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The new fences appeared smaller, less densely packed and markedly less resilient (more forgiving if you prefer) than their predecessors; they reminded me of those at Market Rasen. The chase course does seem significantly sharper which will be to the detriment of the big, sure-footed galloping stayers that the old track suited so well.
Can’t say it appealed much to me – in comparison – particularly as a test of jumping.
However we’re stuck with it so may as well try and accentuate the positive: the dearth of fallers was welcome. Bear makes a valid point about the new track being in danger of becoming a trappy speed test on firmer going but as Haydock will only be running chases between November and February, with a sole day in early April (as far as I’m aware), the usual soft-to-bottomless going should prevail.
Given the delay caused when moving the fences into place it would make sense if Haydock adopt Southwell’s practice of staging the chases first. It’s surely easier and quicker to move heavy fences off a track and replace them with straightforward hurdles than t’other way round. And, selfishly, it would allow the chasers to run on the best ground.
Just how the ground will hold up to a winter’s ‘dual purpose’ pounding remains to be seen.
The new fences appeared smaller,
Kirkland Tellwright insisted that they are “a touch” taller than their predecessors in his Post interview on Saturday, a deliberate step taken to compensate for the lack of drop. Short of going up to the course with a tape measure, I’m not really strongly convinced either way.
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.
TV is notoriously deceptive, and I also plead guilty to forming opinions with a negative mindset, so I’m prepared to accept Tellwright’s words as he should know. They may be taller on the take-off side but I still find it hard to believe the drop on the landing side is the same.
I was thinking of writing about Haydock this week but ended up doing something else. I did ask some questions though, so I thought I might post the answers here.
The delay to the Betfair Chase was apparently not caused by having to wheel the brush hurdles off and the portable fences on. Instead, it was as a result of a request from the BBC to delay the start due to the proximity of the Ascot races beforehand. They were keen to show pictures of the Betfair Chase participants from the paddock and the parade.
There were 2 fences fewer than BHA rules for three miles. Haydock have special dispensation from the BHA for this while the track-building work is in progress. There is an option to add another fence, which will be discussed with the BHA and trainers.
Wetherby is currently operating with only 17 fences due to the recent enforced realigning of its home bend. Their BHA dispensation ends in October when Wetherby plan to have a fifth fence in the back straight once again – although, again due to those changes to the track, it will be sited a little further back from the home bend than previously.
It was the brush-hurdle race, rather than the Betfair Chase, that was run at the incorrect distance at Haydock last Saturday. (See yesterday’s Dikler in the Racing Post.) When the track work is complete, the brush hurdles and portable fences will stand side by side, rather than using the same circuit.
The durability of the portable fences will be monitored. They had been rigorously tested under schooling conditions but evidently race conditions had been difficult to replicate. The dolling off on Saturday was precautionary. Initial thinking is that the portable fences are actually more robust than many semi-portable or permanent fences, however the packing of the birch may need to be addressed.Thanks for that information, Lydia.
It’s nice to have the official line but the pictures that Racing UK (of course, they could have been recorded) aired, showed a member of the course staff struggling single-handedly to remove the wheels from one of the fences and that was after the advertised off for the race.
Another good piece in the Times again, if not a little worrying.
Colin
Many thanks, Lydia. I thought the old "six fences per mile" rule might have been scrubbed after so many courses removed their water jumps without replacing them with a plain fence. The presence of only 16 over three miles at Haydock made me wonder if the powers that be were actively seeking opportunities to reduce the number of fences whenever they can in the interests of safety.
Colin
That is, as you observe, the official line. (I like a good dose of scepticism.) Other commitments meant I was neither at Haydock nor watching Racing UK live, so I can’t put forward an opinion of my own. Racing Replay made no comment.many thanks for that lydia. its nice to know that it was the bbc who delayed the betfair chase. as i said before it was nice just for once to have a bit more time to enjoy looking at the top horses.
The delay to the Betfair Chase… was as a result of a request from the BBC to delay the start due to the proximity of the Ascot races beforehand. They were keen to show pictures of the Betfair Chase participants from the paddock and the parade.
Aha! Well, bouquets where they are due, then. Heaven knows Auntie Beeb’s racing coverage gets (and will continue to get) its share of brickbats as well.
In a similar vein, and forgive me if I’m putting you on the spot here, but do you happen to know why nobody thought to do similar with Aintree and Wincanton a few weeks ago, when an ambulance problem delayed the latter’s programme to the extent that all its races clashed with the former? Given that the Wincanton card was only six races long, compared to Aintree and Towcester’s seven, we couldn’t fathom why they didn’t just knock back the entire card one 30-35 minute increment. There was as much daylight in Somerset as there was everywhere else.
We were tearing out our hair on the radio show I was doing that afternoon, and it can’t have been too much fun for you all on RUK, either.
There were 2 fences fewer than BHA rules for three miles. Haydock have special dispensation from the BHA for this while the track-building work is in progress. There is an option to add another fence, which will be discussed with the BHA and trainers.
Wetherby is currently operating with only 17 fences due to the recent enforced realigning of its home bend. Their BHA dispensation ends in October when Wetherby plan to have a fifth fence in the back straight once again – although, again due to those changes to the track, it will be sited a little further back from the home bend than previously.Presumably Stratford has both similar dispensation to run its 17.5f chases over just 11 fences following the removal of its last fence a couple of months ago, and also a time limit by which the new water jump has to be in place to bring the total up to par again?
Jeremy
(graysonscolumn)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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