Narrowing The Field

Narrowing The Field

At Narrowing the Field our focus is all about handicap races. Often handicaps have large numbers of runners, so that’s where we come in. We cut the field down to a more manageable size.

Latest Races

Northumberland Plate Handicap

Saturday 29th June 2024 (Newcastle)

The Northumberland Plate field has finally been cut down to the round course safety limit of 20 which leaves plenty for us to get stuck.. read more >>

Golden Gates Handicap

Saturday 22nd June 2024 (Ascot)

Our last big handicap of the week at Royal Ascot is the Golden Gates Stakes. It’s been a great week featuring some big-priced winners and.. read more >>

Wokingham Stakes

Saturday 22nd June 2024 (Ascot)

The penultimate big betting handicap of a brilliant week at Royal Ascot is the famous Wokingham Stakes. This event has been on the calendar since.. read more >>

Sandringham Stakes

Friday 21st June 2024 (Ascot)

We’re on the straight mile for the Sandringham, a race featuring 30 three-year-old fillies and therefore considered somewhat of a betting basket case. A look.. read more >>

Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap

Friday 21st June 2024 (Ascot)

The five-furlong Palace of Holyrood House Stakes is another new handicap at the royal meeting and as such, we don’t take too much notice of.. read more >>

Duke of Edinburgh Stakes

Friday 21st June 2024 (Ascot)

The mile-and-a-half Duke of Edinburgh is a tough old race. This really is one for the better handicapped horses, not for those classier types who.. read more >>

Buckingham Palace Handicap

Thursday 20th June 2024 (Ascot)

The £110,000 Buckingham Palace Stakes is another of the new races on this schedule. Brought in during the strange days of 2020, it is a.. read more >>

King George V Stakes

Thursday 20th June 2024 (Ascot)

The £100,000 King George V Stakes is a cracking handicap and on that takes some solving. Run over a mile and a half, this race.. read more >>

Britannia Stakes

Thursday 20th June 2024 (Ascot)

Our 30 Britannia Stakes three-year-olds are weighted right up to 9st 9lbs here, but history tells us that those at the top can struggle. In.. read more >>

Royal Hunt Cup

Wednesday 19th June 2024 (Ascot)

The Royal Hunt Cup is a proper betting race. On the calendar since 1843, this is a straight-mile cavalry charge featuring some 30 runners. £175,000.. read more >>

Kensington Palace Stakes

Wednesday 19th June 2024 (Ascot)

This is a one of the new races at Royal Ascot and as such, there’s not much for us to go on in terms of.. read more >>

Ascot Stakes

Tuesday 18th June 2024 (Ascot)

The best week of horse racing in Great Britain is back. Day one of Royal Ascot features some brilliant clashes in the Group 1 races,.. read more >>

Copper Horse Handicap

Tuesday 18th June 2024 (Ascot)

The final race of what is a fascinating opening day of Royal Ascot 2024 is the £110,000 Copper Horse Handicap over one mile, six furlongs... read more >>

Epsom Dash

Saturday 1st June 2024 (Epsom)

The “Epsom Dash” is back. The fastest five-furlong race in the world – at least for now. There has been talk of a week-long Derby.. read more >>

London Gold Cup

Saturday 18th May 2024 (Newbury)

The London Gold Cup is such an important handicap. Since 2015 alone it has been won by horses such as Time Test who went on.. read more >>

Chester Cup

Friday 10th May 2024 (Chester)

On day three of the Chester May Festival, we reach the feature handicap; the Chester Cup. This event is truly historic having been on the.. read more >>

bet365 Gold Cup

Saturday 27th April 2024 (Sandown Park)

Sandown’s Spring Celebration moves into its second day, the flat having taken centre stage yesterday. We’re back over the obstacles today for the Jumps Finale.. read more >>

Scottish Grand National

Saturday 20th April 2024 (Ayr)

Hot on the heels of the Grand National at Aintree, Scotland’s version takes centre of at least the jumps stage this weekend. The flat season.. read more >>

Grand National Handicap Chase

Saturday 13th April 2024 (Aintree)

Well, it’s back. Britain’s biggest betting event, the Grand National, is run on Saturday and we have the job of sorting out this monster field... read more >>

Topham Handicap Chase

Friday 12th April 2024 (Aintree)

The Topham is a historic race. It’s been on the calendar since 1949 and always attracts millions in betting revenue right around the country. Though.. read more >>

Red Rum Handicap Chase

Thursday 11th April 2024 (Aintree)

It’s day one of the hugely anticipated Grand National Festival with the big one still to come on Saturday. There are seven races on Thursday,.. read more >>

Lincoln Handicap

Saturday 23rd March 2024 (Doncaster)

The flat is back. In traditional fashion, the Lincoln provides the first major betting handicap of the turf season, hot on the heels of its.. read more >>

Midlands Grand National

Saturday 16th March 2024 (Uttoxeter)

The Midlands Grand National began in 1969, some 130 years after the National at Aintree though it is steeped in its own history. What we.. read more >>

County Handicap Hurdle

Friday 15th March 2024 (Cheltenham)

The two-mile, one-furlong track on the New Course is well used early on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival, the Triumph Hurdle being swiftly.. read more >>

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Friday 15th March 2024 (Cheltenham)

The Martin Pipe is not only our last race of the week, but it has the honour of finishing off the entire festival. We hope.. read more >>

Pertemps Final

Thursday 14th March 2024 (Cheltenham)

The three-mile Pertemps Final on the Old Course could turn out to be quite the slog. £100,000 is up for grabs, a sum that makes.. read more >>

Plate Handicap Chase

Thursday 14th March 2024 (Cheltenham)

The two-and-a-half-mile Stable Plate is another keen betting heat, one that this year is worth £120,000 and features some 21 runners. This’ll be another tough.. read more >>

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase

Thursday 14th March 2024 (Cheltenham)

We finish day three at the Cheltenham Festival with the Kim Muir, a race on the schedule since the 1940’s and so one that is.. read more >>

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle

Wednesday 13th March 2024 (Cheltenham)

We still have some pretty testing ground for day two of the Cheltenham Festival, though the better horses are predictably getting through it just fine... read more >>

Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase

Wednesday 13th March 2024 (Cheltenham)

Our second big handicap of day two at the festival is the two-mile Grand Annual. This is one of the real originals having been on.. read more >>

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

Tuesday 12th March 2024 (Cheltenham)

As usual we have the maximum 22 runners for the race known and still registered as the Fred Winter. The juvenile hurdlers take on eight.. read more >>

Ultima Handicap Chase

Tuesday 12th March 2024 (Cheltenham)

It’s back! The 2024 Cheltenham Festival kicks off on Tuesday, with a near-washout predicted for Irish-trained horses this week. On that point, we’re not so.. read more >>

Eider Handicap Chase

Saturday 24th February 2024 (Newcastle)

At £41,000 to the winner, the Eider Chase isn’t the richest race this weekend but it may be one of the most important. We may.. read more >>

Grand National Trial Handicap Chase

Saturday 17th February 2024 (Haydock)

We’re on testing ground for this year’s Grand National Trial. 11 runners are fighting for a share of £100,000 here going three miles, four-and-a-half furlongs.. read more >>

Betfair Hurdle

Saturday 10th February 2024 (Newbury)

We have a maximum field for this year’s valuable Betfair Hurdle. Heavy ground is the biggest factor to take into consideration in this renewal, though.. read more >>

Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase

Saturday 27th January 2024 (Doncaster)

The £100,000 Great Yorkshire Chase is the betting highlight of the weekend. 18 runners will take on 18 fences around three miles of Doncaster’s track.. read more >>

Peter Marsh Handicap Chase

Saturday 20th January 2024 (Haydock)

We have only the seven runners for this year’s Peter Marsh Chase as fears continue to take hold among the British racing public regarding field.. read more >>

Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle

Saturday 13th January 2024 (Kempton Park)

Although the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase is on this card, the ever-popular Lanzarote Hurdle is the most valuable race of the day with a.. read more >>

Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase

Monday 1st January 2024 (Cheltenham)

We’re starting with more of a crackle than a bang for 2024 in the race known to many as the Fairlawne Chase. The New Year’s.. read more >>

Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase

Wednesday 27th December 2023 (Chepstow)

After all the high-class Boxing Day and St Stephen’s Day action, we have yet more to keep us occupied over the festive season. The traditional.. read more >>

Silver Cup Handicap Chase

Saturday 23rd December 2023 (Ascot)

The three-mile ‘Ascot Silver Cup’, as many of us know it, has attracted just eleven runners this year but it is still a competitive betting.. read more >>

December Gold Cup Handicap Chase

Saturday 16th December 2023 (Cheltenham)

The December Gold Cup is one of the premier two-mile, four-furlong handicap chases of Cheltenham’s season. The form of this race can have a huge.. read more >>

Becher Handicap Chase

Saturday 9th December 2023 (Aintree)

The weather appears to be back to normal now, so we should have no trouble getting the race on. There has been some criticism of.. read more >>

Coral Gold Cup

Saturday 2nd December 2023 (Newbury)

On a day featuring Shishkin and Constitution Hill at Newcastle, up to 20 runners are going for a share of £250,000 further south in the.. read more >>

Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle

Saturday 25th November 2023 (Haydock)

We’re looking to follow up last week’s excellent Greatwood Hurdle win with Iberico Lord (7/1), this time in Haydock’s Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle. There’s £125,000 in.. read more >>

Greatwood Handicap Hurdle

Sunday 19th November 2023 (Cheltenham)

Cheltenham’s three-day November Meeting comes to a close on Sunday. The final day contains the Grade 2 Shloer Chase featuring Jonbon, Edwardstone, Nube Negra and.. read more >>

Paddy Power Gold Cup

Saturday 18th November 2023 (Cheltenham)

The £160,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup is our focus on Saturday. Those stuck in the past may be calling this the Mackeson or the Thomas.. read more >>

November Handicap

Saturday 11th November 2023 (Newcastle)

With the turf unraceable at Doncaster, the November Handicap is moved to Newcastle much like the 2019 Futurity Trophy. That could be a good move.. read more >>

Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase

Saturday 28th October 2023 (Aintree)

The jumps season feels as though it is well and truly back now, even before it is unofficially heralded in as usual with the Charlie.. read more >>

Cesarewitch Handicap

Saturday 14th October 2023 (Newmarket)

The £200,000 Cesarewitch is the betting highlight on what is otherwise a major day for the juveniles. Just 40 minutes after the champion two-year-old is.. read more >>

Cambridgeshire Handicap

Saturday 30th September 2023 (Newmarket)

The £200,000 Cambridgeshire is the first leg of the famed Autumn Double, with the Cesarewitch Handicap still to come. On a wonderful day of action.. read more >>

Ayr Gold Cup

Saturday 23rd September 2023 (Ayr)

It’s September Weekend in Scotland and that means one thing for us; the Ayr Gold Cup. This six-furlong handicap is a belter once again. Worth.. read more >>

Portland Handicap

Saturday 16th September 2023 (Doncaster)

Among the intriguing warm-ups to Saturday’s St Leger at Doncaster is the Portland, a famed 5½-furlong handicap. We have a full field of 22 runners.. read more >>

Ebor Handicap

Saturday 26th August 2023 (York)

Ebor time is upon us. Despite York hosting the Juddmonte International, Nunthorpe Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks this week, this race still attracts the most attention... read more >>

Great St Wilfrid Handicap

Saturday 19th August 2023 (Ripon)

The highlight of Ripon’s season is the Great St Wilfrid Handicap, a 20-runner affair run for £100,000. The field will be spread across the track.. read more >>

John Smith’s Cup

Saturday 15th July 2023 (York)

The John Smith’s Cup is back. A huge handicap, this race is run over the Juddmonte International course at 1 mile, 2½ furlongs of York’s.. read more >>

Old Newton Cup

Saturday 8th July 2023 (Haydock)

A hugely popular race, the Old Newton Cup is the most valuable race on Haydock’s Saturday card despite the presence of the Group 2 Lancashire.. read more >>

Bateaux London Gold Cup Handicap Chase

Saturday 29th October 2022 (Ascot)

It seems like just five minutes ago Ascot was crowning British champions on the Flat, but now it is about to get its jumps season.. read more >>

Stewards’ Cup

Saturday 30th July 2022 (Goodwood)

The going at Goodwood is likely to remain soft, certainly it will have some juice in the ground, meaning that is one angle we’d had.. read more >>

Silver Wokingham Handicap

Saturday 20th June 2020 (Ascot)

A great addition this year is this consolation race for the Wokingham Stakes, with so many thoroughly capable sprint handicappers denied a run.  Here’s our.. read more >>

Silver Royal Hunt Cup Handicap

Wednesday 17th June 2020 (Ascot)

Given the requirement for extra races at this year’s royal meeting, it is fantastic to see a consolation race for the Royal Hunt Cup which.. read more >>