Fabulous to see so many trainers - the number of entries is amazing.

Personally for more accurate handicap ratings I would split any race with 16 or more runners. Otherwise there will be some hard luck stories and as a consequence a number if extremely well handicapped horses in week three.

I was thinking the same thing when looking now, Steve. Maybe the sprints and mile races on a straight course could be ok but races on bends and over longer are likely, as you say, to give some horses too good a rating. And we still have some trainers uploading/entering races. I see Scatters is now in, I did think he was running scared for a bit.

Any other views? Rich?

EDIT: I see some races are over 30 entries!

Over 30 will definitely be split.

Distances for 1m4f+ won't be unless the above occurs. I think a decent mark is fair recompense for a poor draw and generally at that distance it won't be too harshly felt.

1m1f-1m3f will be split with field sizes over...20? Any less than 10 per race is at risk of leaving a race with zero pace.

Happy to go with that.

Thanks

Yeah less than 10 is no good. Agreed

when and where will the results appear for week 1 races

Results are available on TOM now.

Do we get to see the races?

Races haven't been run yet, UK results will go live on TOM on Friday evening and the races will be posted around the same time. NH is the same, but on Thursday.

Yeah sorry, just realised I was only looking at the noms! Had a late one last night!

Who will be doing the commentary on the races this season?

I will be doing the principal races for the NHC this season, but not looking to start until Week 3.

There may be some old faces returning too...

wonder who they could be ...............

great to be back and id love to return with some comms, especially nhc comms which are my forte and have been well received in the past. Flat races I can do also and as always are appreciated by all you guys so it would be a pleasure to do some more this season.

Great stuff Ryan, good to see ya back mate

More the merrier imo. Be good to have one comms per week for a lesser race too in each code. They add even more to the league and its nice for the rookie trainers too.