Tuesday 16th February 2016

The standing starts again reared its head after the Betfair Hurdle false start on Saturday. Such valuable races shouldn’t be started with runners at a standstill, it gives ex flat types an unfair advantage for one whilst other horses simply can’t jump off as quickly and need to be trotting before breaking into stride.

Some of it might be pocket talk but Kalkir who I backed would have been a cert to finish in the first 5 if the race was started normally. Kalkir was up with the pace and in the first 4 when runners we’re called back, however from the standing start Kalkir was slow away and ended up in rear with only a couple of horses behind him. You need to be on the pace in the Betfair hurdle but Kalkir faced an impossible task, he made up ground in the home straight and finished strongly into 6^th position, missing the places and a payout by a few lengths.

Kalkir wasn’t the only horse with a hard luck story, Affaire D’Honneur that finished 4th in the end could have been 2^nd and maybe given the winner something to think about if jumping off on terms.

Both of the above horse’s efforts can be marked up and are worth following next time out.

In my opinion the BHA should allow a further normal start then have a standing one if the tapes fail for a 2^nd time.