{"id":69202,"date":"2025-11-10T11:33:56","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T11:33:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=69202"},"modified":"2025-11-10T12:23:47","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T12:23:47","slug":"horse-racing-walkovers-explained-betting-and-bha-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/horse-racing-walkovers-explained-betting-and-bha-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Are There So Many Horse Racing Walkovers Recently and What Actually Happens?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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. <\/strong><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the last week alone, we’ve seen THREE horse racing walkovers with a total of \u00a326k in prize money.<\/p>\n

But just why are we seeing more of these so-called ‘one-horse races’<\/em> at the moment?<\/p>\n

Three Horse Racing Walkovers In The Last Week<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Over the last week we’ve had THREE horse racing walkovers – all coming in National Hunt (jump) races and all in similar contests.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Leaving just the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Josh The Boss.<\/p>\n

Meaning he scooped the \u00a39,241.75 first prize in this Beginners’ Chase for not even jumping a twig.<\/p>\n

\"Josh
Josh The Boss Pocketed \u00a39,241.75 for a Walkover at Newbury<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then just three days later on Sunday 9th November at Sandown we saw another horse racing walkover.<\/p>\n

This time the Gary & Josh Moore camp pulled Salver to leave only Admiral Stewart in this Novices’ Chase.<\/p>\n

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.”<\/em><\/p>\n

With this Jamie Snowden-trained 6 year-old collecting \u00a37,804.50 for his owners.<\/p>\n

\"Admiral
Admiral Stewart Won \u00a37,804 for a Walkover at Sandown<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then the most recent walkover came on Monday 10th November at Kempton – again in a Beginners’ Chase.<\/p>\n

When the Olly Murphy runner Secret Trix was the sole remaining runner.<\/p>\n

This time he pocketed \u00a39,803 for his connections for not even getting out of bed.<\/p>\n

Nice work if you can get it.<\/p>\n

There have now been FIVE walkovers in 2025, with Percy Shelley at Ludlow in October and Yealand at Haydock back in March.<\/p>\n

Why Are We Seeing More Horse Racing Walkovers at the Moment?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The main reason we are seeing more horse racing walkovers at the moment is really down to the weather and the ground.<\/p>\n

It’s no coincidence that the three recent ‘one-horse races’<\/em> have all come in either Beginners’ or Novices’ Chases.<\/p>\n

Contests that are for horses just starting out over fences.<\/p>\n

Meaning, trainers and connections will want to tread carefully with these new recruits to the ‘big boys’ jumping game.<\/p>\n

And want everything in their favour before risking them – including the ground.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

But trainer Jamie Snowden, who had a recent walkover winner, said the BHA are not to blame.<\/p>\n

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”.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

“It’s not the races that are the problem – it’s the weather.”<\/em> Snowden said.<\/p>\n

October and November (So Far)<\/em> Have Been Unusually Dry\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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).<\/p>\n

Which is why THE WEATHER<\/strong> is the main reason, why a lot of these horse racing walkovers are happening.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Only on Sunday 26th October, Wincanton was a cancelled horse racing<\/a> meeting – with the ground ‘too firm’.<\/p>\n

Most Jumping Tracks Reluctant To Water<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes, some racing fans will be asking – why can’t these tracks just water the course to make the ground more suitable?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

While, some NH tracks actually don’t really have the facilities for watering their vast areas.<\/p>\n

And really only adding 5-10mm into the ground at this time year won’t impact it much.<\/p>\n

The good news, however, is that this is Britain.<\/p>\n

So we all know – this drier than normal spell is unlikely to last long.<\/p>\n

Meaning these horse racing walkovers will hopefully get less and less as the new jumping season continues.<\/p>\n

Captain Teague Won \u00a321k In Horse Racing Walkover In November 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Paul Nicholls-trained Captain Teague famously won a walkover at Exeter in the ‘Future Stars’ Silver Bowl Novices’ Chase back in November 2024.<\/p>\n

You can watch below how he ended up winning the race.<\/p>\n

And in the process won a cool \u00a321,784 for his owner Johnny da la Hey.<\/p>\n