Racing Post Novice Chase is reinstated following another shake-up to Irish jumps programme

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has announced a number of changes to the graded novice chase programme for the season ahead with Leopardstown's previously axed 2m1f Grade 1 novice chase being reinstated to the Christmas meeting, while the Grade 1 3m Fort Leney Novice Steeplechase is to be removed from the programme.

The shorter Grade 1– which had been sponsored by the Racing Post and will be again – was culled with the intention of instigating more competition by having fewer Christmas options for the top novice chasers. However, that did not appear to work out as anticipated and the change had come in for criticism from many, including Ruby Walsh.

It has now been decided to remove the Grade 1 3m novice chase instead, while the Faugheen Novice Steeplechase at the Limerick Christmas festival will be extended to 2m5½f from 2m3½f.

“In 2023 the decision was taken by the National Hunt Pattern Committee and approved by the HRI Programmes Committee to reduce the number of Grade 1 Novice Steeplechases in the Christmas novice steeplechase programme from three to two, to increase competitiveness," a HRI statement read.

“Following a review of the 2024-25 programme, it was deemed optimal to reinstate the Christmas Novice Steeplechase at Leopardstown and create a greater distance differential with that race and the Faugheen Novice Steeplechase by extending the Limerick Grade 1 by 1.5 furlongs. The Grade 1 Fort Leney Novice Steeplechase (3m) at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting has been deleted.”

The statement also outlined further downgrades and culling, adding: “Two races have been subject to downgrade from Grade 3 to Listed for failing to maintain their minimum required average rating – the Jezki Hurdle at Down Royal on October 31 and the Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle at Naas in February.

“The National Hunt Pattern Committee has also recommended that the Grade 2 Directors Plate Steeplechase (2m) at Naas in early January be deleted.”

Read more here

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