Horseracing Bettors Forum calls for greater flexibility ahead of match race

MY DROGO (Harry Skelton) wins at KELSO 6/3/21 Copyright: Grossick Photography

My Drogo: faces just one rival on his chase debut at Cheltenham on FridayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The Horseracing Bettors Forum (HBF), which represents the interests of those who bet on British racing, has called for greater flexibility when it comes to running orders and television schedules after the novice chase at Cheltenham on Friday due to be screened on ITV4 was reduced to a match race.

After three runners were declared for the SSS Super Alloys-backed contest on Wednesday, Fancy Foundations was withdrawn on Thursday due to the ground, leaving Grade 1-winning hurdler My Drogo to make his debut over fences against only Gin On Lime.

With two 20-runner races on the same card failing to make the terrestrial television line-up, the inclusion of the now two-runner 2m4f novice chase was described as "a good slot being wasted" by Entain's director of trading James Knight and HBF chairman Colin Hord on Thursday called for more flexibility in these situations.

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Lewis PorteousReporter

Published on 11 November 2021inNews

Last updated 20:01, 11 November 2021

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