Numbers a cause for concern but there are signs of recovery

Areas still causing concern
While there may be signs of a recovery, rewind to 2010 and average field sizes in the first quarter were closing in on ten runners. A snapshot of the same period shows 68 per cent of races had eight runners or more, while just 52.8 per cent of races topped eight participants in January, February and March of this year.

Naturally, field sizes will be governed by the number of horses in training and, while the worrying decline in this area highlighted in the jumps review appears to have been halted, further growth in the supply is crucial for the sport to thrive.

Breeders have a vital role to play and, while some good recent work has been done to promote mares and reward British-bred horses, the man who bred Sizing John says more is needed.