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I just saw an article about this horses handicap mark. He was rated 147 in the Hennessey and ran a nice race to come third. He looked decent value for his mark but not obviously well handicapped. Then he went out and came second in a rubbish Lexus Chase only barely beating some average horses. The handicapper put the horse up 13lbs on the back of those two efforts. An absolutely ridiculous decision by the handicapper. This horse at his age has absolutely no chance of winning a good grade one and has even less chance of winning a handicap off a mark of 160
That may be the case. But he was only a half length off a 167 rated horse and beat horses rated in the high 150s low 160s. You could argue that the two out the back didn’t give their true runnings but Foxrock and On His Own probably ran better than their recent form suggested, so can understand where the handicapper is coming from. Connections will think this is harsh but they will be biased. He won’t be the first and he won’t be the last. But the hike has dented his GN chances somewhat if he was to go there.
It seems a perfectly reasonable increase, can’t see why anyone, even connections could complain.
Can’t have it both ways, run in G1 instead of a handicap and not take the increase if you run well.
The horse could have run in a handicap worth more money over course and distance at the same meeting off 147, you might ask connections why they didn’t run in that instead, he must have gone close based on his Lexus run.
Maybe it’s a consequence of connections having so many horses, they had 3 in each race but I don’t think any sympathy is deserved for the increase.
Who knows if Davy Russell could have been bothered to use is whip properly he may even have won the Lexus.
Putting an eleven year old up 13lbs for what he did is excessive.the horse just picked up the pieces in the Lexus
I see the BHA senior handicapper has just addressed this issue and confirmed that the correct decision has been made to raise the horse 13lbs.
The question remains why they didn’t run the horse in the PP handicap over course and distance off 147 for more money rather than disadvantageous terms with every other horse in the Lexus? You can’t have it both ways, connections have only themselves to blame if they are concerned about his handicap mark, maybe they’re not as bothered as you about it.
I see the BHA senior handicapper has just addressed this issue and confirmed that the correct decision has been made to raise the horse 13lbs.
The question remains why they didn’t run the horse in the PP handicap over course and distance off 147 for more money rather than disadvantageous terms with every other horse in the Lexus? You can’t have it both ways, connections have only themselves to blame if they are concerned about his handicap mark, maybe they’re not as bothered as you about it.
Of course he is going to agree with his own organisations decision. But he also confirmed that the Lexus form should be taken with a pinch of salt. 155 would be fair with Foxrock running to 154 and on his own 152. That would give Don poli only 156 for that race but he only barely ever does enough to win and happens to be a horse I think is over rated anyway.
The 13lb rise from 147 to 160 was imposed by the Irish handicapper, nothing to do with the BHA. You can find the official irish ratings here:
http://info.hri-racing.ie/Content/RAS/NHRatings.aspx?wid=4
If Phil Smith has said he agrees with the rise, fair enough, but he’s not the man in charge in this case.
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