Racing needs to jump away from short-sighted system

Proper Charlie: Deep Purple is in ‘seriously good form’ for tomorrow’s Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby

13 April 2012

Jump racing is back with a vengence with tomorrow's Charlie Hall Chase - and so is the debate over the merits of 48-hour declarations to be introduced for the whole of the sport.

Their introduction on the Flat, in August 2006, was met by fierce resistance from a number of trainers, who cited increased administration costs and more non-runners.

Yet for British racing to become the most promotable international betting product in the world, maintaining the status quo appears to be folly.

Declaring some races at a 24-hour stage and others at 48 hours is a confusing way to promote the industry.

Jumping could also be missing out on valuable advertising and the opportunity to widen interest in the sport.

There are some influential Flat trainers, like Brian Meehan, who think 48-hour declarations are a good idea.

He said: "Having worked through this, I've no problem with them. If it helps, we have to be open to change. If it is for the benefit of promoting racing, why shouldn't it happen?"

Meehan can see the merits of being able to promote our product to the international market and understands that zapping data around the world 24 hours before a race isn't good enough, because the printed press still have to publish and distribute it.

The Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby is a prime example of the current short-sighted system.

If you are an owner and you know that there is a £200,000 prize on offer, does anyone seriously think you will still be debating over whether or not to run your horse 48 hours beforehand?

It seems highly unlikely. Connections will know that their horse is either going there or not. These plans don't happen on a whim. Yes, there could be non-runners. The ground could change, but there are such things as advanced weather forecasts. Two-hundred grand is a big pot and these horses are not going to earn that sort of money by simply staying on the sidelines.

Trainers like Evan Williams and Paul Nicholls thankfully do their utmost to inform people of their plans and the Williams-trained DEEP PURPLE (2.55) looks the one to be on tomorrow.

He loves fast ground, is "in seriously good form" for his seasonal debut according to his handler, and will appreciate the flat track.

Though there are concerns that he is tackling the 3m1f trip for the first time, the eight-year-old wasn't stopping when slamming I'msingingtheblues by nine lengths in a 2m4f Grade 2 Novices' Chase at Ayr in April.

Tamarinbleu looks the biggest danger. David Pipe's nine-year-old is an excellent jumper, who won the Grade 1 Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot back in 2008.

While he didn't jump with the same fluency last term, he could get an uncontested lead which would play to his strengths.

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