With the Flat turf season about to begin, Handicappers’ Team Leader, Graeme Smith, expands on the announcement from earlier this month about changes to the rules around qualification for a handicap mark for Flat races. Previous handicap qualification criteria required that horses became eligible for a rating either after three runs, or after their second start if a winner on debut. But for races from 1 April 2023, a third dimension will be added on a 12-month trial basis, following approval by the industry’s Racing Group. Graeme Smith Handicap Team Leader This will allow for horses beat ..read more

“I’ve been smiling ever since. We are a small dual-purpose yard and keep our standards very high, so it’s great for every team member to have this recognition.” Sarah Guest caught up with Racing TV at the Cheltenham Festival on what it means to be crowned the 2023 Employee of the Year at Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, which took place last month. Watch her interview below ..read more

In the final edition of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival Handicapper’s Blog, BHA’s Andrew Mealor summarises the Grade 1 races from the Chasing, Novice Chasing, Hurdling and Novice Hurdling divisions and highlights all the key ratings from a week of pulsating racing. Chasers The star performance among the established chasers was clearly Galopin Des Champs who recorded a figure of 178 in landing what looked a strong renewal of the Gold Cup. That rating has been bettered only by A Plus Tard (180 last year) among recent winners of chasing’s blue riband and he’s young enough to think that sort of figur ..read more

The 2023 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup provided the spectacle it promised and confirmed two of the rising stars in the staying chase division, writes Martin Greenwood. Going in, you could argue a chance could be made for several of the 13 strong field, despite the unexposed Galopin Des Champs going off at prohibitive odds in the market. The complexion of the race changed after long-time leader Ahoy Senor fell, bringing down Sounds Russian and causing some others to be hampered, including last year’s spectacular winner A Plus Tard. Only 5 were in it at the business end, which was down to 4 after ..read more

Cheltenham stalwart Sire Du Berlais completed a somewhat remarkable Festival treble with Thursday’s gritty success in the Stayers’ Hurdle. In a thrilling finish he narrowly saw off Teahupoo and Dashel Drasher, the latter proving he is at least as good over hurdles as he is over fences. Hopefully, Aintree will host the rematch. A dual Pertemps Network Final winner, Sire Du Berlais had been runner-up to Flooring Porter in the 2021 Stayers’ Hurdle and a provisional rating of 160 matches the level he achieved in defeat two years ago. Flooring Porter hadn’t quite been in the same form this season a ..read more

Envoi Allen bounced back to form to record a third festival success in the Ryanair Chase. Last seen when disappointing in the King George, he was travelling notably better in this race from an early stage and bar a nod on landing 3 out it was fairly plain sailing for the Irish raider who saw his race out strongly dropping back in trip. This was a first success over fences at the festival having previously won the Champion Bumper and the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, whilst he has now won Grade 1 Chases over 2m1f, 2m5f and 3m. He was rated 163 pre-race, and the proximity of Hitman, French Dynamite ..read more

Energumene defended his Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase crown in great style by coasting to a ten-length victory but it is difficult to know quite what to make of this form, writes Chris Nash. Forty-six days earlier he had finished just under seven-lengths behind both Editeur Du Gite and Edwardstone in the Grade 1 Clarence House chase over the new course at this track but that form was comprehensively reversed here on the old course with Editeur Du Gite finishing the best part of thirty-five lengths behind him in fourth and Edwardstone trailing in last of the five finishers some sixty-four ..read more

Constitution Hill has been given a provisional rating of 175 – a rise of 2 lb – following a dominant success in the Champion Hurdle, writes Andrew Mealor. Unlike his superlative effort in the 2022 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, there were no heroics on the clock this time around from Nicky Henderson’s charge, with the Champion Hurdle time only around a length quicker than the Supreme. The form stacks up fine on paper, however. The previous levels this season of State Man and Vauban, and Zanahiyr getting back to last season’s best (which included a third in this race), suggest a mid-170s figure for C ..read more

THE RACEHORSE IS AT THE HEART OF BRITISH RACING  Collectively the sport is committed to ensuring the welfare of all the racehorses in England, Scotland and Wales. Across Britain, 6000+ people who are passionate about horses and racing dedicate their lives, daily, to caring for the 20,000+ horses who race across a year. We are proud of the high welfare standards that racehorses receive on and off the racecourse pre, during and after their racing careers. Over the past 20 years British Racing has invested over £40 million in veterinary research and education, benefiting for all breeds of h ..read more

British Racing is great because of all the people who work within in it. On International Women’s Day we are proud to celebrate all the inspiring women involved in racing from our participants to the thousands working across the industry. Today we #EmbraceEquity by recognising and showcasing the skills and accomplishments of some of the women who help make British racing such an amazing sport, via the videos below. Emily Jones – BHA Judge Sophie Candy – BHA Steward Sophia Upton – BHA Starter Cathy O’Meara – Head of Raceday Officials The post International Women’s Day 2023 appeared first on ..read more