Is It Time to Address Small Fields in Graded Races?

Something must be done to prevent small fields in Graded races like Il Etait Temps' “schooling session” in the Clonmel Oil Chase.

That is the view of Emma Nagle and Johnny Ward, speaking on irishracing.com's Irish Angle show this week following Il Etait Temps' 18-length victory at Clonmel on Saturday.

There were only four contenders in the race and Il Etait Temps won with a starting price of 2/9.

irishracing.com editor Vincent Finegan explained that this is nothing new and there has not been any each-way interest in the Clonmel Oil Chase for some time.

He said: “I went back through the history of it — it's been a Grade Two forever — and I think you have to go back about 18 years to find a year when it had eight runners and proper each-way betting. It's always been a small field.”

‘It's A Non-Event'

Racing journalist Johnny Ward insisted that punters will have little interest in races with such a small field, regardless of the venue.

He said: “It's not good.

“I have to say, I take very little interest in races like that where you have a horse going in at 1/5. Punters just don't want to bet in those races. There was such a mad move for the favourite.

“I actually put up Intense Raffles in the race on the basis of the weight he was getting and the ground, but he ran about 50lbs below his best. It was a non-event of a race, really.

“I have a somewhat negative view of them. When you have a very good horse like the winner, it is what it is — but I genuinely don't think people have much interest in watching four-runner races with 1/5 shots, whether that's at Cheltenham or Clonmel or anywhere else.

“It's a challenge to make Graded races more competitive, because to be fair, there are plenty of options.

“You've good racing at Down Royal, and in Britain the same day. It's very easy for horses to travel between the two, so there's no lack of options at the moment.

“But those races that consistently get small fields need to be looked at, because that's exactly what racing doesn't need.

“We need races like the Curragh putting up €20,000 minimum pots — that's to get punters betting. That's what we need going forward: punters betting on races to support prize money. Four-runner races with 1/5 shots just aren't going to cut it.

“I definitely have reservations about that. It's not easy to get people to run horses in them necessarily, and the prize money isn't enough to justify a speculative entry. Prize money is a massive problem in Ireland.”

Lovely return from Il Etait Temps

🏇 18 runs
🥇 8 wins
🏆 G1 Celebration Chase
🏆 G1 Manifesto Novices' Chase
🏆 G1 Irish Arkle
🏆 G1 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase
🏆 G1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle
🏆 G2 @ClonmelR Oil Chase
🔜 Tingle Creek pic.twitter.com/GlUQKFmFul

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 6, 2025

Too Many Similar Races

Emma Nagle suggested that there are too many similar races at this time of year and that is why we are not seeing competitive action.

She said: “It is a bit deflating though when you're at the races, waiting for the big race of the day, and then it turns out to be a schooling session for the winner because he's so much better than the rest.

“It's deflating for racegoers, especially those who are just there for a day out and might not know the full form of the horses. They're probably watching thinking, ‘What's the big deal? This is the main race of the day?' when really, it's just a horse cantering home without any pressure.

“You'd wonder if there are too many similar races for this type of horse in a short space of time.

“Maybe horses that go for the John Durkan or Down Royal races are skipping this one at Clonmel. I know this horse might be more of a two-miler, but it's probably a race that needs to be looked at because, even though you might see a good horse, it's not one that gives you much of a thrill.”

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