Ditch the mares allowance

Especially over 2m.

How many mares have won champion hurdle in last 10yrs compared to previous 50yrs

Training facilities and science means it's more unfair today then previously

love honeysuckle today ...but agree with this post . mullins cottoned on to this very early but the present allowance is too much. a grade 1 jumps race with half a stone ? no .

Would have won anyway but yes, down with the mares allowance!

Shut up you idiot

Is it not more likely that, unlike the girls, the top novice hurdle boys go chasing where the pickings can be easier?

With the programme as it is ditching the allowance would most likely see them staying in mares races .
It's better for the sport and the breed to keep it as it is imo.

In the last ten years we've had Vautour, Douvan, Altior and Shishin who could all have maybe run up a sequence in the Champion Hurdle had they not gone chasing. Mullins and Henderson had other horses for the Champion Hurdle such as Faugheen, Annie Power, Bouvre D'Air and Epetante so it may not be down to the allowance just the trainers and the horses in their stables.

Should be less,Enable & co only get 3 so why 7 over jumps?

olddesperado 17 Mar 21 09:11 Joined: 20 Sep 05 | Topic/replies: 7,000 | Blogger: olddesperado's blog
With the programme as it is ditching the allowance would most likely see them staying in mares races .
It's better for the sport and the breed to keep it as it is imo.



I fail to see how it effects the breed? Can you expand on these thoughts?

It has to be at least reduced by 4lbs at the very least...it is pointless bringing in a grade 1 mares race at Cheltenham for better mares to take advantage of a 7lb allowance in a championship race and like John Gosden used to say some mares just have a higher hormone level making them better race mares, I believe it should be reduced in flat racing as well, it’s just to bigger advantage

Ask yourselves the question, if honeysuckle was running off of levels yesterday would she still of won? I think she would of done and epatante the previous season...at least give the geldings a chance, I think istabraq would of struggled against that mare yesterday myself?

If Honeysuckle had to run off levels yesterday I have no doubt she would have won. I do have doubts whether she would have run though

Seven is too much , four would make it fairer, and see how that goes.

The full 7lb should be done away with for mares aged 5 or over and perhaps 4lb allowance for 4 year olds.The allowance is for perceived physiological difference,by the time they have reached 5 years old the difference should be minimal at best.

Harry, first I'll answer the second part and agree with go ballistic that she would have won yesterday off levels but would she have run ?.
Maybe yesterday yes because on paper Goshen was the only gelding that might be of the required quality to win a normal CH but even at that if the plan all year was the mares they might not have deviated from it.

The other part,  protecting the breed was probably lazily put but by giving mares a chance both with the allowance and enhanced programme it helps to get them sold and to the track where we can identify the good one's and make the breeding more selective.

I remember a time when filly foals were met with disdain and worse,  even now there's concessions for them but it's nothing like the hammer blow it used to be.

Just get rid of it in grade ones

Best horse was 2nd in CC,the 7lb being the difference?