Racing Post

Early-closing festival system a nonsense

I TOTALLY agree with Kim Bailey’s views about earlyclosing races at the Cheltenham Festival.

It’s a nonsense to be putting horses in when you can’t be at all sure they’ll get there.

There’s no need for it: they don’t do it at Aintree. You can understand it in the championship races for established horses as you generally know if they’re worth putting in the Gold Cup or Champion Hurdle.

But it’s different in the novice races, particularly this winter when we’re way behind with a lot of horses. Making entries for them can be pointless and expensive.

You pay a bit more at the five-day entry stage at Aintree but at least you’re pretty certain you’re going to want to run.

I’ve made four entries for the Triumph Hurdle and it may be that none of them get there. The early closing date meant I felt I had to put in two who haven’t even run over hurdles yet.

Open Champion is a lovely horse who would have been out by now had he not had a bad scope a couple of weeks ago. He looks in good order now and should be out soon.

Selwan came from France and has only just started schooling, so I’m still getting to know him. He’s a big, scopey horse who works well.

NEWS

en-ie

2023-02-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-02-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://racingpost.pressreader.com/article/281625309445192

Racing Post