Cheltenham's new look hurdles

Madness, a horse before you flicks the hurdle the next horse sees something different.

nothing in front of state man and ch was never making that whatever the hurdle

Questions have to be asked when two former champion hurdlers fall in the same race. Horses are used to brushing through the top of hurdles. Placing a chunky bar right along the top increases the risk of them tripping over it. I think the design of these hurdles is stupid but consistent with mickey mouse management of horse racing in the UK.

Something isnt right, they should be brush at the top of the hurdle. What next a white bar on the top off chase fences......

fook me cons hill stood that far off the hurdle on of his legs didn't even reach the bottom of the hurdle it hit the ground in front of it,he didn't even reach the hurdle top debate it and should have fell at the last in his prep race ,25 in supreme and mares including a faller last time and possible dodgy jumping fav didn't have any problems

Natural birch to white coloured foam,you couldn’t make it up…..braindead tbh

They’ll probably say it’s easier for the horses to see….but in nature they can see hedges,stone walls,gates and all sorts…

look at the slowest mo replay,he didn't reach the hurdle ,let alone the top of it, he basically in football terms/rugby drop kick , half volleyed the bottom of the hurdle with one of his legs

I could be getting this mixed up with something else but didn't a trainer state a while back (possibly last season) that he put white paint around the hurdles at home, or something to that effect, to get his runners prepared for the new look Cheltenham hurdles?

When CH ran up to the hurdle that he fell at the hurdle had been knocked forward(lower) by a horse in front of him and then sprung back up when CH went to jump it.

^^Agree with IS

he might have knocked the top of the hurdle back but CONST hill front leg didn't make the bottom 0f the hurdle on the slow mo he took of a fall strider to early was never makiongt it to the other side, very similar to what he did at last in his prep but he  wasn't standing as far off so managed to scramble overt it, as for white/yellow
arnt horses colour blind ?

State Man Jumped the previous 7 "new" hurdles perfectly well, the fall was very similar to Annie Power's fall at the last when clear.

Its just one of those things unfortunately for connections.

MJK
Date Joined: 13 May 10
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12 Mar 25 11:37Joined: 13 May 10 | Topic/replies: 17,784 | Blogger: MJK's blog

I could be getting this mixed up with something else but didn't a trainer state a while back (possibly last season) that he put white paint around the hurdles at home, or something to that effect, to get his runners prepared for the new look Cheltenham hurdles?

Pretty sure that was Willie Mullins MJK

20 odd hurdlers had no problem there with the hurdles

Mar 12, 2025 -- 3:00PM, Jumping-cuckoo-monk wrote:

MJKDate Joined: 13 May 10Add contact | Send message12 Mar 25 11:37Joined: 13 May 10 | Topic/replies: 17,784 | Blogger: MJK's blogI could be getting this mixed up with something else but didn't a trainer state a while back (possibly last season) that he put white paint around the hurdles at home, or something to that effect, to get his runners prepared for the new look Cheltenham hurdles?Pretty sure that was Willie Mullins MJK

Cheers

Jumping-cuckoo-monk 12 Mar 25 14:00 
MJK
Date Joined: 13 May 10
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12 Mar 25 11:37Joined: 13 May 10 | Topic/replies: 17,784 | Blogger: MJK's blog

I could be getting this mixed up with something else but didn't a trainer state a while back (possibly last season) that he put white paint around the hurdles at home, or something to that effect, to get his runners prepared for the new look Cheltenham hurdles?

Pretty sure that was Willie Mullins MJK


Yes it was Mullins and it all came about after Energumene jumped badly in the re-arranged Clarence House chase a couple of years back at Cheltenham and then went on to win the CC next time.