The big debate: which race would you cut from the Cheltenham Festival?

Following news that a race at the Cheltenham Festival will be axed to make way for a Mares' Chase in 2021, three Racing Post writers reveal which race they would like to drop.

Not a proper race

As a die-hard fan of a three day-festival, I'm somewhat spoilt for choice as to which race I'd choose to bin to make way for the proposed Grade 2 Mares' Chase.

Of the races introduced since the switch to four days in 2005, Wednesday's juvenile handicap, understandably, regularly figures near the bottom of the list of contests by betting turnover at the meeting, but at least it's a proper race. On the other hand, the preceding Cross Country Chase isn't. Races on the cross-country course have a novelty value, but the festival doesn't need one.
Steve Mason, Racing Post Ratings

Simply a victory lap

In the last nine renewals of the Mares' Hurdle only once has the favourite gone off odds-against. Far too often the race has proved not to be a championship contest worthy of its place at racing's showpiece event, but simply a victory lap for a far superior mare who's capable of cutting it against the best of the boys.

The Mares' Hurdle deprives racing fans of genuinely exciting clashes. It's scarcely believable Big Buck's and Quevega failed to face each other during their careers, but they did not clash as Quevega was able to mop up easy pickings in the Mares' Hurdle.
Tony McFadden, Reporter

Illogical for novices at intermediate trip to have so many options

If one race has to be dropped to make way it would make a lot of sense for it to be the Close Brothers.

The Grade 1 novice chases at the festival tend to have among the lowest field sizes. While they would not always benefit from an added raft of '25s bar' runners, this year's winner A Plus Tard should have run in a championship race and, now the ceiling rating is 145 rather than 140, his type will only become more common.

There is also a matter of symmetry. The new mares' race will be a 2m4f novices' chase. Should the Close Brothers stay, a novice chaser at the intermediate trip could have the widest range of options at Cheltenham. That seems illogical. With some regret, the Close Brothers must go.
Keith Melrose, Betting Editor

Which race would you scrap at the Cheltenham Festival? Email your views to editor@racingpost.com