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There were two Hunter Chases in late January last year and there’s one earlier-still this year, at Kelso on Sunday
They always used to start during the first week in February if memory serves, so anyone know why the season has been brought forward, and presumably extended?
I think an above-average number of hunter chases were lost to the weather in the past two seasons, Drone. Perhaps this measure of bringing them forward is an attempt to ensure that more hunters actually take place this year.
Although it might not be the intention behind this change, I think it will help the older horses. In past years, I think the physical demand of finishing first or second in two hunters in February could diminish an 11+ year-old’s chances of winning the Cheltenham Foxhunter in March.
This is a good common sense change, imo.
It’s all in part due to the season starting earlier in the past 5 or 6 seasons – pre-Christmas pointing is becoming more regular and is very very well supported by the owners and trainers.
Hoping to see a HC over Christmas at some point in the next few seasons and more chances for our UK horses to qualify.
Still not sure why we now have a whole series of Mares Hunter Chases – there’s one on the HC card that’s moved to Fontwell and struggling to see what there will be to run in the race.
Martin
Thanks both
I wasn’t aware the Pointers were at it before Christmas so this does seem a likely reason the Hunter season has also been brought forward
The former February start did seem a little arbitrary and it’s quite refreshing to discover that it seems neither the Hunters nor the Pointers are tied to an ‘official’ season but can race more-or-less when they fancy
My interest in Hunters is largely restricted to watching ex-Rules ‘senior citizens’ enjoy a new lease of life, and the occasional punt on said oldsters – fond memories of the MacGeorge wins (and losses) as a 13 and 14yo
It’s all in part due to the season starting earlier in the past 5 or 6 seasons – pre-Christmas pointing is becoming more regular and is very very well supported by the owners and trainers.
Basically true; although the number of programmed November/December Points shrunk from 11 last season to nine this, on account of the PPORC at Barbury reverting to a one-day meeting and the Hursley Hambledon moving to late-April at Larkhill from mid-December at Tweseldown (RIP).
Still not sure why we now have a whole series of Mares Hunter Chases – there’s one on the HC card that’s moved to Fontwell and struggling to see what there will be to run in the race.
Same thought lines as have underpinned the swelling numbers of mares’ novice hurdles this term, albeit the number of eligible animals may not – as you say – be huge.
In addition, a Lady Myfanwy / Chesnut Annie / Upton Springs / Double Mead sort of clash would be lovely, but I can’t imagine all of those are going to be sent all the way to Sussex just to clash (especially when there’s the new mares’ hunter chase at Cheltenham’s May meeting which is closer to home for all of them).
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.
I wasn’t aware the Pointers were at it before Christmas so this does seem a likely reason the Hunter season has also been brought forward
November/December Pointing – introduced start of 2006-7 season.
January hunter chasing – reintroduced 2012 after a gap of 18 years. (and only ever really hosting races one or two days before the end of January even then, depending on how the days of the week fell).
It seems to have taken the Rules racing calendar long enough to respond to the shifting sands of time between the flags.
The former February start did seem a little arbitrary and it’s quite refreshing to discover that it seems neither the Hunters nor the Pointers are tied to an ‘official’ season but can race more-or-less when they fancy
Sort of – the Pointing calendar is a sensitive organ, too, dependent on inter- and intra-Area politics, the whims of landowners and farmers, the protracted weather, clashes with major hunting days, and – in the case of Larkhill – military manoeuvres.
Meetings are rescheduled far more often than under Rules, however. The Black Forest Club (Black Forest Lodge) and the SMAC (Whitfield) were two initially abandoned November/December fixtures quickly rearranged (to the following week and February 2nd respectively) with nary a word of conflict or anguish.
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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