What we learned: common sense exists, the Irish reign supreme and pricey pints

On the week of Cheltenham's first meeting of the season the Jockey Club revealed the Cheltenham Festival will stay at four days to the widespread relief of the racing public. On the track at Prestbury Park the Irish raiders dominated, while on the other side of the rails racegoers were presented with £7.50 pints. Here are three things we learned this week.

1. Against all odds, common sense still exists

It takes a lot to unite all of racing on a single issue with so many differing voices having their say at the top table. However, this week the sport joined in shared relief not once but twice.

On Monday the Jockey Club decided against extending the Cheltenham Festival to five days, instead choosing to stick rather than twist and continue with the four-day option. With goodwill rather than greed prevailing, it was widely seen as a victory for the sport.

Two days later, the BHA announced 170 races would be axed next summer. It was met with similar praise as frustrations rise over British racing’s growing problem with decreasing field sizes and competitiveness.

While 170 races represents a drop in the ocean, this was a welcome development given it appeared we would have to wait until 2024 for meaningful fixture list changes after a proposal to axe 300 races was shelved earlier this year.

We could get used to this new common-sense approach – keep it up.
Sam Hendry

2. Irish jumps dominance is obvious, yet underestimated before March

The Irish dominating at Cheltenham is nothing new. The Prestbury Cup score of 23-5 to Ireland at the 2021 festival will live long in the memory and the track's opening meeting of the season followed a similar pattern with half of the 14 winners hailing from Irish-based trainers.

However, some of the markets had a strange look to them in favour of British-trained runners, including the 2m handicap chase won by Dads Lad.

Willie Mullins saddled a record-breaking ten winners at this year's festival and Dads Lad was the first horse he had ever run in Britain in the month of October. Surely, his unexposed chaser from near the bottom of the weights would be favourite? Wrong.

Laura Morgan's Clear The Runway, who had strung together an admirable run of five wins over the summer, was 9-4 favourite as he stepped up in class against better opposition. He finished last of the six finishers.

Dads Lad (geen) and Effernock Fizz (yellow): have scored in Britain this month over more fancied British-trained rivalsCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

There was a similar result earlier this month when the Peter Fahey-trained Peregrine Run landed a valuable Chepstow handicap, returning a 15-2 chance. The British-trained Tea Clipper was sent off the 11-8 favourite.

Peregrine Run had shown he was in good form when winning at Worcester two starts before, yet British-trained rivals were still favoured. The same was true for Effernock Fizz, who won the Welsh Champion Hurdle at 9-2 as the sole Irish representative.

We are only at the embryonic stages of the jumps season but Irish-trained horses in Britain are not being taken as seriously as they should.
Charlie Huggins

3. The price of a pint is an issue that could tip racegoers over the edge

It says a lot when a £6.50 Guinness at Aintree seems reasonable in comparison to the £7.50 version being served in paper beakers at Cheltenham on Saturday, when the prices had tongues wagging more than the racing itself.

Next year a Club Enclosure ticket for Gold Cup day will cost £108. A journey on an inevitably cramped train from London could set you back nearly £100, while a pint on track will only leave you with loose change from a tenner.

Racing fans are loyal and even in this financial climate will do what they can to follow the sport they love, but when served £7.50 pints patience will surely start to wear thin.
Patrick Madden

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