Outstanding weekend highlights prove that change is good - even if it wasn't quite a revolution
When the Racing Post revealed changes to Ireland's jumps season on the eve of Christmas last year, Jason Morris, then Horse Racing Ireland's director of racing, described them as "evolution rather than revolution".
It was a nice line that did enough to diffuse the ire of those who were thriving in the existing climate but at the same time placate the persistent laments of a voluminous rumpus of malcontents. The Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown was to be axed, while the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle was downgraded to a Grade 2.
On the back of a couple of decades of exponential growth in the Irish Grade 1 pool, it constituted pretty ruthless surgery.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inRichard Forristal
Last updated
Copy- My five highlights of 2024 - including a golden era for the division that is jump racing's beating heart
- Winners identifying as maidens? Ireland's bizarre new academy hurdles initiative is impossible to fathom
- Jack Kennedy's latest grim misfortune is a massive blow to Gordon Elliott - and there's no Davy Russell to call upon this time
- An act of Henderson's revered sorcery is about all we have left to cling to after Constitution Hill's underwhelming gallop at Newbury
- Long-awaited report into IHRB scandal makes one thing absolutely clear - the whole situation stinks
- My five highlights of 2024 - including a golden era for the division that is jump racing's beating heart
- Winners identifying as maidens? Ireland's bizarre new academy hurdles initiative is impossible to fathom
- Jack Kennedy's latest grim misfortune is a massive blow to Gordon Elliott - and there's no Davy Russell to call upon this time
- An act of Henderson's revered sorcery is about all we have left to cling to after Constitution Hill's underwhelming gallop at Newbury
- Long-awaited report into IHRB scandal makes one thing absolutely clear - the whole situation stinks