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£24K first prize grade 2 and the race is effectively a match (if Mister Fisher can make it round).
Fair play to the connections of those who did declare as they get some easy prizemoney for completing.
Frodon should win by a distance.
Just crystallizes the issues facing the UK jumps game, noncompetitive races at the top end.
At least we are spared the spectacle of Tiger Roll being beaten 93 lengths. Although Kennedy’s latest cock and bull story would have been entertaining.
The handicapping in these races scares people off i reckon
Say the front 2 run below par
One of the 2 lower rated horses finishes close to them or second and they get put up loads by the handicapper and it takes 3 years to get the mark back down
Yep that is true FF91, I remember Maracudja getting clobbered for a placed effort behind Cyrname (who was on a rare going day), its mark is only just recovered now. Handicapper really needs to take a more holistic view, especially with the older horses who are unlikely to find loads of improvement.
But following that train of thought through are we saying there just aren’t that many top end chasers about to make up an 8/9 runner field in this sort of race? Trainers seem to waste a lot of horses potential racing career worrying about what ifs.
As The Tatling says, folks can’t keep bleating on about prizemoney when not willing to run their horses in these races.
Have I missed something here? Declarations show 4 runners, course map shows 21 fences to be jumped.
Maybe I’m being a bit over the top Rob.
Do you think it’s a good/quality turnout for the race /prizemoney?
Can’t see anything but a frodon procession.
The main problem is a shortage of top class horses at this trip, a problem that might, or might not be temporary.
But one clearly highlighted by the last two Grade 1 races at this sort of trip. The Melling Chase at Aintree had five British trained runners, of which three came from the stable of P Nicholls, and Nuts Well runs tomorrow in the 2M chase. The other, Itchy Feet, has never been raced on ground as quick as it’ll be at Sandown.
The Ryanair at Cheltenham had only four British trained runners, one of which runs tomorrow, Mister Fisher. Two of the others have never shown much liking for jumping on a right handed track and the remaining one was injured after Cheltenham.
The prize money argument is oft repeated, but holds no water. It may seem odd to those that have never paid a training bill, but owners like and expect their horses to be entered in races thay have a chance of winning. The amount of money on offer for finishing fourth or fifth, thirty seconds after the cameras have already switched to showing the winner walking back, really doesn’t provide any glory.
The size of the field for the feature handicap would seem to reinforce the point – a race in which every owner will feel they have some sort of chance.
I think this was originally one of those races put on as intended one offs during the Cheltenham foot and mouth cancellation year but greed prevailed and they became permanent, adding nothing positive to the fixture list – I’m quite sure the two miler has been one of the reasons why Altior has never had a crack at the Melling Chase.
As apracing states the prize money argument is a red herring, the prize money in this country is **** poor. I’ve been a part owner in the past but wouldn’t dream of being involved currently and doubt I will again.
There is far too much racing, both flat and jumps by a large percentage. Look at the flat meetings over weekend on well watered good/good to firm ground.
The BHA are scared to death of having less racing in case their levy goes down. It’s a pathetic way to run the sport.Given their ORs in the 150s, surely a race like this would have been a better way for Ballyoptic or Definitely Red to bow out in than the Grand National?
Would have liked to have seen a bigger field but what a superb battle.
Frodon is possibly my favourite horse in training now. What a jumper.
well that finish made my post look rather stupid.
However a lot of the points on this thread are still valid, we should be getting more runners in these races. Still the best horse won at the end of a long and very successful season for Frodon. What a remarkable horse he is.
15 wins out of 32 chase starts, approaching £1M in prizemoney to date. what a hero
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