Is it time racing took the big freeze into its own hands and imposed an enforced break in the season?

There’s plenty of thinking time with no jump racing on at the moment. 

At the time of writing on Monday, all three meetings have been cancelled due to the freezing weather, including Wolverhampton’s supposedly all-weather fixture. It has left me contemplating what days of blank racing mean for the sport.

Undoubtedly there is revenue loss for the tracks involved, but they have to factor this sort of weather into how they run their business anyway and I think racing would have plenty to gain from having an official break.

We saw last year how racing could function with a blank day during the Axe the Racing Tax campaign, with those September 10 fixtures moved rather than lost, and many were sceptical that the loss of revenue on a quiet day would amount to the estimated £200,000.

First and foremost, racing’s participants deserve a break. Whether it’s jockeys travelling up and down the country to attend meetings that may not go ahead, or stable staff being given extra afternoons off, an easier week or so after a demanding festive period makes sense.

I spoke to Ben Bromley on Sunday about how the immense stresses and pressures of the sport led to him hanging up his riding gear aged just 23, while last year Hollie Doyle – never one to complain – told me she couldn’t remember the last time she had a day off and was wholeheartedly in favour of some time off.

Dedication and commitment are required to compete in every sport, but should premier athletes really be encouraged to work this way? Most other sports are seasonal or there is a period of rest, and a short break would give riders the chance to mentally and physically recharge without the threat of missing out.

In addition, we all know just how condensed the fixture list is and how few horses there are to go around these days, and the fact just four horses are entered in Saturday’s Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton is not a surprise.

The Silviniaco Conti Chase is often a small-field affairCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

While a week with no racing is unlikely to lead to a sudden flurry of well-contested races, particularly if they are rescheduled rather than abandoned, it could still mean fewer races. This would only be a positive when trying to achieve more competitive and compelling action. 

This is the time of year when Saturday action begins to wane and I can certainly nominate a few races which don’t seem to be performing up to scratch. If a break would give us licence to put them on the chopping block, so be it.

Furthermore, the beginning of January is a natural juncture for equine tinkering like flu jabs and wind operations, so a scheduled break would surely minimise disruption, and many trainers choose this time to go on holiday anyway. 

Racing fans would be given time to digest a feast of Christmas action, and any still hungry for more would have racing from elsewhere in Europe and the world to get stuck into. An official break in action would give racing the opportunity to address some serious issues. Let’s hope it is at least being considered for 2027. 

L’Homme Presse adds a touch of class

It was great to see L’Homme Presse among the entries for the William Hill Half A Mil Classic Chase (2.55) at Warwick on Saturday.

If there is one thing his trainer Venetia Williams does well it is running talented horses in handicaps, and it’s so refreshing to see Gold Cup-class horses campaigned in that company. 

L’Homme Presse wasn’t far off winning from a perch of 162 on his reappearance at Cheltenham, and he won the Rehearsal Chase off 2lb higher in 2022. His stablemate Royale Pagaille is another to excel from lofty marks in handicaps, landing the Peter Marsh off 156 in 2021 and then again a year later off 163. 

L’Homme Presse: entered for Saturday’s Classic Chase at WarwickCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Grand old stalwarts like Cepage and Houblon Des Obeaux are others to have won big handicaps off high marks for the trainer, and it is a shame more do not adopt a similar approach.

Not every horse is going to be capable of a Denman-esque performance, but it is almost like we have been accustomed to horses pootling around and picking up small-field Graded events.

Well done to those who are willing to go for the often harder option of handicaps, as more often than not they produce the superior spectacle.

Read more from The Weekender:

‘He’s clearly a horse going places’ – Paul Kealy with four Saturday tips, including one considered a ‘proper horse’ by his trainer 

Six of the best: here are three Flat horses and three jumpers who can take 2026 by storm 

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