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National Hunt Chase is given radical overhaul as Jockey Club reveals major Cheltenham Festival changes
Constitution Hill (Nico de Boinville) wins the Supreme Novices HurdleCheltenham 15.3.22 Pic: Edward Whitaker
Cheltenham Festival: a raft of major changes are intended to deliver more competitive action
Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
The 2025 Cheltenham Festival will feature three additional handicaps, unveiled by the Jockey Club on Thursday within a raft of major changes intended to deliver more competitive action at an event whose customers have been promised increased value for money and a better racecourse experience.
As first revealed in the Racing Post last week, the Grade 1 Turners Novices' Chase has been scrapped and replaced with a Grade 2 limited novice handicap chase. The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase also becomes a limited handicap. In arguably the most radical development, the festival's oldest contest, the National Hunt Chase, will be staged as a novice handicap and no longer confined to amateur jockeys.
Although the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle and Paddy Power-backed Mares' Chase have been left alone, the Grade 2 Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle will in future be held without penalties, while prior race experience requirements in non-novice handicaps increase to four chase runs and five hurdle runs.
In another notable change, any winner of a Pertemps series qualifier will be guaranteed a start in the final, providing they are within the handicap at declaration stage.
Cheltenham Festival changes:
What you need to know - these are the changes made to the Cheltenham Festival race programme
'Racegoers expect a premium experience' - Jockey Club announces initiatives to improve the Cheltenham Festival
Following a 2024 festival whose attendance slump denied the Jockey Club a seven-figure sum in predicted income and triggered a £750,000 cut in the group's 2024 prize-money contribution, ticket prices have been frozen alongside the introduction of special offers. In addition, a park and ride service will operate in March, when it is hoped a repeat of this year's embarrassing car park scenes will be avoided by the laying of three times as much hard-standing trackway.
Cheltenham racegoers watch on during the Triumph Hurdle on Gold Cup day
Racegoers are being promised increased value and a better experience at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival
Credit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)
The much-anticipated Cheltenham announcement comes after the Jockey Club responded to last season's difficult festival by conducting an extensive review, during which prominent owners and trainers were consulted, alongside racegoers and members of the media.
Cheltenham managing director Ian Renton said: "The Cheltenham Festival is the very pinnacle of our sport and the best-attended and most prestigious jump meeting anywhere in the world. As with any major event, it is important to evolve and improve to ensure everyone who joins us throughout the week has the best possible experience.
"As part of the process of reviewing this year's festival we analysed data and extensive feedback, including surveys, one-to-one meetings and focus group sessions to seek views ranging from those who come every year all the way through to people who have never visited the festival to find out why.
"Throughout the course of this review process there have been three distinct strands which have been impossible to ignore – value for money, the need to provide the best experience possible and the competitiveness of the race programme."
Harry Skelton riding Grey Dawning en route to winning Turners Novices' Chase from Ginny's Destiny at Cheltenham
The 2m4f Golden Miller Novices' Chase, run most recently as the Turners and won last season by Grey Dawning, has been axed
Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
During the summer deliberations, particular emphasis was placed on the festival's four novice chases, in recognition of unsatisfactory field sizes in recent years. As a result, the 2m4f Golden Miller Novices' Chase, run most recently as the Turners, has been axed, in the belief that potential runners will instead tackle the 2m Arkle or 3m Broadway, a contest sponsored by Brown Advisory.
In place of the Golden Miller, the Jockey Club has revived the 2m4f novice handicap chase, last run in 2020 but now reintroduced as a Grade 2 limited handicap. The marathon National Hunt Chase – which has had an average field size of 7.7 across the last three years – will now be open to professional riders and scheduled as a 0-145 event, having most recently been a Grade 2 prize.
Cheltenham clerk of the course Jon Pullin said: "It is hoped that by creating two novice handicap chases, we will have two competitive races with large fields and encourage the top novice chasers of the season to go down the Graded route in the My Pension Expert Arkle and Brown Advisory."
Ruby Walsh, the festival's all-time leading rider, is supportive of the new-look novice chase offering, arguing there were too many Pattern novice chases for the available horse population. He now believes there will be "more quality and more clashes" in the Arkle and Broadway.
Ruby Walsh: "All the changes are geared towards making the races more competitive"
Ruby Walsh: "All the changes are geared towards making the races more competitive"
Credit: Edward Whitaker
Assessing the wider overhaul, Walsh said: "All the changes are geared towards making the races more competitive. The aim is to attract as many of the best horses as possible to run at the Cheltenham Festival and for them to run in the right races.
"Cheltenham is the pinnacle of jump racing and these changes help to maintain that. Of course, there will be some people who think these changes go too far and some who think they don’t go far enough. The important thing to remember is those making these changes have done so in the best interests of jump racing and the festival."
Similarly positive, 14-time British champion jumps trainer Paul Nicholls said: "On the whole these changes sound very sensible. Everybody has different opinions and you cannot please everybody at the same time, but I think we have to try to make the racing as competitive as possible as that is what the Cheltenham Festival is all about."
It remains possible that revisions will be made to the running order prior to the 2025 festival, where total prize-money will increase by £115,000 to £4.93 million. Financially, however, the Jockey Club does not expect to enjoy a huge boost from attendance income, with the organisation deeming an increase in crowd numbers to be unlikely next year. The organisation is also not ruling out a further attendance fall, having seen the four-day total tumble by around 50,000 over the last two years.
Renton said: "The changes we are implementing are aimed at improving the experience and value for all our racegoers and over time we hope they will result in increased attendances.
"However, there is no doubt the leisure industry is in a very different position in 2024 than it was even just two years ago, when people were looking to get to as many events as possible post-pandemic and before the impact of the cost of living crisis was being fully felt. With that in mind, it's important to be realistic about how soon we might see these changes impact our attendances."
Constitution Hill (Nico de Boinville) wins the Supreme Novices HurdleCheltenham 15.3.22 Pic: Edward Whitaker
Cheltenham Festival: a raft of major changes are intended to deliver more competitive action
Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
The 2025 Cheltenham Festival will feature three additional handicaps, unveiled by the Jockey Club on Thursday within a raft of major changes intended to deliver more competitive action at an event whose customers have been promised increased value for money and a better racecourse experience.
As first revealed in the Racing Post last week, the Grade 1 Turners Novices' Chase has been scrapped and replaced with a Grade 2 limited novice handicap chase. The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase also becomes a limited handicap. In arguably the most radical development, the festival's oldest contest, the National Hunt Chase, will be staged as a novice handicap and no longer confined to amateur jockeys.
Although the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle and Paddy Power-backed Mares' Chase have been left alone, the Grade 2 Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle will in future be held without penalties, while prior race experience requirements in non-novice handicaps increase to four chase runs and five hurdle runs.
In another notable change, any winner of a Pertemps series qualifier will be guaranteed a start in the final, providing they are within the handicap at declaration stage.
Cheltenham Festival changes:
What you need to know - these are the changes made to the Cheltenham Festival race programme
'Racegoers expect a premium experience' - Jockey Club announces initiatives to improve the Cheltenham Festival
Following a 2024 festival whose attendance slump denied the Jockey Club a seven-figure sum in predicted income and triggered a £750,000 cut in the group's 2024 prize-money contribution, ticket prices have been frozen alongside the introduction of special offers. In addition, a park and ride service will operate in March, when it is hoped a repeat of this year's embarrassing car park scenes will be avoided by the laying of three times as much hard-standing trackway.
Cheltenham racegoers watch on during the Triumph Hurdle on Gold Cup day
Racegoers are being promised increased value and a better experience at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival
Credit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)
The much-anticipated Cheltenham announcement comes after the Jockey Club responded to last season's difficult festival by conducting an extensive review, during which prominent owners and trainers were consulted, alongside racegoers and members of the media.
Cheltenham managing director Ian Renton said: "The Cheltenham Festival is the very pinnacle of our sport and the best-attended and most prestigious jump meeting anywhere in the world. As with any major event, it is important to evolve and improve to ensure everyone who joins us throughout the week has the best possible experience.
"As part of the process of reviewing this year's festival we analysed data and extensive feedback, including surveys, one-to-one meetings and focus group sessions to seek views ranging from those who come every year all the way through to people who have never visited the festival to find out why.
"Throughout the course of this review process there have been three distinct strands which have been impossible to ignore – value for money, the need to provide the best experience possible and the competitiveness of the race programme."
Harry Skelton riding Grey Dawning en route to winning Turners Novices' Chase from Ginny's Destiny at Cheltenham
The 2m4f Golden Miller Novices' Chase, run most recently as the Turners and won last season by Grey Dawning, has been axed
Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
During the summer deliberations, particular emphasis was placed on the festival's four novice chases, in recognition of unsatisfactory field sizes in recent years. As a result, the 2m4f Golden Miller Novices' Chase, run most recently as the Turners, has been axed, in the belief that potential runners will instead tackle the 2m Arkle or 3m Broadway, a contest sponsored by Brown Advisory.
In place of the Golden Miller, the Jockey Club has revived the 2m4f novice handicap chase, last run in 2020 but now reintroduced as a Grade 2 limited handicap. The marathon National Hunt Chase – which has had an average field size of 7.7 across the last three years – will now be open to professional riders and scheduled as a 0-145 event, having most recently been a Grade 2 prize.
Cheltenham clerk of the course Jon Pullin said: "It is hoped that by creating two novice handicap chases, we will have two competitive races with large fields and encourage the top novice chasers of the season to go down the Graded route in the My Pension Expert Arkle and Brown Advisory."
Ruby Walsh, the festival's all-time leading rider, is supportive of the new-look novice chase offering, arguing there were too many Pattern novice chases for the available horse population. He now believes there will be "more quality and more clashes" in the Arkle and Broadway.
Ruby Walsh: "All the changes are geared towards making the races more competitive"
Ruby Walsh: "All the changes are geared towards making the races more competitive"
Credit: Edward Whitaker
Assessing the wider overhaul, Walsh said: "All the changes are geared towards making the races more competitive. The aim is to attract as many of the best horses as possible to run at the Cheltenham Festival and for them to run in the right races.
"Cheltenham is the pinnacle of jump racing and these changes help to maintain that. Of course, there will be some people who think these changes go too far and some who think they don’t go far enough. The important thing to remember is those making these changes have done so in the best interests of jump racing and the festival."
Similarly positive, 14-time British champion jumps trainer Paul Nicholls said: "On the whole these changes sound very sensible. Everybody has different opinions and you cannot please everybody at the same time, but I think we have to try to make the racing as competitive as possible as that is what the Cheltenham Festival is all about."
It remains possible that revisions will be made to the running order prior to the 2025 festival, where total prize-money will increase by £115,000 to £4.93 million. Financially, however, the Jockey Club does not expect to enjoy a huge boost from attendance income, with the organisation deeming an increase in crowd numbers to be unlikely next year. The organisation is also not ruling out a further attendance fall, having seen the four-day total tumble by around 50,000 over the last two years.
Renton said: "The changes we are implementing are aimed at improving the experience and value for all our racegoers and over time we hope they will result in increased attendances.
"However, there is no doubt the leisure industry is in a very different position in 2024 than it was even just two years ago, when people were looking to get to as many events as possible post-pandemic and before the impact of the cost of living crisis was being fully felt. With that in mind, it's important to be realistic about how soon we might see these changes impact our attendances."
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'Value is more important than ever' - initiatives announced to improve Cheltenham Festival customer experience
Absurde (Paul Townend) winning the County Hurdle at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival A number of changes have been made to the Cheltenham Festival customer experience Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos) Package deals, a new park and ride system and upgraded bar facilities are among a raft of changes announced by the Jockey Club on Thursday to ensure racegoers at the Cheltenham Festival receive better value for money and that the experience "not only meets but exceeds expectations". There was a drop in attendance at this year's festival, with a notable low of 46,771 on Wednesday, down from 50,387 in 2023 and 64,431 in 2022. A sellout Gold Cup day crowd of 69,129 contributed to a total attendance figure for the festival of 229,999, down from 240,603 the previous year. The expense of attending the festival, including the cost of accommodation, was cited as a major factor behind the decline. After a review of the event, several initiatives will be introduced to try to offer customers greater value for money, with ticket prices already frozen at the 2024 levels. Racegoers buying a ticket for any of the four days will be given a 20 per cent discount on tickets purchased for other days of the event, with the exception of Gold Cup day. Groups of six can save ten per cent when booking together, a discount previously offered to groups of 15. Cheltenham racegoers wait at the gates for Gold Cup day The expense of attending the festival, including the cost of accommodation, was cited as a major factor behind this year's decline in attendances Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos) As announced this month, the Jockey Club and Cheltenham will also partner with sports tour operator Venatour Racing to offer discounted packages including tickets, hotels and travel under the banner of 'Room To Race' to combat the rising cost of accommodation in the town. To improve the experience of travelling to and from the racecourse, the Jockey Club will provide more plastic hard-standing in the car park to avoid a repeat of the problems some racegoers experienced due to the wet conditions this year, while a new park and ride system is set to be launched within easy access of Cheltenham. The Jockey Club has also partnered with National Express to offer travel to the track from 20 pick-up locations. On course, the Jockey Club has promised more course-facing areas to help ease queues, upgraded bar facilities to offer more indoor seating and hot and cold meal deals, giving racegoers the opportunity to save money when buying any hot and soft drinks with food throughout the festival. "We understand that when people are paying to attend premium events they expect a premium experience and that has been at the front of our minds when committing to significant investment to improve our car parks, launching a park and ride system and offering more course-facing areas to enjoy a drink while watching the racing," said Ian Renton, Cheltenham's managing director. “We also know that, at a time when we're all impacted by the rising cost of living, value is more important than ever. That’s why we've looked carefully at discounts to racegoers for multi-day packages, food and drink and even working hard to find solutions to the increasing cost of accommodation through our partnership with Venatour Racing." On the changes to the festival more broadly, which include adjustments to the race programme, Renton added: "As with any event of this size, it is never possible to make changes which are welcomed by everyone. However, we have prioritised listening to our racegoers to put them and their experiences at the heart of the festival, with the ultimate goal of delivering something that not only meets but exceeds expectations." |
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What you need to know - these are the changes made to the Cheltenham Festival race programme
Heading out past the grandstands in the Pertemps Final, won by Monmiral (far left), at Cheltenham racecourse Runners in action in the Pertemps Final during last season's Cheltenham Festival Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos) The Cheltenham Festival race programme has undergone six important changes as part of the Jockey Club's latest review. Here are the changes outlined in full. Golden Miller (Turners) Novices' Chase axed and replaced with a handicap The 2m4f Golden Miller, introduced as a Grade 2 in 2011 before attaining Grade 1 status three years later, has been discontinued in a bid to strengthen the 2m Arkle and 3m Broadway. Although 11 horses contested the race last season, there were only four runners in 2022, none of them British, reflective of the novice chase division's shrunken population. Taking the Golden Miller's place is a Grade 2 2m4f limited novice handicap chase, an adaption of the contest held at the festival until 2020, after which it was moved to Sandown. National Hunt Chase becomes a novice handicap open to professional jockeys The evolution of the festival's oldest race continues. An event that used to be confined to horses who had been maidens at the start of the season has most recently been a 3m6f Grade 2. Following a series of poor numerical turnouts, the marathon has been downgraded to a 0-145 novice handicap. The traditional stipulation that only amateur jockeys can ride in the race has been removed. Tiger Roll (Keith Donoghue) jumps the final obstacle and wins the Cross CountryCheltenham 17.3.21 Pic: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post Tiger Roll is the most celebrated of Cheltenham's cross-country stars Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos) The Cross Country Chase turns into a limited handicap The Cross Country became a conditions race in 2016, having initially been staged as a handicap. In its latest guise, the race has become increasingly uncompetitive, with the favourite sent off below 2-1 in five of the last eight runnings. It will revert to its old handicap status, although now with a 20lb weight range in an effort to attract high-quality chasers. Winners of Pertemps series qualifiers get ticket to the final Qualification for the Cheltenham Festival final has increasingly been tightened, the previous change being that horses had to finish in the first four in one of the 22 qualifiers. That requirement remains but qualifier winners will now receive protection from elimination in the final, provided they are within the handicap at declaration stage. Runners in non-novice handicaps now need more experience In 2022 the prior experience criteria for the festival's non-novice handicaps was amended to three chase runs and four hurdle runs. That now becomes four chase runs and five hurdle runs, the intention being both to make handicaps more competitive and direct potential top-class novices into the festival's championship races. Penalties removed from Mares' Novices' Hurdle Winners of a Class 1 or 2 race have been required to carry a 3lb penalty, with winners of a Class 1 weight-for-age race forced to shoulder a 5lb burden. That is thought to have reduced the number of times some mares ran in the lead-up to the festival. In future, no penalties will be applied. |
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so the ass licka jornos are already saying how great it is. Message for Mr Renton get a lift to your ivory tower on the extra public transport.
the car park has been and will still be an overpriced quagmire and the water from the hard standing will have to go somewhere.I have no intention of having a green footprint by travelling by public transport and for 25 quid a day dont expect to park on a **** which muddys my shoes. So will stay away until racing finds an unbeaten champion which hasn`t happened for many years.Thats what the public want not 16 runner handicaps. |
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More handicaps equals downgrading the quality which is what the meeting should be about. Bookies will love it/
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Crookies creaming themselves. Handicaps galore. Won't get any of my punting money. Only a matter of time before they are begging for a handicap champion hurdle because constitution hill is 3's on and nobody is having a bet. Why not go the whole hiv and make the gold cup a handicap. They won't stop until they finally kill the game.
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What's the point in letting professionals ride in the National Hunt Chase? Either respect the heritage and keep it for amateurs, or don't respect the heritage and just scrap the bloody thing.
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ramruna, the explanation given was that it would attract lots more runners as a handicap and there aren't enough good amateurs to ride. Think they want to avoid a repeat of the scenes a few years back with some riders "flogging" tired horses.
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Most of these changes go in the wrong direction at first glance.
Making the x-country a handicap so that it's no different to the x-country races at the other fixtures. Getting rid of the penalties in the mares novice hurdle presumably so they can make it yet another Grade 1. Reducing the number of amateurs races. Also if you're going to have two novice hcp chases then just stop all novices running in the other hcp chases regardless of number of runs. |
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pieman • September 26, 2024 12:47 PM BST
Thats what the public want not 16 runner handicaps.  golden place terms |
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see their dressing.writing the NH chase up as an amateur riders race in which pro riders can take part in,in reality its a pro race like every other race that amateurs can ride in,
the gold cup is a race pro,s can ride in  |
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Weren't there loads of runners in the old National Hunt Chase ....Four miles absolutely FLAT OUT !!!!!Great fun.....
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https://community.betfair.com/horse_racing/go/thread/view/94102/31853793/cheltenham-revamp-group1-becomes-hcap
None of those cheering about this have answered the question of what's to stop horses who want 2m4f just avoiding the Festival. If they are mad enough to run a 2m4f horse over 2m or 3m, it doesn't make those races any stronger. The Cross Country shouldn't be there, but you now run the risk of losing the odd decent horse, leaving a very moderate veterans handicap. All to make sure the bookmakers make even more money. It's a joke. |
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You're talking about novice chasers who have had a few runs over fences - the trainers are either clueless about what trip is best over fences at that point or they simply don't care about distance and want to run in the easiest race. What would Mullins have done with Galopin Des Champs if the 20f race didn't exist at the time? Skipped the festival because he doesn't stay 3m?
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Whether they are clueless or not, they don't have to run at the Festival. People talking as if they don't have options. If I was Fairyhouse I would bump up the prize money for the 2m4f Grade 1 and see what happens.
I wouldn't mind the old National Hunt Chase coming back. Backed severals winners including Christmas Gorse and Wandering Light at double figures, and Topsham Bay at a massive price. He was a better horse than those who have been winning since the conditions changed. It was a proper left field puzzle. |
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Don't get the criticisms, these are good changes IMO, there will be horses who now run in the Arkle or Brown Advisory increasing competition amongst the best horses.
The NH Chase will now be less likely to steal horses away from the Brown Advisory so that race in particular is going to be strengthened from two different directions. It will be harder for connections to sneak one in a handicap on a good mark with the need to have another run. Leave things as they are and we will just have more and more odds on shot processions in too many grade 1's. It's strange some reactions because most people would welcome a return to a 3 day festival which would have to eliminate races and force greater competition but in the same breath are complaining when competition is being forced amongst the best horses with these changes. They should have got rid of the Neptune Novices while they were at it. |
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Cheltenham is all that matters, owners want their horses at the festival, they won't duck the festival for an easier race elsewhere, if there was a three legged sack race carrying an egg and spoon they'd run there as long as it gave them the moniker of being a "festival" winner at the end of it.
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DonegalPrince -- you are probably right about whip-happy amateurs, though I tend to associate them with bygone days.
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Unintended consequences -- the Festival can be very expensive, and without a few "good things" for punters to get out of trouble, it might become unaffordable for some. I'm thinking of the oncourse racegoers who have already shelled out a king's ransom for tickets, accommodation and food. Mind you, there's probably a few who would welcome thinner crowds rather than pay £100+ for a game of sardines.
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Ramruna, I am with you. I was merely assuming what it was I thought THEY thought....and of course the "perception" of the public. I think they will be quite happy that this race will gradually be taken over by professionals without them actually forcing the change.
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As I said on the other thread like chickens voting for Christmas. If there were 7 odds on shots that still gives you 21 other races to lose money on. It really should be bookmakers who want punters to lose on all 28 races.
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their teaming up with someone to offer supposedly value packages of tkts,travel hotels,I thought the problem in chelt was available rooms so the price will never fall,value means there out of town, we stopped in Cardiff once in local gazette trip ,another time Coventry,its not the full chelt experience if your been bused in and out,
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Can't even get your own carp right DD, I believe you said Turkeys? That apart your own ineptness highlights your inability to accept change where it is absolutely necessary. e.g you moaned about the "Premier" division picking odds on shots but instead of campaigning for change you joined them the very next day!!!
Get real, 4 & 5 runner races are no good to anyone other than the entrants and do no good for the industry, whether racing as a whole or bookmaking regardless of perceived "Quality"? |
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NH chase & x-country would have gone for me although x-country being a hcap is acceptable
the only case for the NH chase to remain was to revert to 4m & the previous conditions...converting to another novice hcap & losing amateur status is a monster fudge imo |
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Hypothetical but, if numbers attending fall, number of good horses in grade ones fall, could they return to a three day 'festival' for championship races followed by a 4th day for handicaps - akin the old Royal Ascot + Ascot Heath?
Concentrate quality midweek and leave a 4th day as a bookies benefit. Not sure the changes will make much of a difference come next year as I expect atttendances will fall again. |
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Telling PORKIES
re unchanged prices Advance prices higher than last year FACT |
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i realise this thread is in response to the cheltenham changes but it is merely a sighter for the next 2,000 threads about the festival. and its not october . ...i was a member there for many years . i watch on tv now and pop to the pub . it was once the end game , the dream target , the fun few days after months of keeping tabs on our fancies through the challenges ;wetherby, newbury,sandowm, kempton , leopardstown ....
alas, i now feel brainwashed into thinking the rest of the season is unimportant . regardless of any changes , its gone from what it was . forever . i have no personal truck with mullins , the double greens , ricci, gigginstown , french named horses , etc ....just think its time we stopped ruining the rest of the season because of a very rich man's game centered on 4 days . trouble is , i'm not sure how to do this . |
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why is ed chamberlain consulted on/about chelt changes, the fa don't consult lineker or pougatch before making changes, chamberlain got his way Simon Cowell would be involved inventing x factor back story,s he was absolutely gobsmacked at ayr last weekend after spending the week trawling the deaths,birthdays,births,memorial pasges that he,d missed the death of McDonald's dad,but within secs went in to an hrs overdrive about a death he hadn't heard of 60 mins earlier
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Trust NJH to agree.Willie Mullins has it right.
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I,m surprised a beer company doesn't/hasn't stepped in to sponsor the x coun try hase as it s the time 90% of the crownn go to the bar or toilet as 20 horse run round a track 3 times with Maj of crowd no idea of what's happening till the last 2 fences
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Media may as well double up as reps for the bookmakers.
How much airtime have they given to those who have described the changes as 'insane'? Close to none. So you are force fed the idea that everyone thinks they are a good thing. Negatives just ignored because they can't just be explained away. |
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As Mullins said its the cost that is the problem - end of. Went there on a freebie present in one of the many hospitality areas in 2020 just as covid took hold. That was fine for me as it was very comfortable with food and drink on hand without the need to join the throng at the other bars. I know the atmosphere is great but the car parking is awful and just about everyone just watches the races on the big screen. It certainly didn't encourage me to come again and pay through the nose for a pretty uncomfortable day out.
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12 of the 28 races going to be handicaps. HistoricWarwick right it what he says. If they believe handicaps are what punters want, so say the bookies, stick 7 of the 12 on one day. Over 40% of races handicaps at a championship meeting, crazy. Mullins 100% correct it's the cost that's the main issue. Dublin Racing Festival 60 euros for both days and its a better meeting. £60 (at least) to go in Tatts at Chelt each day a joke. £20 to park your car on top and then be ripped off for food and drink. Greed greed greed.....rather go to Sedgefield and watch on the screen.
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