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I’ve often wondered what the point of National Hunt Flat races are, if you want to run your horse on the flat, run it on the flat!
Now I see that Newbury have a Bumper over a mile and a half in the next week, what has that got to do with Jump racing?
Could anyone enlighten me on the purpose of NH Flat Races in the scheme of thinks?
If you own a young horse that has specifically been bred for jump racing the best way to introduce it to racing is in bumpers. Young backward big horses can learn a lot about the racing by having a few runs in bumpers. The aspect of bumpers I don’t understand is having championship races. These end up being very competitive races and are likely to put a young horse off the idea of racing.
Bumpers should only be open to jumps-bred horses or to horses by a sire who won over at least a mile and a half. For these type of horses bumpers can serve a purpose but seeing 2,000 gns Godolphin cast offs and the like turning up in these 3-y-o junior bumpers is a waste of time. Don’t even get me started on polytrack ones!
It’s arguable whether it’s the "best way" Wallace. I know a few trainers who would disagree. Point-to-points provide an alterenative means of educating a young horse and are probably a more suitable option for big, backward types who would be run off their legs in bumpers.
Agree with you David. Remember seeing Big Eared Fran win at Sandown last year – 200k+ yearling and ex-Ballydoyle inmate. No idea what he was doing in a ruddy bumper
Point-to-points do have races 2 + miles for young horses (most points are 3 + miles) but they have to be qualified with a hunt; very little prize money; ridden by amateurs; and they have to jump fences (lower than NH but still fences). So they are quite different to bumpers …
There have been many young horses started in points who have gone on to be really good ones under rules.Bumpers should only be open to jumps-bred horses or to horses by a sire who won over at least a mile and a half. For these type of horses bumpers can serve a purpose but seeing 2,000 gns Godolphin cast offs and the like turning up in these 3-y-o junior bumpers is a waste of time. Don’t even get me started on polytrack ones!
I agree with David on this one. Kelso had a 1m 5f 3yo bumper a while back, an event which should be called a maiden and run at Hamilton!
I find the two mile bumpers useful for spying potential jumping prospects, and that’s what I’m looking when I watch them. I occasionally bet on them if I find a horse siginificantly better in the paddock than the remainder. I tend to favour the ones run on stiffer tracks as it tells you more about the staying potential of the runners.
I’ve been a convert to these events in recent years. I used to think they were a waste of time but these days I look forward to them for two reasons:
1. I might spot potential for the future.
2. Half the crowd b****r off earlier and make it easier for me to get out of the car park! Mind you I stayed behind at Perth watching the pony racing for the same reason…..Not wishing to blow my own trumpet (much!), but if you read my notes you might see what I get out of them.
Rob
But if a sturdy jumps bred 4-y-old needs ‘experience’ in what is basically a schooling race, given the funereal pace at which most are run, why doesn’t the same apply to the 2-y-olds that turn out at Doncaster for the Brocklesby. Some of them aren’t even actually two years old, but they seem to cope OK.
As a cynic, I’d say the main purpose of a bumper is as a way to persuade the likes of Graham Wylie that a horse that runs two miles in a time ten to twenty second slower than a 0-60 handicap is worth a six figure sum of money at a subsequent sale.
Otherwise, it’s a means for a trainer to obtain an extra year of fees for a horse that he already knows is useless and/or can’t jump.
As in – ‘Ah, but wait until you see him over hurdles……..’.
I seem to remember that the 3yo bumpers were proposed following the scientific study that suggested that NH bred horses who started racing late in their careers suffered more fatal injuries in races than horses that had raced on the flat then switched codes.
Something to do with the races in their 2nd and 3rd year strengthening the legs of the flat horses as opposed to the NH store horses that had stood in a field until they were 5.
The races themselves do seem like glorified schooling sessions and the only ones I’ve ever bet on are the Champion at the Festival and the Aintree equivalent, they are not generally a betting proposition in my book and not much of a spectacle either.I was actually going to ask a few days ago which horses that have won high profile bumper races [eg Cheltenham] and gone on to great achievements…the only one that I can remember seeing myself is Florida Pearl winning at the Festival.
amateur horses and amateur jockeys riding at high speed on a race course before a racing audience; may the best man and best horse win.
It should be fun to watch,or a disaster!I was actually going to ask a few days ago which horses that have won high profile bumper races [eg Cheltenham] and gone on to great achievements…the only one that I can remember seeing myself is Florida Pearl winning at the Festival.
After running away with the Supreme Novices Montelado could have been anything but for the injury Moe.
Rhinestone Cowboy, while never quite living up to expectations (who was the trainer again ?
), didn’t do too badly though.Lee
That’s a very cynical view you have Alan.
Returning to the subject of famous bumper graduates. How soon we forget. I give you Monsignor
1999 Champion Bumper winner
2000 R&SA novice hurdle winner (defeating Best Mate)
2011 Gold Cup WInnerIt was in the Tolworth that Monsignor gave a beating to Best Mate. Best Mate ran in the Supreme Novices that year and was second to Sausalito Bay.
Bumpers should only be open to jumps-bred horses or to horses by a sire who won over at least a mile and a half.
How do you define "jumps-bred"?
As for restricting races to sires who won overat least 12f, then if, for example, another Arkle, Golden Mller, Viking Flagship, Pendil, Mill House, Desert Orchid, Flagship Uberalles or anything by Strong Gale came along, they wouldn’t be allowed to race in bumpers.
Better to scrap bumpers altogether and put horses straight to hurdles,or enter them in proper flat races.
Venusian, I realise that the term ‘jumps bred’ was lazily and doesn’t really have a true meaning so qualified it with the terms that I did. Regarding the horses you mention, so what if they couldn’t run in bumpers, they ar hardly renowned for their exploits in that sphere. Flagship Uberalles is a bizarre one to have in your list considering he came off the Flat anyway.
I’d have no problem with scrapping bumpers but this industry is hardly renowned for its revolutionary changes is it.
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