Novices in handicaps

[dprp]

Great performances by Imsingingtheblues and Big Fella Thanks in[list:pfcgdfd7][/list:u:pfcgdfd7] recent weeks illustrate a growing trend for novices horses to do well in big handicaps.
Is this beacuse horses are more precocious now? Possibly
Is this simply because tainers are more prepared to run novices in handicap company? Possibly

However, in my opinion a far more likely reason is the way that the current handicappers are working. Horses are being hit hard for moderate wins by the handicapper. Few handicappers are competitive in more than one big race nowadays as they are given such punitive handicap assessments. Are they being handicapped based on the merit of the performance or handicapped to effectively ensure that they do not win again?

The effect of this is that the most likely horses for handicaps are novices…who by definition have less known form and are thus not handicapped out of things.

Several points for discussion :

1) Handicaps are intended for seasoned horses. Novice races are for inexperienced horses. As such, when a novice perishes/gets injured in one the press/public are quick to criticise the trainer for running….but are they being forced down that route?
2) Are we shortening horses careers? If a novice wins a big handicap early in its career it is likely to be handicapped to the hilt. If it doesnt then make up inyto an open class horse what do connections do with it?
3) Which novices should we be ooking at for the Cheltenham Festival handicaps?!

[Ian]

Its nothing new. There has been something of an unwritten rule for years dprp always pay attention to a novice in a handicap for the first time. It was brought to my attention by my uncle about 20 years ago and some very nice touches have been landed following this rule.

Not sure it would bring about a level stakes profit if you do it blindly – almost certainly not – but if you pick and choose it can find you a nice winner or two.

[seabird]

There was an instance at Wincanton on Thursday.

Pride of Dulcote, who won the two-horse Class 2 novices’ hurdle by 28 lengths @ 14/1 ON, has an OR of 155. He did win a competitive handicap over course and distance on Boxing Day by 16 lengths but that 155 looks awfully high.

I have heard that he is well thought of at Ditcheat, but has he done anything to justify such a mark?

Colin

[Irish Stamp]

I have a thing about never backing ex-handicappers for Championship novice races.

The theory being if the horse was actually that good then why run him at Wincanton instead of in the Tolworth or one of the Albert Bartlett trial races?

Would sooner be on other horses for Cheltenham than POD.

[Author]

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