be interesting to see where he goes from here, will he stay in the USA with an American trainer or will he return to the UK…
Ted Hastings and Russell battle Howyabud to win the Foxbrook in the final strides! I think the course condition benefitting the Irish horses. Certainly would consider NH and NSA hunt meet form more relevant than Saratoga or especially Colonial from the summer.
Has Elliott been sending raiding parties to America for a while? A bit like Perth. Only further….
For several years now yes. He won the big race with Jury Duty in 2018. I think he’s sent horses to Nashville in the spring a couple times also.
You had me worried there! They were talking on WHill radio today about trainers that just have an instinct about when to run horses and their well being and my first thought was Gordon Elliott.
Redicean denies Elliott the hat trick in the ratings hurdle, Soviet Pimpernel finishes 3rd.
2-mile flat race up next is wide open, 14 horses. Michael Dickinson actually has a nice horse (Royne) in here who is currently the favorite in the betting.
I had to back Global Citizen in the big race as he’s always featured in the Jumping prospects book I buy each year. I haven’t bought the latest edition yet and I’d kick myself if I do get it and it says ‘will win the American National this year’.Why is Hewick down to run under a different trainer? Has he been sold?
. All in all a great day of jumps racing and one that will have actual television/Youtube coverage in the US through Fox Sports.
Can’t promise good camera quality or good camera angles but having jumping on national television is huge, jumps racing’s exposure in the states is so much lower than flat racing which is already pretty darn low. The Champions Day lead-in will hopefully snag some flat racing fans curious about this weird steeplechase thing.
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