Grade 2 Races Explained

Other than the Grade 1 races, the Grade 2 races are conducted as "Weight-for-Age races" with additional penalties for previous wins or alternatively as Limited Handicaps (which work like regular handicaps only within a much smaller weight range). Grade 2 jump meetings are a part of the jumps festivals at Aintree and Cheltenham, but there are also a plethora of Grade 2 events independent of the big festivals.

Ideal meetings for those who want to get a first impression of the sport or simply don't care for massive events, the Grade 2s are well worth checking out. Below is a list of Grade 2 races but these events change from year to year and so will be worth checking out on the relevant website of the racecourse concerned or in your local press. Simply use the following list as a guide for where to possibly find Grade 2 races.

The Grade 2 Jump Races in the United Kingdom are:

Race	Location	Distance	Age Group
October
Persian War Novice's Hurdle	Chepstow	2m 4f	4yo+
Old Roan Chase	Aintree	2m 4f	4yo+
October / November
West Yorkshire Hurdle	Wetherby	3m 1f	4yo+
Charlie Hall Chase	Wetherby	3m 1f	5yo+
Haldon Gold Cup Chase	Exeter	2m 1½f	4yo+
November
Rising Stars Novices' Chase	Wincanton	2m 5f	4yo+
Elite Hurdle	Wincanton	2m	4yo+
Sharp Novices' Hurdle	Cheltenham	2m ½f	4yo+
Prestbury Juvenile Novices' Hurdle	Cheltenham	2m ½f	3yo
November Novices' Chase	Cheltenham	2m	4yo+
Hyde Novices' Hurdle	Cheltenham	2m 5f	4yo+
Amlin 1965 Chase	Ascot	2m 3f	4yo+
Ascot Hurdle	Ascot	2m 3½f	4yo+
November / December
Worcester Novices' Chase	Newbury	3m	4yo+
Berkshire Novices' Chase	Newbury	2m 4f	4yo+
Long Distance Hurdle	Newbury	3m ½f	4yo+
Peterborough Chase	Huntingdon	2m 4½f	4yo+
December
Winter Novices' Hurdle	Sandown	2m 4½f	4yo+
Henry VIII Novices' Chase	Sandown	2m	4yo+
Relkeel Hurdle	Cheltenham	2m 5½f	4yo+
Boylesports.com International Hurdle	Cheltenham	3m	4yo+
Bristol Novices' Hurdle	Cheltenham	3m	4yo+
December Novices' Chase	Lingfield	3m	4yo+
Summit Junior Hurdle	Lingfield	2m ½f	3yo
Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle	Ascot	2m	4yo+
Noel Novices' Chase	Ascot	2m 3f	4yo+
Championship Standard Open NHF Race (Flat)	Ascot	2m	4-6yo
Wayward Lad Novices' Chase	Kempton	2m	4yo+
Desert Orchid Chase	Kempton	2m	4yo+
January
Dipper Novices' Chase	Cheltenham	2m 5f	5yo+
Leamington Novices' Hurdle	Warwick	2m 5f	4yo+
Holloway's Hurdle	Ascot	2m 3½f	4yo+
Lightning Novices' Chase	Ascot	2m 1f	5yo+
Warfield Mares' Hurdle	Ascot	3m	4yo+
Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle	Haydock	2m ½f	4yo+
Champion Hurdle Trial	Haydock	2m ½f	4yo+
Peter Marsh Chase	Haydock	3m	5yo+
Altcar Novices' Chase	Haydock	2m 4f	5yo+
Doncaster Mares' Hurdle	Doncaster	2m ½f	4yo+
River Don Novices' Hurdle	Doncaster	3m ½f	4yo+
Cleeve Hurdle	Cheltenham	3m	5yo+
Classic Novices' Hurdle	Cheltenham	2m 4½f	4yo+
Cotswold Chase	Cheltenham	3m 1½f	5yo+
Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle	Cheltenham	2m 1f	4yo+
January / February
Towton Novices' Chase	Wetherby	3m 1f	5yo+
February
Kingmaker Novices' Chase	Warwick	2m	5yo+
Aon Chase	Newbury	3m	5yo+
Game Spirit Chase	Newbury	2m 1f	5yo+
Winter Bumper (Flat)	Newbury	2m ½f	4-6yo
Reynoldstown Novices' Chase	Ascot	3m	5yo+
Rendlesham Hurdle	Haydock	3m 1f	4yo+
Prestige Novices' Hurdle	Haydock	3m 1f	4yo+
Kingwell Hurdle	Wincanton	2m	4yo+
National Spirit Hurdle	Fontwell	2m 4f	4yo+
Pendil Novices' Chase	Kempton	2m 4½f	5yo+
Dovecote Novices' Hurdle	Kempton	2m	4yo+
Adonis Juvenile Novices' Hurdle	Kempton	2m	4yo
February / March
Premier Kelso Hurdle	Kelso	2m 2f	4yo+
March
David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle	Cheltenham	2m 4f	4yo+
April
Liverpool Hurdle	Aintree	3m ½f	4yo+
Totesport Bowl Chase	Aintree	3m 1f	5yo+
Manifesto Novices' Chase	Aintree	2m 4f	5yo+
Top Novices' Hurdle	Aintree	2m ½f	4yo+
Mildmay Novices' Chase	Aintree	3m 1f	5yo+
Mersey Novices' Hurdle	Aintree	2m 4f	4yo+
Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race	Aintree	2m 1f	4-6yo
Silver Trophy Chase	Cheltenham	2m 5f	5yo+
Future Champion Novices' Chase	Ayr	2m 4f	5yo+
Scottish Champion Hurdle	Ayr	2m	4yo+
Celebration Chase	Sandown	2m	5yo+

What is a Grade 2 Race?

All races in the National Hunt calendar are Graded. The top horses compete in what are Class 1 events. However, these events are sub-divided into Grades and are Grade 1, 2, and finally Grade 3. Every single major race in the calendar has a Class 1 status. There are around 30 races per season at Grade 1 which is hardly surprising seeing as these will constitute the bulk of the top National Hunt horses for that particular season.

The next scale down the racing ladder is Grade 2 events and here we find for example the Future Champions Novices Chaseand the Desert Orchid Chase. These races are decided by "weight for age" factors as previously described. Previous form is factored in and previous good results can affect a horses handicap weighting. So in this instance, the system aims to pitch the right horses at the right levels to ensure good racing.

You need to remember what the grading system and the handicapping system is designed to do. Fundamentally it is done to protect the very integrity of horse racing not just as a spectator sport but also as a sport to bet on as well. If you think about what makes horse racing so fun then the reason for this grading system is pretty self-evident.

If the gap between certain horses was too wide then the results of races would be a foregone conclusion. As a result of that, there would be no betting interest. Betting firms would have no interest in laying a certain winner at any price if it was simply going to win. So the grading system is designed to pull horses closer together in ability as is the weighting system too.

Grade 2 horses have aspirations of becoming Grade 1 horses or at least their owners and trainers do. However, this doesn’t alter the fact that many Grade 2 horses have moved up to that level from lower levels and many will ultimately not be able to move to Grade 1. All horses are bound to reach their optimal performance level and it is the job of the trainer to find out what that level is to optimise the horses earning potential.

Grade 2 Races Explained

The Grade 2 Jump Races in the United Kingdom are:

What is a Grade 2 Race?

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