In an article for the Racing Post today, legendary jumps owner JP McManus suggests proposals designed to enhance competition, transparency and excitement at the Festival.
A CASE FOR REDUCING FIELD SIZES
One of McManus’s key suggestions is to reduce the number of runners in the major Cheltenham Festival handicaps.
He specifically cites races like the Coral Cup, County Hurdle and Martin Pipe Hurdle, which currently allow up to 26 runners in the former two and 24 in the latter.
McManus argues that these field sizes are too large and that limiting the number of runners would significantly improve the quality and competitiveness of the races:
While safety concerns are often raised in discussions about field sizes, McManus insists that his primary focus is on overall competitiveness.
He contends that with fewer horses in a race, there would be heightened competition for places, with trainers more inclined to run their horses earlier in the season, particularly those close to qualifying:
This, he says, would provide more opportunities for the public to gauge the form of contenders, injecting fresh competition into the winter months and creating a more exciting build-up to the Festival.
HANDICAPS & THE BALANCE OF COMPETITION
McManus acknowledges that some owners and trainers would object to the idea of reducing field sizes at the Festival.
However, he suggests that without greater competition during the jumps season, the Festival’s handicaps lack the intensity and excitement they deserve.
He also points out that, with the recent addition of three more handicap races - the new Jack Richards Novices' Chase, plus the National Hunt Chase and Cross Country Chase - this issue of competition has become even more pressing.
While these races will feature smaller field sizes, McManus fears that trainers could still avoid running horses to protect their marks.
He argues that this only further emphasises the need for change in how handicaps are structured.
WEIGHT & SAFETY ALLOWANCES: CALLING FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY
Another concern McManus raises is the impact of jockeys’ safety allowances, including the back protector allowance, on the actual weight horses carry in races.
As it stands, horses are carrying more weight than is stated in the racecards due to these safety measures.
In the case of the Grand National, for example, the topweight appears to carry 11st 12lb, but when safety allowances are factored in, this weight increases to 12st 2lb.
McManus points out that this increase contradicts previous decisions made to limit top weights in certain races, where the 12st limit was once deemed too much for the horses to safely carry.
He also highlights the inconsistency in weight requirements across races, particularly for four-year-olds.
For instance, the weight for the Triumph Hurdle was reduced to 11st 2lb, but the Fred Winter Handicap top weight - also for four-year-olds - is 11st 12lb.
McManus argues that this discrepancy is unfair and undermines the rationale behind weight reductions for juveniles.
Moreover, he calls for greater transparency in the weight figures published:
By doing so, McManus believes that racing fans would be better informed and better able to assess the challenge each horse faces during the Festival.