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So what did we all think of the new fences and layout?
The good news is that in the three chases yesterday, wo had only one faller and one unseated rider.
The not so good news is that the strength of the portable fences wasn’t exactly advertised by the one that had to be bypassed in the final chase, due to being ‘seriously damaged on the first circuit’. What state will they be in by the end of the season?
The definitely not good news for punters is that the 3M chases are being run over a trip well short of the advertised distance. Even ignoring the big race time, the 3M handicappers were officially managing 128 secs per mile, compared to 131 secs per mile for the 2M chase, both of which featured horses of similar standard.
I was also disappointed to see a Grade 1 3M chase being run over just 16 fences – two less than the minimum for that distance specified in the rules of racing.
As for the process of wheeling on the fences, let’s hope that it improves with practice. The delay to the big race wsn’t a great start.
Verdict 4/10
AP
I think you are being a touch generous there, AP.
Even making allowances for it being the first time the hurdles had to be rolled off iand replaced by the fences in an actual race meeting situation, surely they shouldn’t have been around 15 minutes late off for the big race.
Colin
Quite liked those fences, a bit softer and I prefer that. Couldn’t they have patched that one up so it could have been jumped again?
The discrepancy about the distance was brought up on RUK by Richard Hoiles via Nick Luck. Apparently the Betfair Chase was considered to be 2 miles 7 and a half furlongs the same as the hurdles course.
Does anyone like those brush hurdles ? I do, the horses seem to give them more respect. Might not suit an undulating course though, but they seem to slow things down a bit.
soft ground so the races were run at a slower pace therefore no real drama. The acid test will be on quicker ground – I can envisage horses hurtling round this wall of death, chances being taken with the dandy brush abominations, and horses somersaulting to their demise. But hey just think of those Friday night bar takings when the majority of those present don’t care what is happening outside!!
The water jump has re-materialised on the inside, yes the inside of the track! Runners will therefore have to chicain to the left, jump the water, then do a 180 even tighter than that which faced them yesterday. That will take another few yards off the correct distance – Betfair chase over 2m 6f anyone?
Haydock as a National Hunt track is now reminiscent of Southwell but without the challenge!
The track is far too tight and does not present the same challenge of the old chase course with the drop fences. A sharp flat track with portable fences is not what chasing is about, especially at a course staging high class races.
Why have the changes been made?
Wallace,
Two flat tracks – increased number of Friday nights – increased bar returns – bollox to National Hunt
I have to agree the chase course looked awful there on Saturday. It was so bad even Kauto couldn’t be bothered to make a mistake!! :D
Seriously considering what a course it was compared to now… It’s just a completely different track. Twin Oaks and Neale Doughty certainly wouldn’t approve!!
Even making allowances for it being the first time the hurdles had to be rolled off iand replaced by the fences in an actual race meeting situation, surely they shouldn’t have been around 15 minutes late off for the big race.
Hear hear. It’s the work of seconds at Southwell.
Whilst some things will only be properly tested in racing conditions (i.e. how the rubber fences jump at 40mph), wheeling obstacles on and off a track, and a track supposedly familiar with the practice following several years of the "Fixed Brush" series already at that, ought not.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
Does anyone like those brush hurdles ? I do, the horses seem to give them more respect. Might not suit an undulating course though, but they seem to slow things down a bit.
I’m quite a fan of the brush hurdles for precisely the reason you state, but on a purportedly Grade 1 or 2 course I’m happier with them being ON THEIR OWN TRACK.
Having seen one of the rubber fences at closer order at Fontwell in September (where one was on display in a public area), I remain a little less convinced about these. As Alan mentioned, for one to be damaged beyond repair on day one is a tad disconcerting.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
after going to haydock yesterday it didnt turn out as bad as i thought. though i was puzzled that the big race was started in the same place as the half a furlong shorter brush hurdle. as for the delay…at least the race got a proper build up instead of being rushed. a race as good as the betfair should have a 40min gap before it to make the most of these great horses.
i note that huntingdon are not happy with the turnout of the peterbrough chase and its clash with haydock and ascot. maybe the soloution is instead of having three big meetings on at the same time they should just put all the big races on one card somewhere.I was also disappointed to see a Grade 1 3M chase being run over just 16 fences – two less than the minimum for that distance specified in the rules of racing.
As was the Charlie Hall, if memory serves. Even with the water reinstated at Haydock, the 3m course is going to be one fence short of the required total.
Mind, the rules on fence totals as they stand have all gone to pot in recent years, haven’t they. Stratford and Market Rasen still have too few obstacles for their respective 2m1.5f and 3m1f chase courses.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
I’d love to see more races run over the fixed brush hurdles, think it’s only a matter of time before the Champion Hurdle Trial is switched to them. The trainers seem to like them etc.
As for the new course it’s so much tighter than the old one, The Last Fling, Young Kenny and Bobby Grant will be looking down shaking their heads as we speak (as mentioned earlier in the topic).
No idea what gives people the impression that softer fences means somersaulting horses, surely if they are going to somersault they’d do it on stiff fences with no give?
The acid test will be on quicker ground – I can envisage horses hurtling round this wall of death, chances being taken with the dandy brush abominations, and horses somersaulting to their demise. But hey just think of those Friday night bar takings when the majority of those present don’t care what is happening outside!!
Although Haydock is my local course, I have not attended for quite a few years. The reason is that I can’t be doing with a significant minority of the racegoers.
The last flat meeting I attended was wrecked by having beer poured on my head whilst about to walk through the tunnel to the unsaddling enclosure by a piece of slime stood above the tunnel in the stand. It wasn’t even decent beer!
The last NH meeting was wrecked by a visit to the bar during the last race (a bumper) in an attempt to warm up after a freezing cold day.
The fav. a promising type was cruising up to the leaders with about 6f to go but dropped back alarmingly and it was obvious to most that the horse was badly injured (turned out to have broken a leg) but the cretin stood next to me screamed "come on. whip it. whip it". When told by his friend that the horse was likely to be put down he said that it was OK by him as it had just cost him 20 quid.Nice people at Haydock.
I cannot understand how the Betfair Chase was allowed to be run as a 3 mile race when it used the same start and racing line as the 2m7.5f fixed brush hurdle. This year Wetherby had to create a new 3 mile 1 furlong start especially for the Charlie Hall Chase, as they couldn’t meddle with the distance without permission from the authorities. (They have since kept that start given the resiting of the second last.) The distances will be in more flux when the new ground is in place on the inside bends (making it even tighter) and the water jump is reintroduced.
Interestingly, there were eight flights per circuit in the fixed brush race- I can’t remember a 16-flight three-mile hurdle before.
Could it have been an oversight on Haydock’s part? They could have run the race as a 3m chase just started upsides the water jump.
Also am I the only person who noticed today’s Becher being run over 3m 2f rather than the usual 3m 3f?
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