Racing For Change eh? WHY? These imbeciles that make these decisions are just corporate c0cksuckers that don't even LIKE racing! I despair!
It's a difficult one to assess his chase rating at the moment but I disagree with you about it being very rare to get a lower rating over fences - the handicapper always gives them a chance, and if I remember correctly, a few years ago (probably doesn't happen anymore) if a horse made its debut over fences in a handicap, the rating would be 14 lbs LESS than the hurdles rating. It's been a very rare occurrence but I have seen it a few times.