Nicky Henderson urges support for Cheltenham Festival changes - but Willie Mullins says 'it's too expensive'
Nicky Henderson, who has been surpassed by only Willie Mullins in terms of winners at the Cheltenham Festival, urged people to look positively on the changes made to next year’s meeting, arguing that “we all want the best" for the four-day fixture.
Henderson was speaking after the Jockey Club revealed a raft of changes to the festival on Thursday aimed at improving race competitiveness and customer experience after concerns regarding small field sizes and falling attendances.
Among the changes are the Turners Novices’ Chase, Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase and the National Hunt Chase being switched to handicaps, with the latter also being opened to professional riders having been exclusively for amateurs previously.
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Published on inCheltenham Festival
Last updated
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- Michael O'Leary: 'These are inane and misjudged changes and horses will now start avoiding Cheltenham altogether'
- Amateur jockeys were not consulted over 'bitterly disappointing' changes to National Hunt Chase
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- What you need to know - these are the changes made to the Cheltenham Festival race programme
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