SD's Racing Ramble: Championship race cop outs are a blot on racing

Having amassed a loyal following on our Races Now YouTube channel thanks to a combination of outstanding tipping and forthright opinions, the inimitable 'SD' has now signed up for a weekly column right here on OddsNow.com!

This week's edition hones in on the trend of avoiding elite competition in horse racing and how it weakens the sport as a result.

I write this when Betfair would seem to indicate that Lossiemouth is heading for the Mares Hurdle. It is impossible to conclude that this is for the good of the sport.

Cheltenham has a series of Championship races. These are designed for the best of the best to run each other in. It’s how we find out who is best in their class. It should be appreciated at a time for the sport where it is struggling for runners, then these cop outs favour only connections.

Honeysuckle dodged it in 2020 and took the Champion Hurdle a year later. A similar, albeit more catastrophic, route was taken in 2013. Quevega never really beat much and we are left wondering what could have been with her non-participation in the Champion Hurdle.

The likeable Flakey Dove wouldn’t have won a Champion Hurdle 31 years ago if the Mares was in place then either.

The theory is that more mares stay in training these days because of the programme. This can be supported, but the answer is surely a ratings cap of 150 in the mares race. This would force connections hands and ensure more competitive races not only at the elite level, but also at its periphery.

Furthermore, the Gold Cup would be better with Fact To File in it. The Champion Chase would be some contest with the inclusion of Il Est Fracais. One Man probably wouldn’t have won the oh so memorable Champion Chase 26 years ago. I could go on, but again, maybe the Ryanair should be 0-150 or abolished all together.

The importance of the best beating the next best has become a dirty concept, which serves to not favour fans of our great sport. We should applaud competition of this nature and deplore these cop outs.

Quite why connections of geldings in particular shirk competition and running horses to avoid each other remains a mystery. It is to our sport’s cost they continue to persevere with such a meek approach.

B*llocks to Benidorm, head for Hexham

Benidorm appears to be the in thing to spend the Cheltenham Festival at.

Indeed, the Winning Post bar is a delight, where you can get trollied for the afternoon and wager to your heart’s content. Sadly, my better half did not agree on our visit.

There is a rock-solid alternative if you station yourself east, however.

Trips to Sedgefield, Huntingdon, Hexham and Fakenham are all thoroughly recommended. You can watch racing in a lovely atmosphere and catch Cheltenham in the middle of the live action.

The shining light is of course is Britain’s most scenic racecourse, Hexham.

A knockout bet in the Midlands National

The most valuable handicap next week isn’t at Cheltenham, it is the Midlands National at Uttoxeter.

It’s usually a total slog-fest run on hock-deep ground, however, this year's forecast is benign.

It took them long enough to find out Knockanore’s ideal trip, but he really did show what he can do over it in the Eider.

A 10lbs rise won’t stop him and under seemingly optimum conditions – one which will not suit many of his opponents – he appeals greatly at 10/1.

Good luck at the Festival, but just remember, a 5/1 winner at Cheltenham pays the same as a 5/1 winner at Hexham.

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