Still baffles me why there isn’t a Graded 2 1/2 mile hurdle at Cheltenham for senior horses. It is the only distance that novices race yet cannot at senior level at the sports own flagship festival.
Not one person has ever given a reasonable explanation.
It’s easily explained Mark,
The reason why Cheltenham is the best meeting in the World, is it’s both the BEST quality horses running and in ultra-competitive races. There aren’t enough top class horses to go around. Most (almost all) top 2 mile hurdlers stay 2m4f anyway… And almost all 2m4f hurdlers would be effective over a strongly run 2 miles around a stiff course like Cheltenham; and those that aren’t would be effective over a fair paced 3 miles.
Nicky Henderson would like a Ryanair Hurdle. Of course he would like an easier option to win / win prize money. Look at the one who’s often quoted as a 2m4f horse, Oscar Whiskey. Didn’t stay 3 miles last year, but watch the Champion Hurdle he took part in. Ran to form and travelled as easily as most rivals; putting up (at the time) a career best effort in 3rd. If the Champion was run on a flat track (needing total speed) then it would be different, Cheltenham brings stamina in to play for 2m4f horses to be effective at 2 miles.
If we had a Ryanair Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle had an odds-on favourite – not many would turn up for the Champion. Makes sense to go for the race connections believe they stand a chance of winning. Same goes for the Stayers Hurdle. Imagine; how many horses would’ve taken on the already odds-on Big Buck’s had there been a Ryanair Hurdle? Grands Crus, Voler La Verdette, Smad Place, Thousand Stars, Oscar Whiskey – are all competitive at 2m4f and unlikely to have run against BB. Take all those out of the Stayers Hurdle and what price would the favourite have been? Long odds-on in a far less competitive event. A Ryanair hurdle runs a great risk of making Championship Hurdle races just like any other Grade 1 race.