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
Month |
Race Name |
Type |
Racecourse |
Distance † |
Age |
2017–18 winner |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November | Betfair Chase | Chase | Haydock | 3m 1½f | 5yo + | Bristol De Mai |
Nov / Dec | Fighting Fifth Hurdle | Hurdle | Newcastle | 2m | 4yo + | Buveur d'Air |
December | Henry VIII Novices' Chase | Chase | Sandown | 2m | 4yo + | Sceau Royal |
December | Tingle Creek Chase | Chase | Sandown | 2m | 4yo + | Politologue |
December | Long Walk Hurdle | Hurdle | Ascot | 3m 1f | 4yo + | Sam Spinner |
December | Kauto Star Novices' Chase | Chase | Kempton | 3m | 4yo + | Black Corton |
December | Christmas Hurdle | Hurdle | Kempton | 2m | 4yo + | Buveur d'Air |
December | King George VI Chase | Chase | Kempton | 3m | 4yo + | Might Bite |
December | Finale Juvenile Hurdle | Hurdle | Chepstow | 2m ½f | 3yo | We Have A Dream |
Dec / Jan | Challow Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Newbury | 2m 4½f | 4yo + | Poetic Rhythm |
January | Tolworth Hurdle | Hurdle | Sandown | 2m | 4yo + | Summerville Boy |
January | Clarence House Chase | Chase | Ascot | 2m 1f | 5yo + | Un de Sceaux |
Jan / Feb | Scilly Isles Novices' Chase | Chase | Sandown | 2m 4½f | 5yo + | Terrefort |
February | Ascot Chase | Chase | Ascot | 2m 5½f | 5yo + | Waiting Patiently |
March | Supreme Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2m ½f | 4yo + | Summerville Boy |
March | Arkle Challenge Trophy | Chase | Cheltenham | 2m | 5yo + | Footpad |
March | Champion Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2m ½f | 4yo + | Buveur d'Air |
March | David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2m 4f | 4yo + | Benie des Dieux |
March | Neptune Investment Management Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2m 5f | 4yo + | Samcro |
March | RSA Chase | Chase | Cheltenham | 3m ½f | 5yo + | Presenting Percy |
March | Queen Mother Champion Chase | Chase | Cheltenham | 2m | 5yo + | Altior |
March | Champion Bumper | Flat | Cheltenham | 2m ½f | 4–6yo | Relegate |
March | JLT Novices' Chase | Chase | Cheltenham | 2m 4f | 5yo + | Shattered Love |
March | Ryanair Chase | Chase | Cheltenham | 2m 5f | 5yo + | Balko des Flos |
March | Stayers' Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 3m | 4yo + | Penhill |
March | Triumph Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2m 1f | 4yo | Farclas |
March | Spa Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 3m | 4yo + | Kilbricken Storm |
March | Cheltenham Gold Cup | Chase | Cheltenham | 3m 2½f | 5yo + | Native River |
April | Manifesto Novices' Chase | Chase | Aintree | 2m 4f | 5yo + | Finian's Oscar |
April | Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Aintree | 2m 1f | 4yo | We Have A Dream |
April | Betway Bowl | Chase | Aintree | 3m 1f | 5yo + | Might Bite |
April | Aintree Hurdle | Hurdle | Aintree | 2m 4f | 4yo + | L'Ami Serge |
April | Top Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Aintree | 2m ½f | 4yo + | Lalor |
April | Mildmay Novices' Chase | Chase | Aintree | 3m 1f | 5yo + | Terrefort |
April | Melling Chase | Chase | Aintree | 2m 4f | 5yo + | Politologue |
April | Sefton Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Aintree | 3m ½f | 4yo + | Santini |
April | Mersey Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Aintree | 2m 4f | 4yo + | Black Op |
April | Maghull Novices' Chase | Chase | Aintree | 2m | 5yo + | Diego Du Charmil |
April | Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle | Hurdle | Aintree | 3m ½f | 4yo + | Identity Thief |
April | Celebration Chase | Chase | Sandown | 2m | 5yo + | Altior |
Grade 2
Grade 3
Selected other races
Month |
Race Name |
Type |
Racecourse |
Status |
Distance † |
Age |
2018–19 winner |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
June/July | Summer Cup | Chase | Uttoxeter | Listed handicap | 3m 2f | 5yo + | Virgilio |
July | Summer Handicap Hurdle | Hurdle | Market Rasen | Listed handicap | 2m ½f | 3yo + | L'Inganno Felice |
July | Summer Plate | Chase | Market Rasen | Listed handicap | 2m 5½f | 4yo + | More Buck's |
September | Prelude Handicap Hurdle | Hurdle | Market Rasen | Listed handicap | 2m ½f | 3yo + | Caius Marcus |
September | Prelude Handicap Chase | Chase | Market Rasen | Class 2 handicap | 2m 5½f | 4yo + | Demoted to Class 2 |
October | Smerdon Tree Services Novices' Chase | Chase | Chepstow | Listed | 2m 3½ | 4yo + | Spiritofthegames |
October | Welsh Champion Hurdle | Hurdle | Ffos Las | Handicap | 2m 4f | 4yo + | |
Oct / Nov | Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase | Chase | Carlisle | Listed | 2m 4f | 4yo + | |
November | Badger Ales Trophy | Chase | Wincanton | Listed handicap | 3m 1½f | 4yo + | |
November | Kempton Mares' Hurdle | Hurdle | Kempton | Listed | 3m ½f | 4yo + | |
November | Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race | Flat | Cheltenham | Listed | 2m ½f | 4–6yo m | |
November | Gerry Feilden Hurdle | Hurdle | Newbury | Listed handicap | 2m ½f | 4yo + | |
November | Wetherby Mares' Hurdle | Hurdle | Wetherby | Listed | 2m ½f | 4yo + | |
Nov / Dec | Houghton Mares' Chase | Chase | Carlisle | Listed | 2m 4f | 4yo + | |
December | Grand Sefton Chase | Chase | Aintree | Handicap | 2m 5½f | 6yo + | |
December | Championship Standard Open NHF Race | Flat | Ascot | Listed | 2m | 4–6yo | |
December | Lavazza 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 | Sussex National | Chase | Plumpton | Handicap | 3m 5f | 4yo | |
January | 32 Red Casino Chase | Chase | Kempton | Listed | 2m 4½ f | 5yo + | |
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 | Contenders Hurdle | Hurdle | Sandown | Listed | 2m ½f | 5yo + | |
Jan / Feb | Gainsborough Chase | Hurdle | Sandown | Handicap | 3m ½f | 5yo + | |
February | Scottish County Hurdle | Hurdle | Musselburgh | Handicap | 2m | 4yo+ | |
February | Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial | Hurdle | Musselburgh | Listed | 2m | 4yo | |
February | Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Huntingdon | Listed | 2m 3½f | 4yo + | |
February | Morebattle Hurdle | Hurdle | Kelso | Conditions | 2m 2f | 4yo + | |
February | Royal Artillery Gold Cup | Chase | Sandown | Conditions | 3m | 6yo + | |
February | Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle | Hurdle | Haydock Park | Conditions | 2m | 4yo | |
February | Swinley Chase | Chase | Ascot | Listed handicap | 3m | 5yo + | |
February | Eider Chase | Chase | Newcastle | Handicap | 4m 1f | 5yo + | |
February | Lady Protectress Chase | Chase | Huntingdon | Handicap | 2m 4f | 5yo + m | |
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 | 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 5f | 6yo + | |
Discontinued
Last Run |
Race Name |
Type |
Racecourse |
Distance † |
Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
February 1990 | Greenall Whitley Gold Cup | Chase | Haydock Park | 3m | 5yo + |
January 1994 | West of Scotland Pattern Novices' Chase | Chase | Ayr | 2m 4f | 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