Dearth of three-year-old hurdlers may indicate sea change

Never mind the flowers, where have all the three-year-old hurdlers gone? It would be too much of a stretch to consider them in danger of disappearing from these shores, but their habitual habitats are vanishing fast.

One of the standard grumbles as the Stable Tour rounds are made, along with the lack of rain, has been the relative difficulty in acquiring juvenile hurdlers. If you're Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson, Willie Mullins or Joseph O'Brien, the complaint does not apply, but for many other trainers there is a growing problem in that area.

It is not a new problem, of course, but sufficient mention has been made to make it an important problem. The primary reason for the dearth of potential three-year-old hurdlers is the increased opportunities for this type of horse, and subsequent prohibitive expense of the ones who remain available. They are falling into fewer hands, and the consequences are obvious.