List of British National Hunt races
A list of notable National Hunt horse races which take place annually in Great Britain, under the authority of the British Horseracing Authority, including all races which currently hold Grade 1, 2 or 3 status.
History of the National Hunt Pattern
A National Hunt (NH) Pattern of important races was first recognized in 1964 when the Horserace Betting Levy Board made a grant of £64,000 to fund a "prestige race allocation" split between the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Grand National. In 1968 a Jump Racing Pattern Committee headed by Lord Leverhulme recommended the creation of a formal NH Pattern, which came into being in 1969 with 14 races initially. The Pattern underwent further revisions in the 1980s and was subject to a major change in 1989 when the Jockey Club, the governing body of British horseracing at the time, overhauled the Pattern to create a mid-season and season-ending Grade 1 race in each of twelve categories, with lead-up Grade 2 races and a set of 14 major handicaps of Grade 3 status.[1] This forms the basis of the current Pattern, which has since been subject to further changes in status and number of races.
Grade 1
Grade 2
Month |
Race Name |
Type |
Racecourse |
Distance † |
Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
October | Persian War Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Chepstow | 2m 4f | 4yo + |
October | Old Roan Chase | Chase | Aintree | 2m 4f | 4yo + |
Oct / Nov | West Yorkshire Hurdle | Hurdle | Wetherby | 3m 1f | 4yo + |
Oct / Nov | Charlie Hall Chase | Chase | Wetherby | 3m 1f | 5yo + |
Oct / Nov | Haldon Gold Cup | Chase | Exeter | 2m 1½f | 4yo + |
November | Rising Stars Novices' Chase | Chase | Wincanton | 2m 5f | 4yo + |
November | Elite Hurdle | Hurdle | Wincanton | 2m | 4yo + |
November | Sharp Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2m ½f | 4yo + |
November | Prestbury Juvenile Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2m ½f | 3yo |
November | November Novices' Chase | Chase | Cheltenham | 2m | 4yo + |
November | Hyde Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2m 5f | 4yo + |
November | Shloer Chase | Chase | Cheltenham | 2m | 5yo + |
November | 1965 Chase | Chase | Ascot | 2m 3f | 4yo + |
November | Ascot Hurdle | Hurdle | Ascot | 2m 3½f | 4yo + |
Nov / Dec | Worcester Novices' Chase | Chase | Newbury | 3m | 4yo + |
Nov / Dec | Berkshire Novices' Chase | Chase | Newbury | 2m 4f | 4yo + |
Nov / Dec | Long Distance Hurdle | Hurdle | Newbury | 3m ½f | 4yo + |
December | Winter Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Sandown | 2m 4½f | 4yo + |
December | Peterborough Chase | Chase | Huntingdon | 2m 4½f | 4yo + |
December | Bristol Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 3m | 4yo + |
December | December Novices' Chase | Chase | Doncaster | 3m | 4yo + |
December | Summit Juvenile Hurdle | Hurdle | Doncaster | 2m ½f | 3yo |
December | International Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2m 1f | 4yo + |
December | Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Ascot | 2m | 4yo + |
December | Noel Novices' Chase | Chase | Ascot | 2m 3f | 4yo + |
December | Wayward Lad Novices' Chase | Chase | Kempton | 2m | 4yo + |
December | Desert Orchid Chase | Chase | Kempton | 2m | 4yo + |
January | Dipper Novices' Chase | Chase | Cheltenham | 2m 5f | 5yo + |
January | Relkeel Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2m 4½f | 4yo + |
January | Leamington Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Warwick | 2m 5f | 4yo + |
January | Warfield Mares' Hurdle | Hurdle | Ascot | 3m | 4yo + |
January | Holloway's Hurdle | Hurdle | Ascot | 2m 3½f | 4yo + |
January | Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Haydock | 2m ½f | 4yo + |
January | Altcar Novices' Chase | Chase | Haydock | 2m 4f | 5yo + |
January | Champion Hurdle Trial | Hurdle | Haydock | 2m ½f | 4yo + |
January | Peter Marsh Chase | Chase | Haydock | 3m | 5yo + |
January | Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2m 1f | 4yo |
January | Cotswold Chase | Chase | Cheltenham | 3m 1½f | 5yo + |
January | Classic Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2m 4½f | 4yo + |
January | Cleeve Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 3m | 5yo + |
Jan / Feb | River Don Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Doncaster | 3m ½f | 4yo + |
Jan / Feb | Lightning Novices' Chase | Chase | Doncaster | 2m ½f | 5yo + |
Jan / Feb | Doncaster Mares' Hurdle | Hurdle | Doncaster | 2m ½f | 4yo + |
Jan / Feb | Towton Novices' Chase | Chase | Wetherby | 3m 1f | 5yo + |
February | Kingmaker Novices' Chase | Chase | Warwick | 2m | 5yo + |
February | Denman Chase | Chase | Newbury | 3m | 5yo + |
February | Game Spirit Chase | Chase | Newbury | 2m 1f | 5yo + |
February | Winter Bumper | Flat | Newbury | 2m ½f | 4–6yo |
February | Reynoldstown Novices' Chase | Chase | Ascot | 3m | 5yo + |
February | Rendlesham Hurdle | Hurdle | Haydock | 3m 1f | 4yo + |
February | Prestige Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Haydock | 3m 1f | 4yo + |
February | Kingwell Hurdle | Hurdle | Wincanton | 2m | 4yo + |
February | Adonis Juvenile Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Kempton | 2m | 4yo |
February | Pendil Novices' Chase | Chase | Kempton | 2m 4½f | 5yo + |
February | Dovecote Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Kempton | 2m | 4yo+ |
Feb / March | National Spirit Hurdle | Hurdle | Fontwell | 2m 4f | 4yo + |
Feb / March | Premier Kelso Hurdle | Hurdle | Kelso | 2m 2f | 4yo + |
March | Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2m 1f | 4yo + |
April | Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race | Flat | Aintree | 2m 1f | 4–6yo |
April | Silver Trophy Chase | Chase | Cheltenham | 2m 5f | 5yo + |
April | Future Champion Novices' Chase | Chase | Ayr | 2m 4f | 5yo + |
April | Scottish Champion Hurdle | Hurdle | Ayr | 2m | 4yo + |
Grade 3
Selected other races
Month |
Race Name |
Type |
Racecourse |
Status |
Distance † |
Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November | Badger Ales Trophy | Chase | Wincanton | Listed handicap | 3m 1½f | 4yo + |
November | Kempton Mares' Hurdle | Hurdle | Kempton | Listed | 3m ½f | 4yo + |
November | Gerry Feilden Hurdle | Hurdle | Newbury | Listed handicap | 2m ½f | 4yo + |
November | Wetherby Mares' Hurdle | Hurdle | Wetherby | Listed | 2m ½f | 4yo + |
December | Grand Sefton Chase | Chase | Aintree | Handicap | 2m 5½f | 6yo + |
December | Championship Standard Open NHF Race | Flat | Ascot | Listed | 2m | 4–6yo |
December | Ascot Silver Cup | Chase | Ascot | Listed handicap | 3m | 4yo + |
December | Tommy Whittle Chase | Chase | Haydock | Handicap | 3m | 4yo + |
December | Castleford Chase | Chase | Wetherby | Handicap | 2m | 5yo + |
December | Mandarin Handicap Chase | Chase | Newbury | Handicap | 3m 2½f | 4yo + |
December | Mares' Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Taunton | Listed | 2m ½f | 3yo + |
January | Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race | Flat | Cheltenham | Listed | 1m 6f | 4yo |
January | Lanzarote Hurdle | Hurdle | Kempton | Handicap | 2m 5f | 4yo + |
January | Hampton Novices' Chase | Chase | Warwick | Listed | 3m | 5yo + |
January | Great Yorkshire Chase | Chase | Doncaster | Listed handicap | 3m | 5yo + |
Jan / Feb | Welsh Champion Hurdle | Hurdle | Ffos Las | Handicap | 2m 4f | 4yo + |
Jan / Feb | Contenders Hurdle | Hurdle | Sandown | Listed | 2m ½f | 5yo + |
Jan / Feb | Gainsborough Chase | Hurdle | Sandown | Handicap | 3m ½f | 5yo + |
February | Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial | Hurdle | Musselburgh | Listed | 2m | 4yo |
February | Scottish County Hurdle | Hurdle | Musselburgh | Handicap | 2m | 4yo+ |
February | Weatherbys Chase | Chase | Ascot | Listed handicap | 3m | 5yo + |
February | Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle | Hurdle | Haydock Park | Conditions | 2m | 4yo |
February | Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Huntingdon | Listed | 2m 5½f | 4yo + |
February | Morebattle Hurdle | Hurdle | Kelso | Conditions | 2m 2f | 4yo + |
February | Eider Chase | Chase | Newcastle | Handicap | 4m 1f | 5yo + |
Feb / March | Geoffrey Gilbey Handicap Chase | Chase | Newbury | Handicap | 2m 1f | 5yo + |
Feb / March | Grimthorpe Handicap Chase | Chase | Doncaster | Handicap | 3m 2f | 5yo + |
March | Grand Military Gold Cup | Chase | Sandown | Conditions | 3m ½f | 5yo + |
March | Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase | Chase | Cheltenham | Conditions | 3m 7f | 5yo + |
March | Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase | Chase | Cheltenham | Listed handicap | 2m 5f | 5yo + |
March | National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup | Chase | Cheltenham | Listed | 4m | 5yo + |
March | Pertemps Final | Hurdle | Cheltenham | Listed handicap | 3m | 5yo + |
March | Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup | Chase | Cheltenham | Handicap | 3m 1½f | 5yo + |
March | CGA Foxhunter Chase | Chase | Cheltenham | Conditions | 3m 2½f | 5yo + |
March | Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | Handicap | 2m 4½f | 4yo + |
March | Midlands Grand National | Chase | Uttoxeter | Listed handicap | 4m 1f | 5yo + |
April | Fox Hunters' Chase | Chase | Aintree | Conditions | 2m 5½f | 6yo + |
Discontinued
Last Run |
Race Name |
Type |
Racecourse |
Distance † |
Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
February 1990 | Greenall Whitley Gold Cup | Chase | Haydock Park | 3m | 5yo + |
February 1996 | Timeform Chase | Chase | Haydock Park | 2m 4f | 5yo + |
March 1996 | Beaufort Hurdle | Hurdle | Chepstow | 2m ½f | 5yo |
February 1997 | Fairlawne Chase | Chase | Windsor | 3m | 5yo + |
January 1998 | New Year's Day Hurdle | Hurdle | Windsor | 2m | 4yo + |
November 1999 | Hurst Park Novices' Chase | Chase | Ascot | 2m | 5yo + |
January 2000 | Anthony Mildmay, Peter Cazalet Memorial Chase | Chase | Sandown Park | 3m 5½f | 5yo+ |
December 2000 | Knights Royal Hurdle | Hurdle | Ascot | 2m ½f | 4-5yo |
January 2003 | John Bull Chase | Chase | Wincanton | 2m 5f | 5yo + |
January 2004 | ASW Handicap Chase | Chase | Cheltenham | 4m 1f | 5yo + |
January 2004 | Premier Stayers' Hurdle | Hurdle | Haydock Park | 2m 7½f | 5yo + |
March 2004 | Cathcart Challenge Cup | Chase | Cheltenham | 2m 5f | 5yo + |
November 2004 | Terry Biddlecombe Challenge Trophy | Chase | Wincanton | 2m 5f | 5yo + |
January 2006 | Churchill Road Hurdle | Hurdle | Lingfield | 2m 3½f | 4yo + |
February 2008 | Jim Ford Challenge Cup | Chase | Wincanton | 3m 1½f | 5yo + |
† Distances in miles and furlongs
References
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