Outstanding weekend highlights prove that change is good - even if it wasn't quite a revolution
When the Racing Post revealed changes to Ireland's jumps season on the eve of Christmas last year, Jason Morris, then Horse Racing Ireland's director of racing, described them as "evolution rather than revolution".
It was a nice line that did enough to diffuse the ire of those who were thriving in the existing climate but at the same time placate the persistent laments of a voluminous rumpus of malcontents. The Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown was to be axed, while the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle was downgraded to a Grade 2.
On the back of a couple of decades of exponential growth in the Irish Grade 1 pool, it constituted pretty ruthless surgery.
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Published on inRichard Forristal
Last updated
Copy- Ceding control of Kempton's destiny is a shameful, unconscionable act of short-term thinking by the Jockey Club
- Not quite Wacko Jacko but a wacky six weeks in jumping's highest echelons makes for a thriller
- Box-office John Durkan has justified its new slot - now it’s time to apply the same smart thinking to the Morgiana
- Wrong horse chaos exposes dismal regulatory failures yet again - and it's punters paying the price
- Ireland's rich/poor divide over jumps is widening fast - that's why we need the likes of Conor O'Dwyer to keep thriving
- Ceding control of Kempton's destiny is a shameful, unconscionable act of short-term thinking by the Jockey Club
- Not quite Wacko Jacko but a wacky six weeks in jumping's highest echelons makes for a thriller
- Box-office John Durkan has justified its new slot - now it’s time to apply the same smart thinking to the Morgiana
- Wrong horse chaos exposes dismal regulatory failures yet again - and it's punters paying the price
- Ireland's rich/poor divide over jumps is widening fast - that's why we need the likes of Conor O'Dwyer to keep thriving