Demophon

Ashburton/NZTR could have held a consolation race for 20k for the bottom end of the highly nominated race and run the race at 10.30 am. NZ racing has 15 noms with a field limit of 14 for the maiden hurdlers at Te Rapa on Saturday and are looking to hold noms open and possible run two race of 7 or 8 runners. NZ currently have enough jumps jockeys for field of 14 unlike last year. Mind you following the race 1 debacle at Trentham with the suspensions of 3 riders this may affect the number of available riders.

Great post Michael. Appreciate the insight

I was at Trentham on Saturday and had great vision with my binoculars of the two steeplechase races. I have watched the replays which include the drone footage. The drone footage definitely takes away the spectacle of the steeplechase and should not be used in the future.

Full credit to Uncle Charlie. He beat some well credentialed runners.

Uncle Charlie will not win anothger race

I think Dean Parker should have been charged with failing to ride his mount, Catch and Release, out. I was on course., Catch and Release effectively baulked at the jump where all the carnage happened and the rider did not fall off. Dean took an age ( seemed like minutes) to continue on in the race. Had Dean jogged the horse around and when all appeared okay and continued, he would have most probably won the race. Portia Mathews rode Uncle Charlie at a very slow canter and managed to get him to jump the fences and win the race. Had there been any pressure on Uncle Charlie to maintain a reasonable pace I doubt he would have finished the race. I am not talking through my pocket as I did not have a bet on the race.

Could not agree more. My Grandfather a big punter and bookmaker from the 1940s and 1950s would never bet in a maiden race.

All go for Rotorua today

12 in the steeples and 12 in the hurdles. That will also be the maximun amount of riders as well. There are a few riders over from the UK to increase rider numbers

As a jump racing fan I think the stakes increase is outstanding. Any whispers about the Grand National Hurdles Stakes? The club will be rewarded with full fields and a great carnival.

. Looking at Met Service for Rotorua They have had 46 mm today and expect 67 mm by midnight. My pick is it will be too wet. If it is I hope they run on Sunday or Monday on the Rotorua course and don't consider the Cambridge AWT

A lot of the two year old who trialed today will be spelled and brought back in the spring. There for education and trainers not keen on racing on heavy tracks. Conversely the maidens down to trial over 1100 mtrs would have gone on to race rather than heading to spelling paddock. Lost turnover for Entain Who should have got the Trial? The maidens and two year Olds at next grass trials

A rating 65 should not be a cup race

If you didn't watch weigh in there was a heart warming interview of Sam Spratt that is well worth a watch. On target to become worlds leading female group 1 rider.

Just a total embarsement I can not beleive it has happened given the weather leading in to race day.

The Rotorua and BOP Hunt meeting is being held at Rotorua on Sunday. There are five jumps races with capacity fields. The Central Districts top Jumps Trainers Kevin Myres, Mark Oulaghan and the Nelson/McDougal partnership will have a number of horses at the meeting. The rising jumping star Helena Baby will go around in race three. With the future of Jumps racing under the spotlight it will be great to see as many as possible attend the meeting to show the powers that be the interest in jumps racing.

I remember Sydney trainer John O Shea being interviewed after a trip to UK. His comment was they race for ribbons in UK. Very steep course entry fee for the equivalent of a NZ industry day.

I can always remember having a bet and saying I will meet you at back of tote.

I see there is programmed to be 14 starters in the maiden hurdle at Te Rapa on Saturday. I doubt there will be enough jumps jockeys to fill the field. I have been pleased with jumps racing too date with a number of participants trainer wise.

The race should have been run and the horse or horses disadvantaged should have been late scratchings. There were two stuff ups. The early start and then declaring a false start. A very trigger happy starter?

Brittany was great. BP looked liked he was grazing on a good paddock over Christmas

There was a better effort. Abre Chene ran in the Avondale Cup mid December 1979 over 2,200 and won the railway 01 Jan 1980. This was a two week freshen up dropping from 2200 to 1200 mtrs I was on course and got the $8.00 odd dividend. The winner today ran several months after the derby. Abre Chene went on to win the the Air NZ stakes ridden by Lester Piggot in 1980.

As another example I was watching the buildup to the VRC OAKS on Thursday. I was really enjoying the parade, the comments from experts and the atmosphere. All of a sudden, we cross to a provincial pacing race and had to watch pacers go around and around a greyhound track. We then cross back and we are just short of start time. Very off putting.

Amateurs

Do we know for sure that The TAB-Entain Insured the competition? If so great but if not $10,000,000 out the window is something that they cannot afford.