Tweaks to maiden conditions could help autumn pinch point for open races

Grade 1 winner Conflated could make his open lightweight debut in Sunday’s feature race at Tinahely.

The 11-year-old has not won for the best part of three years, having endured a 17-run winless spell since his victory in the 2022 Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

If he were to head to Fairwood Park on Sunday he could clash with Journey With Me, another notable newcomer to the open ranks, illustrating the strength and depth within the division at this time of the year.

The pre-Christmas period can create a conflict within the open lightweight division, with highly rated track horses popping up in order to get qualified for hunter chases.

Trainer Gordon Elliott has already indicated, in his recent Racing Post stable tour, that Conflated is being aimed down the hunter chase route, ensuring that his presence in the point-to-point fields will likely only be short-lived.

Recent seasons have seen conditions added to a number of open races whereby horses with Graded victories are excluded, but there is more that can be done to mitigate this autumn pinch point.

Last weekend, there was no open race at Knockmullen House, which has the effect of concentrating horses among the few opportunities there are, producing ultra-competitive races. That can be seen in the 23 entries for the open at Turtulla on Sunday.

That is not an isolated case. Six fixtures in the autumn term do not have an open on their cards, and when you add in two other cards which have only a mares’ open race that is getting towards a third of the total number of autumn fixtures.

Increasing the number of opportunities for open horses is a quick fix, and one which can have a positive spin-off elsewhere.

Several categories of maiden races could be boosted at this time of the year by a small number of races being removed from the programme to boost their field sizes – namely those for five-year-old geldings, five-year-old and upwards mares, and six-year-olds and up.

They can struggle slightly before getting a boost in the new year, and replacing one of them with either an open or additional winners unlimited races, should begin to have the effect of providing more chances for mid-range open horses to be competitive at this time of year.

Weekend fixtures

Saturday
Kirkistown - first race 12.30

Sunday
Tinahely - first race 12.30
Turtulla - first race 12.30

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