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Don’t knock it – a few years ago any rescheduling would have been out of the question, so there has been some progress.
I would also suggest comparing the situation with that in Ireland is not comparing like with like. The Irish program is somewhat leaner than ours so has more capacity for rescheduling at short notice.
Whereas in the UK we, arguably, already have far too much racing and attempting to reschedule in an already overcrowded schedule is not that simple.
My personal opinion is races should be rescheduled sparingly – certainly the absolute top races should be rescheduled if practical and there is no alternative available, however in the case of Grade 2’s and less I fail to see the point of rescheduling.
Initial indications from the BHA were the race would not be saved but they seem to have been forced into a U-turn by whinging trainers who do not have the balls to run their charges against decent rivals and pressure from sponsors. This decision sets a dangerous precedent in my view.
Make the race a non handicap and threaten too slipt the field if the bpokies dont pay four places a quarter of the odds.
Well the rescheduled Boylesports.com Hurdle has managed to retain five entries.
What a complete and utter waste of time and effort in attempting to save the race.
I hope Mr Henderson is satisfied with himself – I doubt many others are.
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Well the rescheduled Boylesports.com Hurdle has managed to retain five entries.
What a complete and utter waste of time and effort in attempting to save the race.
I hope Mr Henderson is satisfied with himself – I doubt many others are.
On the contrary, it looks a blinding race with 3 of the first 4 in the CH betting, and 2 others that aren’t forlorn hopes either, it should be extremely informative, far more than if they hadn’t run at all.
The only pity is they didn’t fully follow the Irish initiative and run it at Cheltenham last Tuesday, when it would probably have attracted an even better field.Well the rescheduled Boylesports.com Hurdle has managed to retain five entries.
What a complete and utter waste of time and effort in attempting to save the race.
I hope Mr Henderson is satisfied with himself – I doubt many others are.
On the contrary, it looks a blinding race with 3 of the first 4 in the CH betting, and 2 others that aren’t forlorn hopes either, it should be extremely informative, far more than if they hadn’t run at all.
The only pity is they didn’t fully follow the Irish initiative and run it at Cheltenham last Tuesday, when it would probably have attracted an even better field.Sorry cannot agree the race will have any bearing on the CH.
Different direction, different type of course, smaller field and different tactics.
It is comparing apples with pears.
It’s bound to be a very tactical affair but surely you’re not disappointed with the race we’ve got on our hands Paul…?
Tomorrow’s whole card is the best I’ve ever seen at this meeting for quality/depth.
It’s bound to be a very tactical affair but surely you’re not disappointed with the race we’ve got on our hands Paul…?
Tomorrow’s whole card is the best I’ve ever seen at this meeting for quality/depth.
Agree it is an excellent card and I am looking forward to it – (and with a better crowd and atmosphere than we have here this afterrnoon)
It will be a tactical race but in terms of the CH I would still say of little significance.
I still do not believe this particular race should have been rescheduled just to pander to a small number of vociferous trainers. There are plenty of other races in the next few weeks the five could have been run in.
[quote="paulostermeyer
I still do not believe this particular race should have been rescheduled just to pander to a small number of vociferous trainers. There are plenty of other races in the next few weeks the five could have been run in.
Well, there’s the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, the Haydock trial and the Kingwell between now and Cheltenham. The long standing trial at Sandown on Agfa day has been downgraded to a Listed race. Given that any of those could also be lost to the weather, I can fully understand trainers wanting this race re-staged – apart from anything else, £200k races don’t come along that often.
You argue that restaging a Grade 2 sets a precedent – well not really, because there’s no other Grade 2 worth half as much and only the BHA know why the Bula isn’t already a Grade 1.
Not that many years ago (maybe twenty), there used to be a 2M conditions hurdle on this card called the Hss Hire Shops Hurdle. In fact there was a similar race almost every Saturday through Nov/Dec. Sandown ran one at their early November meeting, then Cheltenham had one on the Friday, the Gerry Fielden, now a handicap, used to be a weight for age race and after the Bula, the HSS and the Christmas Hurdle, came the New Year Hurdle at Windsor.
Given the way that program has been trimmed over the years, I’d argue it’s essential to stage as many as humanly possible.
Which came first – the Irish domination of the two mile hurdle division, or the diminution of our program that encouraged trainers to produce such horses rather than protecting handicap marks for more valuable contests sponsored by Ladbrokes (there’s a surprise), Hills (never) and Totesport (is there a pattern here).
I think you need a late night visit from the Ghost of Hurdlers Past !
Or you’ll walk round Ascot tomorrow chanting ‘Bula Humbug’.
Well, there’s the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton,
Exactly they could have gone there.
Given the way that program has been trimmed over the years, I’d argue it’s essential to stage as many as humanly possible.
Whilst seeing the point you are making I would suggest the trainers do not see it the same way as you, otherwise I suggest there would have been more than five runners tomorrow.
I think you need a late night visit from the Ghost of Hurdlers Past !
Or you’ll walk round Ascot tomorrow chanting ‘Bula Humbug’.
I would say it is more an odds-on certainty I will be muttering Bah-Humbug tomorrow
It’s bound to be a very tactical affair but surely you’re not disappointed with the race we’ve got on our hands Paul…?
Tomorrow’s whole card is the best I’ve ever seen at this meeting for quality/depth.
Agree it is an excellent card and I am looking forward to it – (and with a better crowd and atmosphere than we have here this afterrnoon)
It will be a tactical race but in terms of the CH I would still say of little significance.
I still do not believe this particular race should have been rescheduled just to pander to a small number of vociferous trainers. There are plenty of other races in the next few weeks the five could have been run in.
I can’t believe what I am reading Paul I am gobsmacked that any racing fan would not want to see the Bula tomorrrow.
For me it’s sad day when any Group race is lost and they should try and reschedule any that are. Of course there is a limit to what can be done but they deserve a big clap on the back when they do
The initial capital put into racing by the owner, the months of work and effort put into getting a horse prepared for a certain race by the trainer and his staff alone goes a long way to justifying it…….Youare of course entitled to your opinion but as I say I can’t believe anyone would object to it…..did you have a rough night or something?
But Fist my point is it is not the same race tomorrow – it is almost tantamount to next years Derby being abandoned and run at Leicester a week later with just 25% of the original declared runners.
It would still be a 1m 4f race called The Derby but thereafter any similarity ends.
I don’t know why the others aren’t running but that is their choice. The fact C Halo is still in it should end up a true run race and a cracking one at that. I’m sure you enjoy it as much as the rest of us……….if you back Binocular that is
But Fist my point is it is not the same race tomorrow – it is almost tantamount to next years Derby being abandoned and run at Leicester a week later with just 25% of the original declared runners.
It would still be a 1m 4f race called The Derby but thereafter any similarity ends.
It is the same as running the King George at Sandown when Kempton is off. Totally different track except the direction, and different distance at Sandown.
The race tomorrow is definitely not the same as the one scheduled for Cheltenham. Having said that, it will be a good race to watch (on telly, I am afraid, still off sick with a dodgy shoulder) and no doubt we will all enjoy it.
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What relevance tomorrow’s race has to the ’09 Champion Hurdle will be easily gleaned from the ante-post prices after the race.
I’d be amazed if it wasn’t significant.- Total Posts 17716
Surely only the downright churlish can now begrudge this race being run?
OK I’m churlish – I stand by everything I said before the race.
It was irrelevant as far as the CH is concerned. It was tactically irrelevant, we learned nothing new.
Binocular is potentially a good horse but he "beat" the outsider into second place.
Crack Away Jack was cr@p and did not run to his full potential.
Chomba Womba could also have run betterr.
Paul,
With respect, if you think that race was irrelevant to the Champion Hurdle, I suggest you take stock of your knowledge of racing.
It showed Binocular to be the horse many hoped him to be; Katchit as (imo) a spent force; Celestial Halo a possible force at 2m on a stiff track; Chomba Womba not good enough; and Crackawayjack an overrated entity.
It’s quite a miserable position to take after such a wonderful race and sight.
Why would you not want to see a race like that?
Well done to all for saving the race
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