THE declaration of reserves for races has been de rigeur in Ireland for some time, but something which has only recently become known in the UK, and then only for major races, with the Grand National being the first race to feature reserves at the declaration stage. Races eligible for reserves are Group 1 flat races, heritage handicaps and Grade 3 jump handicaps with 48 hour declarations.

Racecourses need to apply to the BHA’s Racing Department in order to have reserves included for eligible races, and are also able to apply to the Racing Department to discuss the option of reserves to races of other classifications. Originally, the deadlines for reserves to be brought into such races was 9.30am on the day before the race, but the upshot of that was that very few horses got the opportunity to run with the chances of a declared runner being scratched before that time are fairly slim.