Jump Races - traditionally referred to as National Hunt Races - are the most spectacular events of the equine sports calendar. Varying between Hurdles, which see the horses scale only one type of obstacle, and Steeple Chases, which put the horse through a series of gruelling jumps over a large variety of fences; the Jump races are sure to get the crowds going and the emotions boiling. Just like the Flat Races, the Jump Races are part of Britain's long history of horse racing and are frequently held at historic tracks. Some of the meetings we can attend today have been held annually for hundreds of years, making an excursion to the Jump Races not only an enjoyable but maybe even educational experience.
Here is a list of the major events of the British Jump Racing Season, including the two festival meetings at Cheltenham and Aintree, which you might want to check out.
| November | |
| The Open |
held at Cheltenham race course in Mid-November; featuring the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase, established 1960, as a main event. |
| Betfair Chase |
hosted at Haydock Park, held in Mid-to-late November. |
| The Winter Festival |
held at Newbury, usually in the last week of November, including the much anticipated Hennesy Gold Cup. |
| Fighting Fifth Meeting |
Newcastle is on fire on the last Saturday of November, saving the Fighting Fifth Hurdle as the crowning fireworks. |
| December | |
| Tingle Creek Meeting |
Get off to a cracking start in your Christmas racing season at Sandown Park with the Seasons Holidays Tingle Creek Chase on the first Saturday of December. |
| BGC Family Raceday Meeting |
Ascot presents the feature race of the BCG Long Walk Hurdle on the last Saturday before Christmas. |
| William Hill Winter Festival |
Kempton Park is place to be on Boxing Day for its two unmissable feature races, the William Hill Christmas Hurdle and the King George VI Steeple Chase. |
| Coral Welsh National |
What better way to end the year than a visit to Chepstow and a flutter at the Coral Welsh National, on the last Saturday of the year. |
| January | |
| Victor Chandler Chase Meeting |
Ascot hosts the freshest 2 mile Chase of the new year, the Victor Chandler Chase, to get you back into the swing of things in Mid-January. |
| February | |
| Betfair Ascot Chase Meeting |
The last big Grade 1 race prior to the Cheltenham Festival is held at Ascot, peaking in the Betfair Ascot Chase. |
| March | |
| The Cheltenham Festival |
Four days of equine excellence, featuring some of the most anticipated Jump races of the season at Cheltenham Racecourse. Check out details on the Cheltenham Festival here. |
| April | |
| John Smith's Grand National Festival |
The John Smith's Grand National is infamous for its fences, fiercely determined contestants and notoriously tight finishes. For more information on the Festival at Aintree, click here. |
| Scottish Grand National Festival |
Ayr's feature race, the Corral Scottish National, is one of the biggest post-Aintree thrills in the country, so mark this mid-April event in your race meetings calendar. Find out more about the Scottish Grand National Festival here. |
| Bet 365 Gold Cup |
The finale of the National Hunt season is held at Sandown Park on the last weekend of April; crowning the season with the Bet365 Gold Cup Chase as a worthy curtain call event. Check out the details of the Bet 365 Gold Cup here. |
