The 2021 Betfair Hurdle Sun February 21st Newbury

I'm not convinced it will be abandoned.

The warmer front coming in from the south west seems to be winning more easily than predicted.
 
Desert Orchid said:
I'm not convinced it will be abandoned.

The warmer front coming in from the south west seems to be winning more easily than predicted.
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They have an entirely different problem now DO. The frost has got under the covers, the covers are acting like a thermos, keeping in the cold. Do they or don't they, lift them....they are still expecting -3 tonight, -4 tomorrow....Lap of the God's...
 
Henderson sticking to Newbury plan despite possible rescheduling
By Sporting Life
13:54 · THU February 11, 2021

Nicky Henderson has confirmed Altior and Champ will take up their respective engagements at Newbury – even if Saturday’s high-profile card is rescheduled for the following weekend.

The Berkshire track’s Betfair Super Saturday fixture is already in serious doubt following several days of sub-zero temperatures, with an inspection called for 8.30am on Friday.

Discussions have been taking place about the possibility of the entire card being switched to a later date, and it is believed that a Sunday slot on February 21 is the favoured option.

Henderson said earlier this week he would “desperately request” that both the Betfair Denman Chase and the Cheltenham Free Bet Pot Builder Chase – better known as the Game Spirit – were saved, to give Champ and Altior the opportunity to run ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.

And speaking on Thursday morning, the Seven Barrows handler gave his backing to restaging the meeting, which also includes the lucrative Betfair Hurdle, should it be on Sunday week.

Henderson said: “It’s fine by me. It’s the plan to run both Altior and Champ – they’ve got to have runs.

“We’re discussing everything with owners and things and it’s frustrating, but really nothing changes.

“I need to talk to Patricia Pugh about Altior and JP (McManus) about Champ, obviously. (But) if they send the whole card there (February 21), then we’ll be there.

“It’s amazing really that he (Keith Ottesen, clerk of the course at Newbury) says he doesn’t expect the ground to be that bad, which would help, as we wouldn’t want it very soft with that timing.

“I must say it will be a great effort on behalf of Newbury, the British Horseracing Authority, the sponsors and ITV should it all come off.”
 
Desert Orchid said:
Just doing a wee trawl for info on when the weights are actually published (today?), I came across an interesting phenomenon.

Since 2010, of the 11 winners of the race, their next run was:

7 - Supreme
1 - Champion (Zarkandar)
1 - Top Novices' Hdle Aintree
1 - County
1 - (PDO) didn't run until chase debut the next season

On another day maybe Ciel De Neige (sorry, Slim!) might have taken in the County.

None of them won next time (as reflected in the step up in class for most).

But it illustrates the class of horse needed for this race these days.
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Just bumping this as a reminder.
 
freeze claims Saturday's meeting
Newbury: course described as frozen on Friday morning

Newbury's Betfair Hurdle fixture will be rescheduled for next Sunday after the track failed to pass an inspection for Saturday's meeting on Friday morning.

With Britain in the grip of a big freeze, Newbury officials voiced their concerns about the meeting's prospects earlier in the week and their fears were realised with the track still frozen on Friday morning.

On Thursday, the BHA announced a contingency plan in case of Saturday's cancellation, with the full seven-race fixture – featuring the £125,000 Betfair Hurdle – to be moved to February 21 and shown on ITV4.

Newbury's alternative date is a huge boost for champion trainer Nicky Henderson, with two of his leading Cheltenham Festival hopes looking likely to have prep runs next week.

Altior is seeking a fourth consecutive success in the Game Spirit before a possible clash with Chacun Pour Soi in the Champion Chase, while Gold Cup contender Champ is set to make a first appearance since his dramatic victory at last year's festival in the Denman Chase.
 
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https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/36/newbury/2021-02-21/778203/at-a-glance


The rescheduled race has 25 more runners declared than the final decs for Saturday....It's either, the original dec, or entries were reopened, some interesting additions including Maries Rock....

Here's one for you Do:

What do you make of this:

Faivoir (+12), Christopher Wood (+7), Sky Pirate (+7), Edwardstone (+5), Miranda (+3), Cadzand (+2), Mack The Man (+2), Lightly Squeeze (-1), Song Of The Hunter (-2), Ballyandy (-3), Marie's Rock (-3), Blacko (-3), Crooks Peak (-4)

I know the race is an early closer, but do the rules apply in the same manner as the Grand National, whereby they get to carry the original mark, or will their respective weights be readjusted?
 
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Maxbet said:
https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/36/newbury/2021-02-21/778203/at-a-glance


The rescheduled race has 25 more runners declared than the final decs for Saturday....It's either, the original dec, or entries were reopened, some interesting additions including Maries Rock....

Here's one for you Do:

What do you make of this:

Faivoir (+12), Christopher Wood (+7), Sky Pirate (+7), Edwardstone (+5), Miranda (+3), Cadzand (+2), Mack The Man (+2), Lightly Squeeze (-1), Song Of The Hunter (-2), Ballyandy (-3), Marie's Rock (-3), Blacko (-3), Crooks Peak (-4)

I know the race is an early closer, but do the rules apply in the same manner as the Grand National, whereby they get to carry the original mark, or will their respective weights be readjusted?
Click to expand...

Will be original weights, it's the same race.
 
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Maxbet said:
https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/36/newbury/2021-02-21/778203/at-a-glance


The rescheduled race has 25 more runners declared than the final decs for Saturday....It's either, the original dec, or entries were reopened, some interesting additions including Maries Rock....

Here's one for you Do:

What do you make of this:

Faivoir (+12), Christopher Wood (+7), Sky Pirate (+7), Edwardstone (+5), Miranda (+3), Cadzand (+2), Mack The Man (+2), Lightly Squeeze (-1), Song Of The Hunter (-2), Ballyandy (-3), Marie's Rock (-3), Blacko (-3), Crooks Peak (-4)

I know the race is an early closer, but do the rules apply in the same manner as the Grand National, whereby they get to carry the original mark, or will their respective weights be readjusted?
Click to expand...

Well, the Welsh National 'reopened' for the rescheduled race but the original conditions prevailed, ie Secret Reprieve got on off the mark it would have been on on the original date.

So Faivoir, for example, will still have her 5lbs pen to be added so will be 7lbs well in. Christopher Wood will now be 2lbs well in, etc. In other words, the final table I posted with the exception of Sky Pirate (as I posted the table) whose rating was officially adjusted after copied the Future handicap list.

I just wish the extra week would have worked in Solo's favour :lol:
 
Desert Orchid said:
Well, the Welsh National 'reopened' for the rescheduled race but the original conditions prevailed, ie Secret Reprieve got on off the mark it would have been on on the original date.
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Thanks for that DO...

Now I do recall this but was that a decision by the authorities, or an official rule...
 
Harry Fry has revealed ante-post favourite Metier will sidestep the rescheduled Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Sunday week and head straight to the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
 
Maxbet said:
Harry Fry has revealed ante-post favourite Metier will sidestep the rescheduled Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Sunday week and head straight to the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
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Too close to Cheltenham. Crazy they moved it back 8 days.
 
It was a big ask for Metier.

He was off 149 so would probably need to be a 160 horse to win, a mark that would win 9/10 Supremes, and it would be difficult to follow up that kind of performance so soon.

It's not like Kalashnikov, for example, who was only off 141 and went up to 154. Al Dancer was also off only 141.

He would need to be in the same class as My Tent Or Yours who won off 149 and was raised to 162 for it.

I had planned to use him to cover my other bets just in case is in that class.
 
Thank you - I want it cancelled- selfishly. Someone has an entry with top weight - again - over further than ever tried before , and he won't get it, on crap ground - again. I could seriously have a rant :(
 
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