35 minutes between races isn't too long - provided quality time can be achieved

Willie Mullins is always worth listening to on the issues of the day but I believe he missed the mark last week when he said the 35-minute gap between Irish races was "boring" and a turn-off for racegoers.

Meetings with breaks longer than 30 minutes between contests have become increasingly common in Britain and Ireland, and the trainer believes they should be shortened to help build more excitement.

According to Horse Racing Ireland statistics for the first six months of 2022, attendances were down nine per cent compared to 2019, while in the same period attendances dropped by 17.4 per cent in Britain.

While it is possibly a consequence of the cost of living crisis and the squeeze on people's disposable income, that still does not make for pleasant reading, and it is heartening to hear a big name like Mullins recognising the need for racing to work harder to attract customers.

However, the answer is not shorter gaps between races. While there may be some logic to doing so for a standard eight-race card on the Flat, it would be a backwards step at the big meetings and festivals.

Firstly, a gap of 35 minutes is usually about right on a big Saturday. Once the average racegoer has (hopefully) collected their winnings, clapped the winner into the winner's enclosure, placed their next bet and taken some more refreshment, the next race is very nearly off.

Secondly, it is not as straightforward as cutting the gaps. It takes a bit of time to get horses into the parade ring and down to the start, and we already have delays without making the window even tighter.

Finally, the 35-minute gap is just about long enough for the written press, broadcasters and raceday presenters to interview connections. While you may dismiss this as vested interest, this coverage helps to take the sport to its off-track audience at a time when many have stressed the importance of promoting the sport's biggest contests.

So ultimately it is not about the time between races, but the options and experiences available to racegoers to fill them. Some tracks get this right but others seem intent on shooting themselves in the foot.

British racing generally offers good value for money compared to other major sports, but the racecourse experience is often below par. Here is a list of things racegoers do not need: long queues, a limited selection of mostly beige food, criminally overpriced pints and being told they can only use card when most other venues accept cash.

Fortunately, the majority of those things are fixable. Tracks could reach out to local producers to offer a broader range of food and drink options, ensure bars are sufficiently staffed and allow those customers who are more comfortably using cash to do so freely.

There are so many ways the raceday experience could be improved before we start worrying about the gaps between races. The quality of the time, rather than the length of time, must take precedence.

Brave a worthy King George favourite

It is my favourite time of the year to follow jump racing. The dream is still alive for connections and while the bubble will burst for many, a select few may soon realise they have a superstar on their hands.

I was at Ascot to watch Goshen disappoint on his chase debut and it was deflating but there will be other days for him. It is worth giving him one more chance over fences but it seems his future lies over hurdles and a bid for a Kingwell Hurdle hat-trick looks most likely.

His performance was in stark contrast to that of Bravemansgame, who could hardly have been more impressive when winning the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby for trainer Paul Nicholls.

Bravemansgame: impressive in the Charlie Hall ChaseCredit: Steve Davies

Admittedly, he was getting 3lb from runner-up Eldorado Allen and 1lb from the valiant third Sam Brown, and Ahoy Senor did not run to form, but his jumping was so effective for a second-season novice, which will be a huge asset when he faces tougher tests this season.

He was value for more than the winning distance and I believe he has what it takes to win the King George on Boxing Day, even if Allaho turns up for Willie Mullins. There are few constants in life but Nicholls taking a serious contender to Kempton is one of them and there are few trainers better at targeting the big races away from the festival.

Bravemansgame would clearly have to show a lot of improvement to beat Allaho, a dual Ryanair winner with bags of experience, but he has form at the track and his victory over Ahoy Senor in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase last year showed his effectiveness on a sharp right-handed track. He will be primed for Kempton, whereas Allaho is not a definite runner and Mullins will have one eye on the festival.

I would also not be too quick to discount Bravemansgame as a Gold Cup contender. Nicholls compared him to dual King George winner Silviniaco Conti, who failed to make an impression at Cheltenham, but the yard had similar reservations about Kauto Star at the track.

If Bravemansgame were to perform well at Kempton then they would have to try him in the Gold Cup and if he goes, he will likely go off a good deal shorter than the 16-1 available following the Charlie Hall.

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Willie Mullins: shorten the gaps between races to give racing 'a bit of a buzz'

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