Hipster Jumps races

[Quelle Farce]

Tomorrow sees the annual running of the most hipster race in the calendar, the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase (Listed) at Carlisle.

Hipster, because the ‘too cool for school’ look-outside-the-box types always regard it as a crucial pointer, and it always features horses who get a mention from the trendiest racing voices.

OK, persuade me, is there a more hipster race in the jumps calendar than the Colin Parker?

[Gladiateur]

Damn. I was planning on wearing thick-rimmed glasses, a checked shirt, drainpipe jeans and a pair of Vans on my trip to Carlisle tomorrow but I’ll have to change my plans now.

And shave off my beard.

[greenasgrass]

What’s the least cool race? The Betfair Chase? It’s kind of the bogger culchie welly wearing grade 1 in the calendar that the other two in the triple crown are a bit embarrassed by, the Henderson horses are too posh to attend, the Irish don’t bother with and all the hipster kid second season chasers are relaxing after the aforementioned Colin Parker.

[FinalFurlong91]

Espoir de romay will probably win and be put up for the gold cup left right and centre

Then be seen falling out the back of the tele 3 out in March

[Bachelors Hall]

Least cool race is easily the Ryanair for reasons I have exhausted on here…

Lancashire Chase (which is much cooler than “Betfair Chase”) has been given its cred by Kauto Star’s wins, especially his Lazarus like performance, along with Bristol de Mai making the race his own.

In terms of actual hipster jumps races, wouldn’t they be big races in esoteric jurisdictions (Velka Pardubice, Nakayama Grand Jump, Virginia Gold Cup), restricted traditional contests (Farmers’ race at Punchestown) or one of those outlandish cross country chases in France?

[peter .h]

The Premier Chase at Kelso is becoming a bit of a hipsters Grand National trial. It certainly isn’t my idea of a Grand National trial, yet plenty of big fancies end up going there en route to Aintree. Can only think of two National winners running (not winning) in the Kelso race before taking the National.

I feel quite bad really because it’s another Northern race being scrutinised.

So to balance the books I will say that Carlisle absolutely deserves a race that attracts better “Saturday” horses and if a hipster race is what is needed to do it, then do be it.

[robnorth]

Another ‘cool’ race at Kelso is the Borders National which has been contested by some decent staying chasers in recent times.

Not quite the same gravitas, but the ‘Hexham Four Miler’ in Cheltenham has been up there for many years. Even had an owning interest in a third in the contest when Outlaw Tom competed in 2014. Outlaw Tom also ran without any great success in the aforementioned Borders National (last of the finishers) and the late season ‘cool school’ event the Highland National at Perth (unseated 3 out when left a distant third).

[Quelle Farce]

Great replies there, especially yours, robnorth. Thanks for taking my original post in the spirit it was intended.

[Ex RubyLight]

The most hipster race imo, was the Thomas Pink Gold Cup. While the race still exists under a different name, the company closed it’s doors for good in 2021.
I actually own a Thomas Pink shirt and also a tie.

[Author]

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