ive noticed from some previuos posts , a starting distance of less than 40 miles ? I don't believe any race to be too short for youngsters ,its the experience factor which is a great learning curve for them, in my opinion . the furthest ive "jumped" a youngster in was at 131 mile (for a ring allocation scheme) .the ring was allocated to a bird which suffered a hawk attack so severe , I had to put the ring on another squeaker , late in the season , after minimal training the new ring wearer was 2nd (winning a good sum of money) and as a footnote Sapper was an Uncle to your blue