THERE will no longer be a difference in how Irish and British handicappers rate French National Hunt horses arriving to these shores – one of a trio of IHRB policy changes expected to help “maintain Ireland’s competitiveness within international bloodstock markets and deliver a fairer framework for most trainers.”
French horses are assessed by their domestic handicappers in kilograms rather than pounds, meaning their ratings need to be converted for racing in Britain and Ireland. Previously, the Irish authorities had been multiplying French ratings by 2.2, whereas, since the summer of 2021, the BHA have multiplied the same marks by 2.
This has led to cases where French recruits can start their careers, at times, off much lower ratings in Britain than if debuting in Ireland. For example, a horse rated in France at 67.5kg would have been converted to 149 in Ireland and 135 in Britain – a stone in the difference.
In a move beginning this season, the Irish handicappers are now mirroring their British counterparts and will multiply French ratings by 2.
“We are aligning with the existing UK approach, while retaining handicappers’ discretion to amend an allotted rating where appropriate based on their interpretation of a horse’s form,” IHRB senior National Hunt handicapper Shay Quinn explained.
“The previous divergence between the Irish and UK conversion methodologies risked creating unintended behavioural effects in the marketplace, with Irish-trained French imports potentially being campaigned initially in the UK in order to obtain an “established” UK rating before returning to run here. This represented a clear loophole and risked discouraging French imports from being directed to Ireland in the first instance, as connections may have perceived more favourable treatment under the UK system.
“From a handicapping perspective, there was naturally greater comfort in applying the ×2.2 conversion, given that the higher-quality French horses tend to be imported into Ireland. However, recent statistical evidence supports the adoption of the ×2 scale in any case. The new approach also brings greater transparency than the previous system, which relied more heavily on discretion depending on the individual profile of the import.”
In another tweak to processes for the new season, the IHRB handicappers now have the capacity to adjust both hurdle and chase marks after an improved performance in just one of the codes.
Improver policy
This move is being implemented “to ensure no loophole exists in this regard”.
Quinn said: “It will remain policy to reduce ratings where a horse has shown declining form in another code. However, where a horse demonstrates clear improvement over hurdles or fences, one rating may be adjusted upwards to reflect progression in the other discipline. This would generally apply to less exposed horses that have not yet established a reliable rating through running in three handicaps in Ireland.
“We regularly reduce the ratings of horses that have disappointed in a different code in order to keep them competitive, and this practice will continue. By contrast, upward adjustments in response to improvement shown in an alternative code are expected to be applied far less frequently. It is important, however, to ensure that no loophole exists in this regard, and that handicappers have the discretion to adjust ratings upwards where necessary in the interests of fairness.”
The IHRB and Irish National Hunt Steeplechase directors have also implemented a fresh policy regarding the treatment of cross-country form.
Unlike in Britain, Irish handicappers have ordinarily not increased a horse’s rating for winning in the unique discipline.
While that is still being maintained by and large, Quinn noted: “Handicappers will retain discretion to adjust ratings upwards in exceptional circumstances where it is considered necessary in the interests of fairness and to protect the integrity of the handicap system.”