National attraction
While I agree with Mitch Matheson’s suggestion of a decent 3200m winter flat race (20/7) I think he has missed the point with the Grand National Hurdle.
It was a great achievement of Black And Bent’s in that race as well as Bashboy in the Crisp Steeplechase. These two races were the only reason I bothered to tune in and have a bet on any race anywhere on that Sunday.
So while a four-horse race itself may not have generated a massive pool, the quality of that race was the day’s highlight and along with the Crisp it probably led to increased the pools on other races.
What I’m getting at is if it wasn’t for those two races I wouldn’t have bothered to watch or bet on any other race at Sandown or anywhere else that day. What should be examined is the turnover for the whole day and not just any one race.
Funny, as when it happens no one ever seems to scream about turnover on a four- or five-horse 900m barrier trial (oops, I mean race).
Canberra