The bumper at Newbury later today is worth £29,505 to the winner.
The race is confined to horses which have never run under rules in any race other than a bumper. In other words, bar one or two Listed races worth around £8k, the races these horses can run in are worth no more than about £1,800 to the winner. And yet winners of such races are penalised 4lbs, and winners of two such races 7lbs.
Why does it make sense to strongly discourage intended runners in this race from winning beforehand? Surely it goes against the interests of the sponsors, a sales company, who would like to see their sales graduates winning as many races as possible?
The race is confined to horses which have never run under rules in any race other than a bumper. In other words, bar one or two Listed races worth around £8k, the races these horses can run in are worth no more than about £1,800 to the winner. And yet winners of such races are penalised 4lbs, and winners of two such races 7lbs.
Why does it make sense to strongly discourage intended runners in this race from winning beforehand? Surely it goes against the interests of the sponsors, a sales company, who would like to see their sales graduates winning as many races as possible?