What are the main events in the British horse racing calendar? Read here for the main jump events across the season including Cheltenham and the Grand National.
The National Hunt season provides many different challenges for horses, trainers, and jockeys, which makes jump racing such an exhilarating watch. But how does the calendar break down across the season?
When does the jump season start and end?
The horse racing jump season begins in October, with autumn bringing a changing of the guard as flat racing is swapped for hurdles. Over the months that follow, it builds to the showpiece events at Cheltenham and Aintree in late spring.
What are the highlights of the National Hunt calendar?
National Hunt refers to jump racing. In the UK, this features some of the highest-profile races, and covers hurdle and steeplechase events – the former is exclusively run over standard jumps, while steeplechases have a variety of obstacles to overcome, including water, open ditches, and different fences.
King George VI Chase
First run in 1937, the King George XI Chase is held on Boxing Day every year at Kempton Park. Considered the second-most prestigious chase in the UK, the event carries a purse of over a quarter of a million pounds.
Kauto Star, with five wins, is the most successful horse in King George VI Chase history. Paul Nicholls, winner of the race on 13 occasions, is the most successful trainer.
Cheltenham Festival
Featuring the famous Gold Cup, the Cheltenham Festival is watched all over the world – and is an undisputed highlight of the National Hunt calendar. Taking place in March, Cheltenham Festival has the second-most prize money of any race meet in the United Kingdom.
Famed for its incomparable atmosphere, the week of Cheltenham Festival is one of the marquee betting events of the year across all sports. Along with the Gold Cup, the festival also includes the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Grand National Festival
Aintree hosts the Grand National in April, which is the most lucrative horse racing in the UK with a purse of over £1 million.
There are 30 fences to be cleared by horses and their jockeys, with many measuring far higher than the standard challenges. It is considered the greatest test on the National Hunt calendar. A win at Aintree cements a horse, jockey, and trainer in racing history.
Other key events in the National Hunt racing calendar
It’s not just about the headline-grabbing winners, though; the National Hunt calendar is packed with events from October through to Aprill, all over the country from Ayr to Exeter.
October
The jump-racing season is ushered in by the Cheltenham Showcase in October. It represents a switch from flat to jump racing, and a taster of what’s to come in the winter months. Known as the Sharp Novices’ Hurdle, this is accompanied by Grade 2 races at Chepstow and Aintree.
Held at the end of October and sometimes the start of November, there are also Grade 2 races in Wetherby and Exeter. Wetherby has the West Yorkshire Hurdle and the Charlie Hall Chase, while Exeter hosts the Haldon Gold Cup.
November
Cheltenham’s November Meeting is one of the headliners on the November schedule. Newbury, Wincanton, Haydock, and Ascot also have Grade 2 races, as well as Premier Handicaps. Meanwhile, Haydock has a Grade 1 Chase that inevitably attracts a lot of betting interest among avid horse racing fans.
Towards the end of the month, jump racing can be found in Newcastle, though this can sometimes be pushed into December depending on the schedule.
December
Along with the King George VI Chase and the Welsh Grand National, December includes Tingle Creek at Sandown, Cheltenham’s Christmas Meeting, and Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle. Newbury also has the Challow Novices’ Hurdle.
Premier Handicaps include the Becher Chase at Aintree and Ascot’s Silver Cup. It’s perhaps one of the best months of jump racing with a number of events across the festive period.
January
Warwick’s Classic Chase and Ascot’s Clarence House Chase are two of the standout races in January. Though, there’s also the Great Yorkshire Chase in Doncaster, while the Lightning Novices’ Chase takes place at Windsor.
Meets at Cheltenham, Haydock, and Kempton provide yet more jump racing for bettors to get stuck into as the National Hunt season ramps up towards the premier events in March and April.
February
The Denman Chase in Newbury and Ascot Chase are the two biggest races in February. In the build-up to Cheltenham Festival, Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown is home to a collection of Grade 1 races, while Kempton and Haydock have a number of Grade 2 races.
With weather warming up, the conditions are beginning to change at this stage of the National Hunt calendar. That’s an important factor for bettors to consider when placing wagers in February.
March
March isn’t just about the glittering Cheltenham Festival. There’s the Imperial Cup at Sandown and Uttoxeter hosts the Midlands Grand National. Kelso and Newbury also host Grade 2 races, with Newbury boasting the Greatwood Gold Cup.
The focus, of course, is primarily on Cheltenham and the catalogue of high-profile races taking place. It’s a week when hundreds of millions of pounds are wagered across the UK.
April
April begins with the Grand National, followed by the Scottish Champion Hurdle, the Scottish Grand National, and the Irish Grand National. Sandown’s Celebration Chase is a Grade 1 race, plus there are Premier Handicaps in Ayr and Cheltenham.
How to bet on horse racing
Betting on horse racing is simple, as explained in our horse racing guide. The majority of horse racing bets are placed on which horse will win the race, though it is also popular to wager on a horse to ‘place’. If you’re interested in learning more from our experts, including tips throughout the jump season, head on over to our horse racing blog.
