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
001 November	Betfair Chase	Chase	Haydock	4828 3m	5yo +
002 Nov / Dec	Fighting Fifth Hurdle	Hurdle	Newcastle	3219 2m	4yo +
003 December	Henry VIII Novices' Chase	Chase	Sandown	3219 2m	4yo +
004 December	Tingle Creek Chase	Chase	Sandown	3219 2m	4yo +
005 December	Long Walk Hurdle	Hurdle	Ascot	5029 3m 1f	4yo +
006 December	Kauto Star Novices' Chase	Chase	Kempton	4828 3m	4yo +
007 December	Christmas Hurdle	Hurdle	Kempton	3219 2m	4yo +
008 December	King George VI Chase	Chase	Kempton	4828 3m	4yo +
009 December	Finale Juvenile Hurdle	Hurdle	Chepstow	3319 2m ½f	3yo
010 Dec / Jan	Challow Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Newbury	4225 2m 5f	4yo +
011 January	Tolworth Hurdle	Hurdle	Sandown	3319 2m ½f	4yo +
012 January	Clarence House Chase	Chase	Ascot	3420 2m 1f	5yo +
013 Jan / Feb	Scilly Isles Novices' Chase	Chase	Sandown	4124 2m 4½f	5yo +
014 February	Ascot Chase	Chase	Ascot	4325 2m 5½f	5yo +
015 March	Supreme Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	3319 2m ½f	4yo +
016 March	Arkle Challenge Trophy	Chase	Cheltenham	3219 2m	5yo +
017 March	Champion Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	3319 2m ½f	4yo +
018 March	David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	4023 2m 4f	4yo +
019 March	Neptune Investment Management Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	4225 2m 5f	4yo +
020 March	RSA Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	4929 3m ½f	5yo +
021 March	Queen Mother Champion Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	3219 2m	5yo +
022 March	Champion Bumper	Flat	Cheltenham	3319 2m ½f	4yo * 4–6yo
023 March	JLT Novices' Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	4023 2m 4f	5yo +
024 March	Ryanair Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	4225 2m 5f	5yo +
025 March	World Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	4828 3m	4yo +
026 March	Triumph Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	3420 2m 1f	4yo
027 March	Spa Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	4828 3m	4yo +
028 March	Cheltenham Gold Cup	Chase	Cheltenham	5331 3m 2½f	5yo +
029 April	Top Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Aintree	3319 2m ½f	4yo +
030 April	Manifesto Novices' Chase	Chase	Aintree	4023 2m 4f	5yo +
031 April	Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Aintree	3319 2m ½f	4yo
032 April	Betfred Bowl	Chase	Aintree	5029 3m 1f	5yo +
033 April	Aintree Hurdle	Hurdle	Aintree	4023 2m 4f	4yo +
034 April	Mildmay Novices' Chase	Chase	Aintree	5029 3m 1f	5yo +
035 April	Mersey Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Aintree	4023 2m 4f	4yo +
036 April	Melling Chase	Chase	Aintree	4023 2m 4f	5yo +
037 April	Sefton Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Aintree	4929 3m ½f	4yo +
038 April	Silver Cross Stayer's Hurdle	Hurdle	Aintree	4929 3m ½f	4yo +
039 April	Maghull Novices' Chase	Chase	Aintree	3219 2m	5yo +
040 April	Celebration Chase	Chase	Sandown	3219 2m	5yo +

Grade 2

Month	Race Name	Type	Racecourse	Distance †	Age/Sex
001 October	Persian War Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Chepstow	4023 2m 4f	4yo +
002 October	Old Roan Chase	Chase	Aintree	4023 2m 4f	4yo +
003 Oct / Nov	West Yorkshire Hurdle	Hurdle	Wetherby	5029 3m 1f	4yo +
004 Oct / Nov	Charlie Hall Chase	Chase	Wetherby	5029 3m 1f	5yo +
005 Oct / Nov	Haldon Gold Cup	Chase	Exeter	3520 2m 1½f	4yo +
006 November	Rising Stars Novices' Chase	Chase	Wincanton	4225 2m 5f	4yo +
007 November	Elite Hurdle	Hurdle	Wincanton	3219 2m	4yo +
008 November	Sharp Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	3319 2m ½f	4yo +
009 November	Prestbury Juvenile Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	3319 2m ½f	3yo
010 November	November Novices' Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	3219 2m	4yo +
011 November	Hyde Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	4225 2m 5f	4yo +
010 November	Shloer Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	3219 2m	5yo +
012 November	1965 Chase	Chase	Ascot	4225 2m 5f	4yo +
013 November	Ascot Hurdle	Hurdle	Ascot	3923 2m 3½f	4yo +
014 Nov / Dec	Worcester Novices' Chase	Chase	Newbury	4828 3m	4yo +
015 Nov / Dec	Berkshire Novices' Chase	Chase	Newbury	4023 2m 4f	4yo +
016 Nov / Dec	Long Distance Hurdle	Hurdle	Newbury	4929 3m ½f	4yo +
017 December	Winter Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Sandown	4124 2m 4½f	4yo +
018 December	Peterborough Chase	Chase	Huntingdon	4124 2m 4½f	4yo +
019 December	Bristol Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	4828 3m	4yo +
020 December	December Novices' Chase	Chase	Doncaster	4828 3m	4yo +
021 December	Summit Juvenile Hurdle	Hurdle	Doncaster	3319 2m ½f	3yo
022 December	International Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	3420 2m 1f	4yo +
023 December	Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Ascot	3219 2m	4yo +
024 December	Noel Novices' Chase	Chase	Ascot	3822 2m 3f	4yo +
025 December	Wayward Lad Novices' Chase	Chase	Kempton	3219 2m	4yo +
026 December	Desert Orchid Chase	Chase	Kempton	3219 2m	4yo +
027 January	Dipper Novices' Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	4225 2m 5f	5yo +
028 January	Relkeel Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	4,124 2m 4½f	4yo +
030 January	Leamington Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Warwick	4225 2m 5f	4yo +
031 January	Warfield Mares' Hurdle	Hurdle	Ascot	4828 3m	4yo + m
032 January	Holloway's Hurdle	Hurdle	Ascot	3923 2m 3½f	4yo +
033 January	Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Haydock	3319 2m ½f	4yo +
034 January	Altcar Novices' Chase	Chase	Haydock	4023 2m 4f	5yo +
035 January	Champion Hurdle Trial	Hurdle	Haydock	3319 2m ½f	4yo +
036 January	Peter Marsh Chase	Chase	Haydock	4828 3m	5yo +
037 January	Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	3420 2m 1f	4yo
038 January	Cotswold Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	5130 3m 1½f	5yo +
039 January	Classic Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	4124 2m 4½f	4yo +
040 January	Cleeve Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	4828 3m	5yo +
041 Jan / Feb	River Don Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Doncaster	4929 3m ½f	4yo +
042 Jan / Feb	Lightning Novices' Chase	Chase	Doncaster	3319 2m ½f	5yo +
043 Jan / Feb	Doncaster Mares' Hurdle	Hurdle	Doncaster	3319 2m ½f	4yo + m
044 Jan / Feb	Towton Novices' Chase	Chase	Wetherby	5029 3m 1f	5yo +
045 February	Kingmaker Novices' Chase	Chase	Warwick	3219 2m	5yo +
046 February	Denman Chase	Chase	Newbury	4828 3m	5yo +
047 February	Game Spirit Chase	Chase	Newbury	3420 2m 1f	5yo +
048 February	Winter Bumper	Flat	Newbury	3319 2m ½f	4yo * 4–6yo
049 December	Jane Seymour Mares' Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Sandown	4023 2m 4f	4yo + m
050 February	Reynoldstown Novices' Chase	Chase	Ascot	4828 3m	5yo +
051 February	Rendlesham Hurdle	Hurdle	Haydock	5029 3m 1f	4yo +
052 February	Prestige Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Haydock	5029 3m 1f	4yo +
053 February	Kingwell Hurdle	Hurdle	Wincanton	3219 2m	4yo +
054 February	Adonis Juvenile Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Kempton	3219 2m	4yo
055 February	Pendil Novices' Chase	Chase	Kempton	4124 2m 4½f	5yo +
056 February	Dovecote Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Kempton	3219 2m	4yo+
057 Feb / March	National Spirit Hurdle	Hurdle	Fontwell	4023 2m 4f	4yo +
058 Feb / March	Premier Kelso Hurdle	Hurdle	Kelso	3621 2m 2f	4yo +
059 March	National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup	Chase	Cheltenham	6437 4m	5yo +
060 March	Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	3420 2m 1f	4yo + m
061 April	Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race	Flat	Aintree	3420 2m 1f	4–6yo m
062/span> April	Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race	Flat	Aintree	3420 2m 1f	4–6yo
063 April	Silver Trophy Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	4225 2m 5f	5yo +
064 April	Future Champion Novices' Chase	Chase	Ayr	4023 2m 4f	5yo +
065 April	Scottish Champion Hurdle	Hurdle	Ayr	3219 2m	4yo +
066 April	Oaksey Chase	Chase	Sandown	4626 2m 7f	5yo +
036 April	Bet365 Select Hurdle	Hurdle	Sandown	4325 2m 5½f	4yo +

Grade 3

Month	Race Name	Type	Racecourse	Distance †	Age
000 May	Swinton Handicap Hurdle	Hurdle	Haydock	3219 2m	4yo +
001 October	Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle	Hurdle	Chepstow	4023 2m 4f	4yo +
002 Oct / Nov	Sodexo Gold Cup	Chase	Ascot	4828 3m	4yo +
003 November	BetVictor Handicap Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	5532 3m 3½f	4yo +
004 November	BetVictor Gold Cup	Chase	Cheltenham	4124 2m 4½f	4yo +
005 November	Greatwood Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	3319 2m ½f	4yo +
006 November	Betfair "Fixed Brush" Handicap Hurdle	Hurdle	Haydock Park	4828 3m	4yo +
007 Nov / Dec	Hennessy Gold Cup	Chase	Newbury	5331 3m 2½f	4yo +
008 December	Becher Chase	Chase	Aintree	5230 3m 2f	5yo +
009 December	Unicoin Group Handicap Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	5230 3m 2f	4yo +
010 December	Caspian Caviar Gold Cup	Chase	Cheltenham	4225 2m 5f	4yo +
011 December	The Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle	Hurdle	Ascot	3219 2m	4yo +
012 December	Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase	Chase	Wetherby	5029 3m 1f	4yo +
013 December	Welsh Grand National	Chase	Chepstow	5934 3m 5½f	4yo +
014 January	BetBright Best For Festival Betting Hcap Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	4225 2m 5f	5yo +
015 January	Classic Chase	Chase	Warwick	5834 3m 5f	5yo +
016 January	freebets.com Trophy Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	4225 2m 5f	5yo +
017 Jan / Feb	Heroes Handicap Hurdle	Hurdle	Sandown	4426 2m 6f	4yo +
018 February	Betfair Hurdle	Hurdle	Newbury	3319 2m ½f	4yo +
019 February	Grand National Trial	Chase	Haydock	5633 3m 4f	5yo +
020 February	BetBright Chase	Chase	Kempton	4828 3m	5yo +
021 Feb / March	Greatwood Gold Cup	Chase	Newbury	4023 2m 4f	5yo +
022 March	Imperial Cup	Hurdle	Sandown	3219 2m	4yo +
023 March	EBF Novices' Handicap Hurdle	Hurdle	Sandown	4023 2m 4f	4yo * 4–7yo
024 March	Festival Trophy Handicap Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	4929 3m ½f	5yo +
025 March	Coral Cup	Hurdle	Cheltenham	4225 2m 5f	4yo +
026 March	Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	3319 2m ½f	4yo
027 March	Byrne Group Plate	Chase	Cheltenham	4225 2m 5f	5yo +
028 March	Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	3420 2m 1f	5yo +
029 March	Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	3319 2m ½f	5yo +
030 April	Red Rum Handicap Chase	Chase	Aintree	3219 2m	5yo +
031 April	Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Hurdle	Hurdle	Aintree	4928 3m ½f	4yo +
032 April	Alder Hey Children's Charity Handicap Hurdle	Hurdle	Aintree	4023 2m 4f	4yo +
033 April	Topham Chase	Chase	Aintree	4325 2m 5½f	5yo +
034 April	Grand National	Chase	Aintree	7242 4m 4f	7yo +
035 April	Scottish Grand National	Chase	Ayr	6639 4m 1f	5yo +
036 April	Bet365 Gold Cup	Chase	Sandown	5934 3m 5½f	5yo +

Selected other races

Month	Race Name	Type	Racecourse	Status	Distance †	Age
001 September	Prelude Handicap Hurdle	Hurdle	Market Rasen	Listed handicap	3319 2m ½f	3yo +
002 September	Prelude Handicap Chase	Chase	Market Rasen	Listed handicap	4325 2m 5½f	4yo +
003 November	Badger Ales Trophy	Chase	Wincanton	Listed handicap	5130 3m 1½f	4yo +
004 November	Kempton Mares' Hurdle	Hurdle	Kempton	Listed	4929 3m ½f	4yo +
005 November	Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race	Flat	Cheltenham	Listed	3298 2m ½f	4–6yo m
006 November	Gerry Feilden Hurdle	Hurdle	Newbury	Listed handicap	3319 2m ½f	4yo +
007 November	Wetherby Mares' Hurdle	Hurdle	Wetherby	Listed	3319 2m ½f	4yo +
008 November	ApolloBet Mares' Chase	Chase	Carlisle	Listd	4023 2m 4f	4yo +
009 December	Grand Sefton Chase	Chase	Aintree	Handicap	4325 2m 5½f	6yo +
010 December	Championship Standard Open NHF Race	Flat	Ascot	Listed	3219 2m	4yo * 4–6yo
011 December	Ascot Silver Cup	Chase	Ascot	Listed handicap	4828 3m	4yo +
012 December	Tommy Whittle Chase	Chase	Haydock	Handicap	4828 3m	4yo +
013 December	Castleford Chase	Chase	Wetherby	Handicap	3219 2m	5yo +
014 December	Mandarin Handicap Chase	Chase	Newbury	Handicap	5331 3m 2½f	4yo +
015 December	Mares' Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Taunton	Listed	3319 2m ½f	3yo +
016 January	Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race	Flat	Cheltenham	Listed	2816 1m 6f	4yo
017 January	Lanzarote Hurdle	Hurdle	Kempton	Handicap	4225 2m 5f	4yo +
018 January	Hampton Novices' Chase	Chase	Warwick	Listed	4828 3m	5yo +
019 January	Great Yorkshire Chase	Chase	Doncaster	Listed handicap	4828 3m	5yo +
020 Jan / Feb	Welsh Champion Hurdle	Hurdle	Ffos Las	Handicap	4023 2m 4f	4yo +
021 Jan / Feb	Contenders Hurdle	Hurdle	Sandown	Listed	3319 2m ½f	5yo +
022 Jan / Feb	Gainsborough Chase	Hurdle	Sandown	Handicap	4929 3m ½f	5yo +
023 February	Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial	Hurdle	Musselburgh	Listed	3219 2m	4yo
024 February	Scottish County Hurdle	Hurdle	Musselburgh	Handicap	3219 2m	4yo+
025 February	Weatherbys Chase	Chase	Ascot	Listed handicap	4828 3m	5yo +
026 February	Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle	Hurdle	Haydock Park	Conditions	3219 2m	4yo
027 February	Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle	Hurdle	Huntingdon	Listed	4325 2m 5½f	4yo +
028 February	Morebattle Hurdle	Hurdle	Kelso	Conditions	3621 2m 2f	4yo +
029 February	Eider Chase	Chase	Newcastle	Handicap	6639 4m 1f	5yo +
030 Feb / March	Geoffrey Gilbey Handicap Chase	Chase	Newbury	Handicap	3419 2m 1f	5yo +
031 Feb / March	Grimthorpe Handicap Chase	Chase	Doncaster	Handicap	5230 3m 2f	5yo +
032 March	Grand Military Gold Cup	Chase	Sandown	Conditions	4929 3m ½f	5yo +
033 March	Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	Conditions	6236 3m 7f	5yo +
034 March	Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	Listed handicap	4225 2m 5f	5yo +
035 March	Pertemps Final	Hurdle	Cheltenham	Listed handicap	4828 3m	5yo +
036 March	Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup	Chase	Cheltenham	Handicap	5130 3m 1½f	5yo +
037 March	CGA Foxhunter Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	Conditions	5331 3m 2½f	5yo +
038 March	Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle	Hurdle	Cheltenham	Handicap	4124 2m 4½f	4yo +
039 March	Midlands Grand National	Chase	Uttoxeter	Listed handicap	4124 4m 1f	5yo +
040 April	Fox Hunters' Chase	Chase	Aintree	Conditions	4325 2m 5½f	6yo +
041 April	Betfred Handicap Chase	Chase	Aintree	Listed	5030 3m 1f	5yo +

Discontinued

Last Run	Race Name	Type	Racecourse	Distance †	Age
001 February 1990	Greenall Whitley Gold Cup	Chase	Haydock Park	4828 3m	5yo +
002 February 1996	Timeform Chase	Chase	Haydock Park	4023 2m 4f	5yo +
003 March 1996	Beaufort Hurdle	Hurdle	Chepstow	3319 2m ½f	5yo
004 February 1997	Fairlawne Chase	Chase	Windsor	4828 3m	5yo +
005 January 1998	New Year's Day Hurdle	Hurdle	Windsor	3218 2m	4yo +
006 November 1999	Hurst Park Novices' Chase	Chase	Ascot	3218 2m	5yo +
007 January 2000	Anthony Mildmay, Peter Cazalet Memorial Chase	Chase	Sandown Park	5934 3m 5½f	5yo+
008 December 2000	Knights Royal Hurdle	Hurdle	Ascot	3319 2m ½f	4-5yo
009 January 2003	John Bull Chase	Chase	Wincanton	4225 2m 5f	5yo +
010 January 2004	ASW Handicap Chase	Chase	Cheltenham	6637 4m 1f	5yo +
011 January 2004	Premier Stayers' Hurdle	Hurdle	Haydock Park	4727 2m 7½f	5yo +
012 March 2004	Cathcart Challenge Cup	Chase	Cheltenham	4225 2m 5f	5yo +
013 November 2004	Terry Biddlecombe Challenge Trophy	Chase	Wincanton	4225 2m 5f	5yo +
014 January 2006	Churchill Road Hurdle	Hurdle	Lingfield	3923 2m 3½f	4yo +
015 February 2008	Jim Ford Challenge Cup	Chase	Wincanton	5130 3m 1½f	5yo +

† Distances in miles and furlongs

References

↑ Rae, George (1992). A Guide to The National Hunt Pattern. The Sporting Life. pp. 9–14. ISBN 0901091448.

Lists of horse races in Europe

Flat races	France Germany Great Britain Ireland Italy Scandinavia Turkey United Arab Emirates Other European Countries

Jump races	France Great Britain Ireland Italy

Harness races	Scandinavia

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