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Timeform say,
Tidal Bay who headed the weights for the 2013 showpiece was allotted 11 st 10 lbs and a mark of 162, which was four pounds lower than the one he raced off when second to Bob’s Worth in November’s Hennessy and nine pounds below his mark away from Aintree.
Timeform added,
The BHA handicappers have the discretion to treat some of the Grand National top weights relatively leniently, a policy that has always been hard to justify yet seems to go unquestioned.
The top seven horses at the top of the original Grand National weights in 2013 could have run from lower marks at Aintree than they would have been allotted in other big handicaps.
The routine compressing of the top weights in the Grand National has been justified by the BHA’s head of handicapping Phil Smith, who says "I believe the effect of weight increases with distance".
Such an effect apparently applies, however, only to those at the top of the handicap – not to any of those originally allotted 11-3 or less in the 2013 National, for example – and it apparently does not apply in any other long distance handicap.
The latest Grand National winner Aurora’s Encore, who carried 10st 3lbs at Aintree, had his official BHA mark raised 11 lb after that race but there was no special concession for him in the weights for the 4 mile Scottish National; he made his bid for history at Ayr under top weight of 11-12, which reflected the full 11 lb rise in his BHA mark.
The Grand National is far and away the most valuable race in the jumping calendar in Britain and Ireland and, in truth, the owners of the best chasers shouldn’t need any greater incentive than that.
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I concur entirely with all the above from Timeform, there is no longer any justification for separate weights for the Grand National, if there ever was.
Couldn’t agree more. Why should they be able to tinker with this one race and no others? There are more than enough entries every year to fill the 40 places.
There never was. Impressive that Phil Smith could make himself appear more important than he is.
Should have been a Premiership referee
Legalised cheating, why are they allowed to get away with it without question from racing journalists?
There is absolutely no logic to what Phil Smith has said on the issue yet he has been failed to be questioned or pressed on the subject as he should be by racing journalists, they are in effect condoning what he does.
Good to see the gravy train alive and kicking.
I think I’d agree. Every year when the weights come out, I get excited and tell colleagues some early tips. And then, having explained the concept of handicapping again, I’m always waiting for someone to ask why a special handicap is put together for the National, rather than just running it off their normal marks.
I’m glad no-one’s asked yet, as I don’t think I could answer it. Especially with the recent changes.
The routine compressing of the top weights in the Grand National has been justified by the BHA’s head of handicapping Phil Smith, who says "I believe the effect of weight increases with distance".
It will be interesting to see if Phil Smith has the nerve to drop Tidal Bay this year. After producing such a good run under extreme conditions in the Welsh Grand National. Chepstow stamina tests are usually greater than Aintree.
Average speed
over 4m3f110yrds on good or good-soft around a flat course
being faster
– than 3m4f110yrds on heavy ground around an undulating course…
Therefore, why should Tidal Bay be massively better off at the weights with the Chepstow 1-2 – for only a head and half length beating?
Value Is EverythingIf they want to alter a horse’s mark outside the norm, they should do so for the supporting cast in Graded Chases. Many trainers won’t run their ‘lesser’ horses here for fear of shooting up the handicap should their horse get anyhwre near the principals. Mr Smith would be better employed finding a way round this dilemma, imo
If they want to alter a horse’s mark outside the norm, they should do so for the supporting cast in Graded Chases. Many trainers won’t run their ‘lesser’ horses here for fear of shooting up the handicap should their horse get anyhwre near the principals. Mr Smith would be better employed finding a way round this dilemma, imo
Ballysimon wasn’t a great horse over hurdles. Won a maiden point to point in 2008 but then spent 2 years either falling or getting smashed out of site when he did manage to complete.
In April 2010 he won a terrible race at Wetherby by 21 lengths and was immediately raised 23lbs.Is that really the way in which horses should be rated ?
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