- This topic has 30 replies, 21 voices, and was last updated 18 years, 4 months ago by
.
- Posts
Can I ask when the new NH seasons starts for real? What is deemed to be the first proper meeting of the season?
Can I ask when the new NH seasons starts for real? What is deemed to be the first proper meeting of the season?
Sedgefield today
. Well it is for me anyway, the sun is shining and my local track has attracted a decent card by their standards lol.Not sure about the real answer though, as there is usally a big handicap chase every Saturday and I guess it’s down to peoples personal opinion as to when they think the season starts properly.
Mike
It always used to be the Timeform meeting at Chepstow if I remember.Nowadays the season starts the day after the Betfred/Whitbread, and there are plenty of decent days jump racing through the summer.
It started the day after the Betfred meeting at Sandown back in April.
Of course us old fuddy-duddies would say it starts first weekend in August preferably at Market Rasen or Newton Abbot, or at a pinch Bangor……on rock hard ground with average field size 4 ( Note to Animal Welfare – that last bit was a joke!).
Other than that it’s make up your own mind, I reckon.
Rob
I don’t pay a blind bit of attention to the jumps until the Charlie Hall meeting at Wetherby at the end of October/start of November.
Thats when it starts for me, though I wouldn’t consider a bet until the start of December, to let the form settle down a little.
Likewise on the Flat, it doesn’t start for me until the Guineas trials, and I won’t entertain a bet until the start of June (for same reason as above).
Works for me.
It always used to be the Timeform meeting at Chepstow if I remember.Nowadays the season starts the day after the Betfred/Whitbread, and there are plenty of decent days jump racing through the summer.
Nah, even before the advent of summer jumping it never started as late as that Chepstow meeting. Go back to the start of the 20th century and the last week of July or first week of August was already recognised as being when the jumps recommenced, with the opening card usually at Newton Abbot or the long-defunct Hooton Park (nr Ellesmere Port).
As stated previously in this thread, the day after Betfred day at Sandown is the official starting day of the season now, and has been for about five years. As you’ve rightly said, though, Andy, there’s some bloody good racing between then and Chepstow nowadays. The Summer and Galway Plates are givens, but I also defy anyone to claim otherwise of the Lord Mildmay Chase at Newton Abbot last weekend, for example – a class 2 handicap chase with the bottom-weight of a 16-strong field rated 129!
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.
As you’ve rightly said, though, Andy, there’s some bloody good racing between then and Chepstow nowadays. The Summer and Galway Plates are givens, but I also defy anyone to claim otherwise of the Lord Mildmay Chase at Newton Abbot last weekend, for example – a class 2 handicap chase with the bottom-weight of a 16-strong field rated 129!
Jeremy
(graysonscolumn)Jeremy
Please also note the Perth Gold Cup at my ‘local’. Always a well contested summer chase.
Rob
With pleasure. What a fine summer Perth has had too, btw, picking up meetings from ailing, underwater Midlands tracks. Your cup fair runneth over!
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.
The Chepstow meeting used to be the first televised meeting of the season, the season used to start end of July beginning of August at Newton Abbot and Bangor, I think. Always rememeber Pipe cleaning up.
Go back to the start of the 20th century and the last week of July or first week of August was already recognised as being when the jumps recommenced,..
Jeremy
(graysonscolumn)..and I always had you down as a younger man Jeremy. Shucks!
The Chepstow meeting used to be the first televised meeting of the season.
Now that it definitely was – Timeform Hurdle, Mercedes-Benz Chase et al. Could be a narrow squeak between that and Kempton’s Charisma Chase meeting some years, though.
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.
Go back to the start of the 20th century and the last week of July or first week of August was already recognised as being when the jumps recommenced,..
Jeremy
(graysonscolumn)..and I always had you down as a younger man Jeremy. Shucks!
I am ancient as hell, yes, but I’ve been periodically preserved in aspic to retain freshness.
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.
Recently, the McManus/Tipperary Hurdle has been the signpost I have used to denote the start of the NH campaign ‘proper’ (with apologies to graysons)
I tend to go by the Charlie Hall too with respect to when the season starts. It’s November the 3rd this year I believe.
Chepstow for me as well & look at 2 of the winners from last year:
Massini’s Maguire & Katchit
. Well it is for me anyway, the sun is shining and my local track has attracted a decent card by their standards lol.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.