Which race would you ditch for the new Mares Chase?

Whilst not been that interested in the cross country I do think it has its place the course is there and in its own way it’s a championship race with some good stories over the years not least the last two runnings.i would however put it on at the end of the card therefore killing two birds with one stone ,those who are not interested can leave before the last and the bumper a crucial race can then be run in better light making it more enjoyable for those who still like to watch racing live.

I would get rid of the Fred winter which would help make the triumph hurdle the race it once was.

why dont they make it a five day festival and dilute it even further, we could have the Mares Cross Country, the amateur riders bumper, the lady jockeys handicap hurdle, hell why not throw in a consolation race for chasers rated below 110.

The amateurs don’t need there own bumper they have won 7 of the last 12 anyway.

As well as changes to the National Hunt Chase (the "four-miler" will now be run over just three miles and six furlongs with fewer obstacles jumped, 23 rather than the 25 previously)......a Mares' Chase will also be introduced in the 2021 Festival. However, there will still be 28 races at Cheltenham and instead, a race will be removed to make way for the mares' chase. It is as yet unconfirmed which race will be culled.

As well as changes to the 'FOUR MILER race' there will be restrictions on both the horses and riders eligible to participate in this race.

Horses will need to attain a minimum rating of 120. This is also the case in all of the other graded novice chases at the Cheltenham Festival.
Horses must also have run in at least two chases, with at least one of them being in the current season.
The potential runners must also have finished in the first four over two miles and an extended seven furlongs.
This stipulation would have ruled out last year's second-place finisher Discorama. Paul Nolan's horse actually fell when running over three miles in the run-up last year's Festival.

The riders will be further restricted too.
All jockeys must have ridden at least 20 times on the track, this is excluding point-to-points.
The riders also have to have had at least five winners over fences.
This criterion would have excluded the fourth-placed jockey from 2019, Damien Skehan. He has only ridden two chase winners in the last five years.

Kim Muir will be toast, an eradication of amateur jocks is the flavour of the day.

The festival has been crying out for more Mares races, thank god the people that run the show are listening. As a punter I look forward to Mullins winning yet another race at the Fes with little effort (not a knock at Willie, in his position I’d do exactly the same), with the betting diluted.

I am hoping for a five day Festival with one of the days made up of just Mares races.

I think the Gold Cup should probably make way for the Mares Chase. It’s time to get with the 21st Century. People aren’t interested anymore in seeing the best horses run in their division, watching eight horses from one stable take on dross from a few others is where it’s at.

A few thousand cranks have been suggesting that if there was to be a new race then a veterans chase might just fit the bill. Even further cranks may have suggested just leave well alone, but these are only clueless people who watch/go to the festival every year and love the sport. Better to keep a few breeders happy, after all, the whole industry will collapse if they aren’t. Unlike if people stopped going and betting on it, which is only a minor detail...

Apologies for a post dripping with sarcasm, but sometimes I despair at the decision making at the top of our sport. The worst most uncompetitive races of the whole meeting are the Mares hurdles (personally) and now they want to add a third! Some of the handicaps are complete dross (Fred Winter, 2m5f Handicap Chase, Festival Plate, Kim Muir), but at least you can have a bet on them.

It will be interesting to see the betting turnover on yet another mares race. I suspect there will be few in the bar or on the road home if it is the last race of the day. I would get rid of the Martin Pipe. It is supposed to be a championship meeting so why should 7lb claimers on mainly moderate novice handicap hurdlers get a race? They are usually racing for £2950 first prize.