Trainer Anthony Honeyball calls for an end to the National Hunt Chase

Trainer Anthony Honeyball, who nearly won the National Hunt Chase a year ago with Ms Parfois, is urging the BHA to scrap the four-mile event after a controversial running of the contest at last week's Cheltenham Festival.

Only four of the 18 runners completed the novice chase for amateur riders, three of whom were given suspensions of a combined 37 days. Of those, 30 days were for continuing in the race when it "appeared to be contrary to the horse’s welfare".

In 2018 only six horses finished the race, with Honeyball's Ms Parfois beaten narrowly into second by Rathvinden, denying the trainer a victory that would have been the biggest of his training career.

Honeyball said: "I think we should get rid of the four-miler. There were four finishers this year and only six the year before. What novice chaser really needs to go four miles at that stage of their life?

"In your wildest dreams you would never develop that race. Four miles, amateur riders and novice chasers – I can't see that as a very clever combination. I don't know how you ever end up with a race like that."

However, Honeyball was supportive of Declan Lavery, who rode third-placed Jerrysback and was handed a ten-day ban by the stewards on welfare grounds, against which he appeals on Thursday.

The trainer said: "I thought the rider on Jerrysback rode him beautifully. He jumped two out big and he was tired, he let the horse fill his lungs all the way until the last, popped it nicely and rode hands and heels up until the line. He was tired but it was a great ride."

Honeyball said that replacing the four-mile contest, which closes Tuesday's card at the Cheltenham Festival, may provide an exciting opportunity.

National Hunt Chase: Rathvinden (left) beat Ms Parfois (middle) in last season's renewalCredit: Grossick Racing 07710461723

He said: "There's lots of heritage behind it but it doesn't necessarily need to be a four-mile race for novices, I wouldn't say we should take a race away from the amateur riders, it could just be a handicap for them.

"In some ways [having a different race] is exciting because there are lots of different types of races you could have – you could do anything you want with it."

Despite his views on the future of the race, Honeyball said the staying contest had been ideal for his star mare last season.

He said: "It's a good opportunity for some horses, especially a horse like Ms Parfois. We had Will Biddick ride her and he's a great amateur.

"I had a horse that was perfect for the conditions of the race last year, so what better horse could you give to an amateur rider? But it's not a race I would ever choose [to stage] and I don't know how they ever ended up with it."

Looking for improvements

In its review into the 2018 festival the BHA raised issues about the National Hunt Chase, stating "amateur participation in its current form at future festivals will be under material threat should further incidents occur”.

Speaking on Wednesday fellow trainer David Pipe, whose Warthog was pulled up in the race, said about the contest: "It was unfortunate what happened. We know our sport is under pressure. All in all I think we do a very good job, but that doesn't mean we can't improve."

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