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Wetherby Hunter Chase

Interesting to hear peeps thoughts on this one. Personally I feel Jet Plane should win this but if the 6/5 - Evs is anticipated then I couldn't touch it with the Jock thats booked. The most feared are then all around 4/1 so not much each way value imo.

19 comments

Comments (19)

ManOfEurope

Feb 02

Probably not helped by the three courses all being on the same side of the country.

Given the kudos of having a runner at the festival and the money people will pay just to have the hope of finishing in the first four there, its surprising more don't target the Foxhunters' and hence fill the hunter chases run at this time of the season with a view to qualifying. Having reached a low point in both the quantity and quality of horses currently eligible for the race, for a relatively modest sum someone could do a Django and enjoy the prestige of reaching the hallowed enclosures.

Hellenic

Feb 01

The 32 entries for next week's three Hunterchases (Wed/Thurs/Fri) comprise only 22 individual horses. Are these races too close together or are fewer horses contesting H/C's this season?

Darran

Feb 01

Replying to

Given we have lost races as well it does seem a bit worrying that next week races look set to have small fields. Hopefully it improves as the season goes on.

ToT

Feb 02

Replying to

Not sure it’s just this season, lots of HCs been looking a bit thin for a few years now. I wonder whether there are horses who struggled a bit in opens that are now going the conditions race route rather than HCs. HCs used to be quite a good place to find a race as there was more variety of distances and conditions than 3m open.

Myles Osborne

Feb 01

Really frustrates me, how genuine pointing people come up against a horse that has been placed in class 3’s this winter, and was beaten a length by ‘Jagwar’ (rated OR 139 chase) carrying 17lbs more than Jagwar, 3 months ago. Also trained by the leading professional jumps trainer. How are genuine pointing people expected to compete in hunter chases???

Pointing Syndicate Co

Feb 01

Replying to

It was definitely a very weak Hunter Chase today. It is very frustrating when pro yards enter horses in these events.

Darran

Feb 01

Replying to

I get it that is frustrating, but these horses don't always win and if he ran like he did at Kempton he wouldn't haven won today. Fair play for taking him on. The problem is without the pro trainers entering their horses I suspect we will have fewer hunter chases. On the other side you could argue if you ban horses like Jet Plane would that mean more you get more horses enter. Hard to be certain what would happen.

HarleyJohn

Feb 02

Replying to

Hunterchases should be a step up from point to points and a logical progression from Opens. Arguably goes Warwick race was just that. However far too many hunterchase runners are there because they can't win a conditions race so having a day out with the chance of some place money to pay expenses. Once we get into mid season and the good horses are targeted at Cheltenham, Aintree and Hunterchase evening meetings the problem becomes worse. Whilst open point to points will have tiny fields.

Probably too many Hunterchases at this time of year although as with pointing we need a few extra to compensate for weather interruptions.

* However the real problems are not 140+ handicappers in hunterchases as Darran says plenty get turned over but.....

A) Too few pointers

B) Current conditions races which don't push horses up into opens and onwards into hunterchasing.

What is needed is a complete rethink that looks at pointing and hunterchases as a single entity. If hunterchasers were required to have won an open point to point in the past 2 seasons (intermediate/ conditions for novice) and conditions races discouraged 120+ horses from dodging each other then we might see some progress.

HarleyJohn

Feb 01

Winner enjoyed his day out totally outclassed the opposition.

Gordonwp

Feb 01

Replying to

So did Heidi 😇

Gordonwp

Feb 01

JERRYSBACK NOW NON RUNNER

Gordonwp

Feb 01

The betting and number of selections (?) by entrants in THE COMPETITION as of 12:30 is as follows:

JET PLANE 11/8 (9)

JERRYSBACK 10/1 (2)

ANOTHER FURLOUGH 7/2 (9)

ASK A HONEY BEE 10/1 (8)

IRASCIBLE 25/1 (0)

SOCKS OFF 16/1 (1)

TANORA 150/1 (0)

WILD ROMANCE 9/2 (12)

Darran

Jan 31

Found it interesting that Harry Skelton wanted to highlight Jet Plane in his Star Sport column and it was the only horse he isn’t riding this weekend that he highlighted. Not sure how I’m going to play things yet but I certainly prefer his chances in this race than the other two he was set to run. As for the jockey I think she’s proven herself to be more than capable.

Gordonwp

Jan 31

Replying to

Agree about Heidi Pallin but not convinced about the horse so I am agreeing with Maelstrom it is Wild Romance for me.

Maelstrom

Jan 31

I haven't had time to trawl through the form of the others but Wild Romance is a horse I have an awful lot of time for and she seems to be a really tough and game mare. The official going is soft, good to soft and being not far away and knowing Wetherby, i'd think it'll be quite gluey and holding there tomorrow. She toughed it out to beat Paul Marvel in an eight minute contest in tough conditions at Hexham so I think she'll handle it and still be galloping at the end. If she jumps alright she should go well.