Why I think Cheltenham Festival handicaps need to change

I think people know I'm not someone who likes to express opinions in public but I've got some strongly held views on weights and races and I'm using this column to express them.

I have concerns about the number of runners allowed to take part in the Cheltenham Festival handicaps. I don't want to raise the safety argument but it seems to me that 26 runners in the Coral Cup and County Hurdle and 24 in the Martin Pipe is just too many. In my opinion, it would be much better to have fewer runners; personally, I would allow only 18 horses in those races.

I think the festival would be improved for reducing some of the handicap maximum field sizes but I also think the months leading into the meeting would benefit. I believe racing needs more competition. We need people to show their hand more – and if people feel their horse is on the cusp of getting in, they will need to run the horse again in order to be sure of that happening.