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So GT, you welcome what is happening at Cheltenham and elsewhere. You clearly do not understand the logical and inevitable conclusion to this process. I do not want horses to hit fences half way up EVER, but making fences so forgiving only encourages this. As you yourself wrote, ‘speed kills’. Diverting on to Grand National territory is entirely relevant to this thread, as Aintree has provided the template for, potentially, the demise of the sport.
Of course, no one wants to see ‘more falls’ or ‘fatalities’ except, perhaps, Animal Aid or the provisional wing of the RSPCA, as this would help justify their existence. What one WOULD like to see is some sort of indication that a Grade 1 track like Cheltenham, or Ascot, or (God help us) Haydock presents a stiffer challenge fence-wise than non Grade 1 tracks. I am not convinced that this is any longer the case. Further, what happens when a big race fatality occurs? The Grand National has ‘got away with it’ for the last two years, though other races over the new fences have not. I fear it is only a matter of time before we have further fatalities in the National because as GT points out, speed kills. Then what? More studied outrage from the usual suspects and demands for further changes – remember, many of these people were of the opinion that the 2012 changes did not go far enough.
I have gone off topic slightly, but I feel necessarily. What has happened at Aintree has also happened, less obviously, at Cheltenham and elsewhere and it is not done with. I genuinely fear for NH racing.
I agree Crepello. It felt like every race over 2.5 miles this week turned into a long distance hurdle! Horses were hitting the fences half way up and generally getting away with it. Of course, no one wants to see fallers but it is a little sad to see the fences treated with such contempt. But then, why should Cheltenham be different from practically every other course? Having been addicted to NH racing since the late 60s, I can remember courses such as Doncaster, Lingfield, even Market Rasen having big imposing PERMANENT fences that had been constructed with much care and attention, unlike the abominations that plague those (and other) courses nowadays.
Rant over! I also agree that the best jumpers still, usually, win. I just fear where this appeasement of Animal Aid will lead the sport.
Can’t believe that the Game Spirit can be taken at face value. Still think that Chief wasn’t going THAT well turning for the cross fence and that by early in the straight Ashley Brook was exhausted.
Newmill the one.
LOL at Bear! Maybe add just a touch of rouge and some comedy vicar teeth for further authenticity?
What about Kingscliff (ew)? Acts on the course, stays, will like the going, best fresh, etc.
OK I forgot, totally out of form, but he will be a fresh horse.
Interesting article by Scu (who makes far more sense in writing than he does on telly) in yesterday’s Mail, mentioning his father’s reminiscences on the days when you could walk along the top of some courses’ fences. Showing my age, I know, but I remember Newbury, Ascot, Kempton, Newcastle and of course Cheltenham (and even Doncaster!) belonging in that category, certainly in the 70s anyway. Ironically, I never thought Haydock’s fences were THAT stiff, though they have become much softer recently.
God, I’m turning into Ginger McCain!
Agree with cheltboy. Am a huge fan of Fair Along, but if heavy plays a part in the going description, I think MWDS will have too much scope and stamina.
Bear – interested to hear more about thoughts of Chairmen Nicholls and Hobbs. Where did you hear of that?
Just think there are many question marks still over Kauto. I think the trip, in what is bound to be a truly run race, will be a real problem. It’s hard to believe that a dual winner of the Tingle Creek will have the requisite stamina. Comparisons might be drawn with Dessie, but the latter had already won a Whitbread so his stamine was never really going to be an issue.
3 miles round Haydock (or Kempton, or Newbury) is not the same as 3m 2.5 f at Cheltenham, as One Man showed.
I know it’s getting off the point a bit but, reading Aragorn’s comment about the quality of the expected field for the WH, doesn’t it show the folly of the extra day? WH is being built up in a way it never was previously (when it just supported the Gold Cup) and is generally the race of choice for hurdlers too slow to make an impression in the Champion (or failed chasers). Hard to get very excited about it, either in terms of quality or as a spectacle.
The portables that Doncaster was using prior to closure looked half decent, so if Haydock can be persuaded to use something similar, rather than the joke fences of this year, it might still be a test of sorts.
Hi Trackside. Do you really believe Mac’s is as good as last year? I know the ground at Gowran was against him, but he was still easily brushed aside by a chaser. Mac’s was also pretty close to Hardy and Inca previously at Leopardstown and I have thought that Inca has looked laborious all season.
Of the three, I think Hardy still has most to offer, in that he’ll set the race up nicely for Detroit.
Agree with you about Kauto though.
Aragorn – agree absolutely about Well Chief. Newbury was the strangest race, what with Ashley Brook committing suicide, Foreman running no race and VPU unshipping. I also thought, turning for the cross fence, that Chief wasn’t travelling that well.
Newmill looks nailed on for the Champion (assuming he goes there) with VPU close up.
Hi DB!
Haven’t seen Cailin, but not generally impressed with the Irish novice chasers. She might stay on for a place.
Also, by referring to Jazz, I was suggesting that there might just be some improvement to come there. Don’t believe for a minute that he can win but, equally, can’t believe that Hardy, Inca and Mac’s aren’t on the downgrade.
