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Cheltenham announced that it has been granted permission by the British Horseracing Authority to delay the closing date of the Christie’s Foxhunter Steeple Chase at The Festival by a week. The race was due to close on Tuesday, 24 February, but will now close on Tuesday, 3 March. The qualification date moves from 23 February to 2 March.
To qualify to run in this race, horses must, since 1 December 2006, have been placed first or second on two occasions in Hunter Chases or have won two Open Chases at Point-to-Point Meetings, or have won one Open Chase at a Point-to-Point and finished first or second in a Hunter Chase. As a result of the recent bad weather, nine Point-to-Point meetings and seven Hunter Chases have been abandoned. This extra week will mean that an additional 10 Point-to-Point meetings and four Hunter Chases will now be run before the cut-off for qualification, weather permitting, giving many more horses the opportunity to qualify.
Cheltenham’s Director of Racing, Simon Claisse, said: “With so many fixtures being lost to snow and waterlogging in the last two or three weeks, there was a groundswell of support from the point-to-point community to extend the qualification period by a week. This should help to ensure that the best possible field lines up for the Christie’s Foxhunter Steeple Chase on Friday, 13 March. We are very grateful to the Racing Department at the BHA for their help with this issue.”
Some news come through on the point to point forum JUMPING FOR FUN that Amiceli the 2008 winner finished second in the Open at Friars Haugh, Kelso today which is better than his first run last year when he fell early on at Brocklesby Park. I have no further information than that, but keep an eye on that siite for any titbits that may come our way in the run up to the festival
I would say Agus a Vic may as well stay at home after his showing today, some allowance should be made for the shocking ride by Jamie Codd but even stil………….
Robbers Glen is my early contender for this race. Beat a reasonable hunter chase field easily on saturday and ran reasonably in the foxhunters last season. Looks like a cracking big horse too!
Some news come through on the point to point forum JUMPING FOR FUN that Amiceli the 2008 winner finished second in the Open at Friars Haugh, Kelso today which is better than his first run last year when he fell early on at Brocklesby Park. I have no further information than that, but keep an eye on that siite for any titbits that may come our way in the run up to the festival
Didn’t Amicelli win his seasonal reappearance at Bangor-on-Dee PTP in late January last season, Bob? Seem to remember him and Little Big Horse being the headline-grabbers in barely raceable conditions that day.
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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.
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I backed Robbers Glen in the race last year, bbobbell, but was less than impressed by Val Jackson’s somewhat tender handling (he travelled particularly well and was only asked to close, under hands and heels, when the leaders were all but out of sight – if memory serves he ran on with some purpose).
He’s certainly an interesting proposition this time around, though I would want 33/1 or similar again to be persuaded to back him.
Who’s usually first to price the Foxhunters’ up?
I backed Robbers Glen in the race last year, bbobbell, but was less than impressed by Val Jackson’s somewhat tender handling
"Tender" is a shade uncharitable – like that other successful Northern horsewoman of yore, Val Jackson is probably more of a "knitter" than a hitter where riding styles are concerned, and any bet struck on her charges must be done so on that understanding.
It works for her more often than not – Robbers Glen has certainly won his share of points, and Mrs Jackson didn’t exactly have to paste him to land the spoils at Wetherby last weekend.
All roads presumably point to HQ again this term, but he still wouldn’t be my idea of a bet on the Foxhunters, as I think he’s happiest pounding away on flatter courses than Cheltenham. Were this race to be run at Kelso or Wetherby (or, even more hypothetically, a pointing venue like Whittington, Tranwell, Alnwick or Friars Haugh), he’d be a far more workable proposition.
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.
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Cashmans had a book open for some time (November I think) An Siorrac at 3-1, 14-1 bar but they’ve taken the race off line since it was revealed that An Siorrac was a non runner
Still no word on Carronhills?
I can’t see a serious Foxhunter’s contender in this years
John McCarthy Memorial Hunters ChaseYes Wallace Dun Doire certainly looks one to keep on side, whether Carronhills runs or not, she’d know which one to be on.
I’m wondering if a longs odds bet on Nina to be leading rider might be worth a pound or two? She’s also got Garde Champetre and Sizing Mexico, and maybe one or two decent rides for Fredy Murphy. I’ve seen it won with 3 or 4 winners before
Any other Irish Foxhunter possibles I might have missed?
I’ve not seen or heard of any decent UK contendersWallace
I’ve had another brouse through some of the contenders, what’s your thinking on Having A Cut? OK He was destroyed by An Siorrac but that was only to be expected, the rest of his form is decent (Ainree run was good) and I usually prefer a younger horse for this race.
Kilty Storm’s point form looks impressive but he’s the same agge as Dun Doire
Private Developer has also got good points form and is only a 6-Y-O, might be an EW possibility in Saturday’s race
Suspect Robbers Glen could improve a stone with a stronger jockey and that would put him right in the picture.
Would really love to see Southwestern do it, and wish they’d make the waiting tactics slightly less exaggerated. But he’s probably still a few pounds short.
Suspect Robbers Glen could improve a stone with a stronger jockey and that would put him right in the picture.
I’m sure you are right but it won’t happen, she’s an excellent jockey who loves her horses and is very gentle on them, if she wanted too she’s easily good enough to give him a "proper" ride. Now if she caught flu and Nina was available
The RP comments after Kelso are also a concern with Chelteham looming close…
I quote….."Wetherby winner ROBBERS GLEN was settled in last. Making ground with a circuit to go, he soon struggled to keep up with the first two. Making a mistake when left a clear eight-lengths second two out, he jumped to the front at the last. Soon forging clear, he became very tired and almost walked over the line.
He may need time to recover from this.
"
Would really love to see Southwestern do it, and wish they’d make the waiting tactics slightly less exaggerated. But he’s probably still a few pounds short.
Looks as if there might be a live UK contender.
There was a lot to like about SERICINA’s win today, held back off a very good pace early on, she came home with plenty in hand despite two or three sloppy (rather than bad) jumps.
It was her first run over regulation fences, with the experience gained today and the mare’s allowance she’s well worth a look considering the best two hunters in Ireland look like missing the race and Agus a Vic has never travelled well
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