The National Hunt season is starting to ramp-up in the last few weeks with the next five months all about the hedgehoppers and climaxing with the Cheltenham Festival in March.
However, the last week a lot of talk has been about the small fields and, in particular, some horse racing walkovers – that have seen ONLY ONE runner remain.Â
In the last week alone, we’ve seen THREE horse racing walkovers with a total of £26k in prize money.
But just why are we seeing more of these so-called ‘one-horse races’ at the moment?
Three Horse Racing Walkovers In The Last Week
Over the last week we’ve had THREE horse racing walkovers – all coming in National Hunt (jump) races and all in similar contests.
The first came at Newbury on Thursday 6th November, when the Fergal O’Brien-trained Sixmilebridge was declared a non-runner in a two-horse race.
Leaving just the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Josh The Boss.
Meaning he scooped the £9,241.75 first prize in this Beginners’ Chase for not even jumping a twig.
Then just three days later on Sunday 9th November at Sandown we saw another horse racing walkover.
This time the Gary & Josh Moore camp pulled Salver to leave only Admiral Stewart in this Novices’ Chase.
With Gary Moore saying “He’s a younger horse and I felt he’s very much soft ground-dependent – first time over fences, I couldn’t take a chance on that.”
With this Jamie Snowden-trained 6 year-old collecting £7,804.50 for his owners.
Then the most recent walkover came on Monday 10th November at Kempton – again in a Beginners’ Chase.
When the Olly Murphy runner Secret Trix was the sole remaining runner.
This time he pocketed £9,803 for his connections for not even getting out of bed.
Nice work if you can get it.
There have now been FIVE walkovers in 2025, with Percy Shelley at Ludlow in October and Yealand at Haydock back in March.
Why Are We Seeing More Horse Racing Walkovers at the Moment?
The main reason we are seeing more horse racing walkovers at the moment is really down to the weather and the ground.
It’s no coincidence that the three recent ‘one-horse races’ have all come in either Beginners’ or Novices’ Chases.
Contests that are for horses just starting out over fences.
Meaning, trainers and connections will want to tread carefully with these new recruits to the ‘big boys’ jumping game.
And want everything in their favour before risking them – including the ground.
The race jump racing schedule has also seen a lot of novice handicap chases removed. With these replaced with beginner/novice chases and some smaller fields.
But trainer Jamie Snowden, who had a recent walkover winner, said the BHA are not to blame.
Adding “It’s important for young horses to learn their trade over fences – so I don’t think the BHA should get too carried away with the lack of field sizes”.Â
“It’s not the races that are the problem – it’s the weather.” Snowden said.
October and November (So Far) Have Been Unusually DryÂ
Welfare is a huge part of horse racing, so young inexperienced chasers are less likely to be chanced on ground that is too quick that could jar them and cause injury (or worse).
Which is why THE WEATHER is the main reason, why a lot of these horse racing walkovers are happening.
October and November (so far) have been particularly dry. Leaving a lot of jumping tracks with quicker than normal ground for this time of the year.
Only on Sunday 26th October, Wincanton was a cancelled horse racing meeting – with the ground ‘too firm’.
Most Jumping Tracks Reluctant To Water
Yes, some racing fans will be asking – why can’t these tracks just water the course to make the ground more suitable?
In theory, this is an option – but the reality of watering at this time of the year, when the forecast can change quickly – may result in tracks going the other way if they then get sudden days of downpours.
While, some NH tracks actually don’t really have the facilities for watering their vast areas.
And really only adding 5-10mm into the ground at this time year won’t impact it much.
The good news, however, is that this is Britain.
So we all know – this drier than normal spell is unlikely to last long.
Meaning these horse racing walkovers will hopefully get less and less as the new jumping season continues.
Captain Teague Won £21k In Horse Racing Walkover In November 2024
The Paul Nicholls-trained Captain Teague famously won a walkover at Exeter in the ‘Future Stars’ Silver Bowl Novices’ Chase back in November 2024.
You can watch below how he ended up winning the race.
And in the process won a cool £21,784 for his owner Johnny da la Hey.
What Actually Happens In A Horse Racing Walkover?
A walkover in horse racing is when there is only ONE horse left in a race.
This can happen with only one runner actually declared to run in it – or if all the horses are declared non-runners, except one.
Walkovers have also happened in the past with trainers protesting over racing issues like prize-money. Pulling all their horses out of races.
So what actually happens?
In the past, the remaining horse used to have to be ridden past the judges’ box at the finishing line.
With, most of the time, the one horse (and jockey) coming out on the course and then at the race time trotted back down the winning straight and over the line to make the result official.
But if the horse racing walkover is a jumps race – these horses were NOT asked to jump a hurdle or a fence.
BHA Rule Change To WalkoversÂ
However, in 2025 there was a BHA rule change to horse racing walkovers.
Which states that the horse will NO LONGER need to be ridden across the winning line to be declared the winner.
This walkover rule change in horse racing is designed to reduce any risk of that last horse picking up an unnecessary injury.
Plus also saving travel costs for trainers and owners – if the contest is known to be a ‘one-horse race’ prior to racing.
How Is The Betting Impacted In A Walkover?
When it comes to betting for walkover races – these are, of course, voided.
As with there no opposition there can be no betting odds and, therefore, no prices for bookmakers to payout on.
With only one finisher, there will also be no forecast or tricast dividends.
What about the Placepot, which is a bet consisting of the first six races at a meeting?
If there is a walkover in a Placepot leg, this race is simply declared ‘void’.
With the Placepot then settled on the results of the other five races.
