LAST week’s hunter chase at Clonmel was the third consecutive hunter chase of the season to feature a capacity field, with the 14 runners eight more than last year’s race.

One of the very positive developments that has led to the growing number of entries and runners in the hunter chase division this season, has been last year’s decision by the INHS Committee to alter some of the requirements surrounding the hunter chase licence.

A ruling that restricted hunter chase licensees to a minimum of two horses and stipulated that they had to be family owned horses, was removed in an effort to encourage more licensees and boost the number of runners in the hunter chase category.

That has certainly proven to be the case, with Richard Hayden, IHRB Licensing Department Manager, reporting that prior to last year’s rule change, the number of hunter chase licensees typically fluctuating between just one and two handlers per year. That number has jumped this year, with nine handlers now currently holding a hunter chase licence, and is set to reach double figures in the coming weeks, with a further applicant in the process of completing the licensing process.

One such handler is Aidan Fitzgerald. The Carlow native is one of the leading producers of young horses through point-to-points, but he saddled what was his very first runner under rules when Rosfoyle ran in last week’s Clonmel contest.

Straightforward

While there was no dream start to his runners in the category, when the Declan O’Keeffe-owned eight-year-old was brought down at the seventh fence, he has welcomed the licence changes.

“It was very straightforward to get. I went up and did a course for one day, then Michael O’Donoghue came to the yard and inspected it. Michael was very helpful and everyone involved, the lads in the Turf Club and RACE, they made it very straightforward for us. They were a pleasure to deal with,” he explains.

“I have no big ambitions to go training horses on the track, which is why this licence is great. In the past I would have lost a couple of horses because I couldn’t run horses in hunter chases or point-to-point bumpers.

“We won three point-to-points with Rosfoyle and I was anxious to keep her as she is a lovely mare. Once I got the licence I was delighted that Declan (O’Farrell) was happy to leave her with us to run.”

The licence also allows handlers to run horses in point-to-point bumpers and banks races, an opportunity that Fitzgerald is hoping to take advantage of in the coming months.

“I would love to have a runner in a point-to-point bumper. If a horse didn’t get sold after its point, it is great to have the option of going for one of these bumpers. They are great opportunities to sell a horse. We can also have a runner in the point-to-point bumper in Aintree, so to have a horse running in a race there would be unbelievable.

“I also have a winners’ horse at the moment (Ihavent A Clue) that I would hope to run in some point-to-point bumpers to give the riders in the yard, Conor Blake and Rochelle Murphy, a chance to ride on the track. It would be great experience for them, and that is something that the licence allows us to do now.

“Brian Mortell and the lads in the Handler’s Association, Gerry Kelleher and Eugene O’Sullivan, did a great job pushing for the changes to the licence. I am very grateful to them for getting us the opportunity, they pushed hard for it and are doing a great job for the handlers.”