The 2026/27 British jump racing season builds through the autumn and winter before reaching its championship period at the Cheltenham Festival in March and Grand National Festival at Aintree in April.
Jump racing takes place in Britain throughout much of the year, so there is no single day on which the National Hunt season officially begins. The character of the programme changes considerably from October, however, as the leading winter courses return and established hurdlers, chasers and promising novices begin their major campaigns.
For racing followers, the season develops in a recognisable sequence. October provides the first important autumn clues. November brings major Grade 1 horses back into action. Christmas is dominated by Kempton and the King George VI Chase. January and February shape the Cheltenham picture before the Festival takes over in March and Aintree follows in April.
This 2026/27 jump racing calendar explains that progression and links the major races together rather than simply listing hundreds of individual fixtures.
2026/27 Jump Racing Season at a Glance
| Period | Main focus |
|---|---|
| October 2026 | Autumn programme strengthens and Cheltenham returns |
| November 2026 | Major hurdlers and chasers begin championship campaigns |
| December 2026 | Tingle Creek, Christmas racing and King George VI Chase |
| January 2027 | Festival trials and championship divisions develop |
| February 2027 | Final Cheltenham preparations |
| March 2027 | Cheltenham Festival, 16–19 March |
| April 2027 | Grand National Festival, 8–10 April, followed by the Jump Finale |
| Summer 2027 | Summer jumping continues at selected courses |
The British Horseracing Authority has scheduled 1,440 British racing fixtures across all codes for 2027, including 52 Premier Racedays.
Jump racing forms a substantial part of that programme and continues beyond the traditional autumn-to-spring championship season.
October 2026: The Core Jump Season Begins
October is when the British National Hunt programme begins to take on its familiar winter shape.
Summer jumping has continued at selected courses, but more traditional National Hunt venues return as autumn develops. Chepstow stages an important early-season meeting, while Cheltenham’s return later in the month is one of the clearest signs that the main jumps campaign is under way.
The 2026 Cheltenham Showcase takes place on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October.
This meeting provides the first opportunity of the season to see jump racing at Cheltenham and often features horses capable of returning for stronger races during November, December and ultimately the Festival.
Aintree also stages autumn racing, including the Old Roan Chase, an important early-season race over the Mildmay fences.
October is particularly interesting for novice divisions. Horses that showed promise over hurdles during the previous season can begin their chasing careers, while younger hurdlers start to establish whether they belong at Graded level.
The form needs some caution. Many horses are returning from long breaks and trainers can have very different early-season objectives. A defeat in October does not necessarily define a horse’s prospects for the entire winter.
Upcoming Jump Racing Dates: November and December 2026
The next two months feature several of the most important meetings of the British National Hunt season, from Cheltenham’s November Meeting to the King George VI Chase and Welsh Grand National at Christmas.
| Date | Race or Meeting | Racecourse |
|---|---|---|
| 13–15 November | Cheltenham November Meeting | Cheltenham |
| 14 November | Paddy Power Gold Cup | Cheltenham |
| 15 November | Greatwood Hurdle | Cheltenham |
| 21 November | Betfair Chase | Haydock |
| 28 November | Coral Gold Cup | Newbury |
| 28 November | Fighting Fifth Hurdle | Newcastle |
| 5 December | Tingle Creek Chase | Sandown |
| 11–12 December | Cheltenham December Meeting | Cheltenham |
| 19 December | Long Walk Hurdle | Ascot |
| 26 December | King George VI Chase | Kempton |
| 27 December | Kauto Star Novices’ Chase | Kempton |
| 28 December | Welsh Grand National | Chepstow |
| 29 December | Challow Novices’ Hurdle | Newbury |
For complete daily fixtures, see our November 2026 racing calendar and December 2026 racing calendar.
Our Christmas horse racing guide covers the revised four-day festive programme, including the changes to the Welsh Grand National and Challow Hurdle dates.
Changes to the 2026/27 Jump Pattern
The 2026/27 season includes several changes to Britain’s Jump Pattern.
The British Horseracing Authority has upgraded seven races to Premier Handicap status as part of a review designed to strengthen the programme. All Jump Pattern races will also now have permanent race names, extending a naming requirement previously associated with Grade 1, Grade 2 and Listed races.
Among the notable changes are:
- The Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow becomes a Premier Handicap.
- The Hurst Park Steeple Chase at Ascot becomes a Premier Handicap.
- The Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton becomes a Premier Handicap.
- The Morebattle Handicap Hurdle at Kelso becomes a Premier Handicap.
- The Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle at Sandown becomes a Premier Handicap.
- Kelso stages the new Tradesmen’s Plate Premier Handicap Hurdle.
- Sandown stages the new Wolsey Premier Handicap Chase.
There are also changes outside the handicap programme.
The Elite Hurdle moves permanently from Wincanton to Aintree and is renamed the Molyneux, while the Yorkshire Silver Vase at Doncaster and Fair Maid of Perth are upgraded to Grade 2 mares’ chases.
These changes are more than administrative details. Race status influences where trainers place horses and can alter the routes used towards the spring festivals.
November 2026: The National Hunt Season Moves Up a Gear
November is one of the most important transitional months in jump racing.
By this point many leading horses have returned from their summer breaks and the major divisions begin to take shape. Cheltenham, Haydock, Ascot, Newbury, Newcastle and other leading courses stage races with implications for the rest of the season.
The Cheltenham November Meeting runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026.
The meeting provides three days of high-quality National Hunt racing and is particularly useful for identifying horses suited to Cheltenham. Previous course form should never be treated as an automatic betting system, but experience of the track’s undulations and finishing climb provides relevant evidence when horses return later in the campaign.
Betfair Chase
Haydock stages the Betfair Chase on Saturday 21 November 2026.
The Grade 1 race is one of the first major seasonal tests for established staying chasers. Kauto Star, Cue Card, Bristol De Mai, Imperial Commander and A Plus Tard feature among its notable winners.
Haydock can become particularly demanding when autumn rain produces soft or heavy ground. Pace, jumping and stamina all need to be assessed alongside the actual going rather than assuming every renewal will develop into the same type of race.
The result also begins to shape the staying-chase division ahead of the King George VI Chase at Christmas and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
Fighting Fifth Hurdle
Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle is one of the first Grade 1 targets for leading two-mile hurdlers.
Run over an extended two miles, it has been won by some outstanding horses and can provide an early indication of the strength of the Champion Hurdle division.
Newcastle’s relatively flat course creates a different test from Cheltenham, so the result should be interpreted rather than simply carried forward to March. The way a horse travels, jumps and finishes can tell us more than its finishing position alone.
Coral Gold Cup
Newbury stages the Coral Gold Cup later in November.
Unlike the level-weights Grade 1 races, the Coral Gold Cup is a major staying handicap. It has historically provided an opportunity for improving chasers to establish themselves against more experienced rivals.
Native River, Denman and Many Clouds are among the high-class chasers associated with the race.
The handicap structure makes official ratings and weight particularly important, while Newbury’s galloping course places a strong emphasis on efficient jumping and stamina.
December 2026: Grade 1 Racing and Christmas
December contains some of the most recognisable fixtures of the National Hunt season.
Two-mile chasers take centre stage at Sandown early in the month, staying hurdlers have an important Grade 1 target before Christmas, and Boxing Day brings one of Britain’s biggest races outside the spring festivals.
Tingle Creek Chase
The Tingle Creek Chase takes place at Sandown on Saturday 5 December 2026.
Sandown’s Railway Fences make the Grade 1 particularly demanding. Three fences arrive in quick succession down the back straight, placing pressure on horses to maintain their rhythm while travelling at two-mile pace.
Kauto Star, Moscow Flyer, Master Minded, Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Jonbon are among the outstanding horses to have won the race.
The Tingle Creek is also an important form reference for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, although Sandown and Cheltenham present different tests.
Cheltenham December Meeting
Cheltenham returns on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December 2026.
The December meeting sits between the major November fixtures and Christmas programme and provides another opportunity to assess horses over the course before the Festival.
Course experience becomes increasingly useful as the season develops, particularly for horses expected to return in March.
Long Walk Hurdle
The Long Walk Hurdle is one of the leading races for staying hurdlers before Christmas.
The Grade 1 has been won by outstanding stayers including Baracouda, Big Buck’s, Reve De Sivola and Paisley Park.
Its position in the calendar makes it an important part of the route towards the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
As with every trial, the race should be analysed according to how it develops. Ground, pace and course configuration can differ significantly from the conditions horses eventually encounter at the Festival.
Boxing Day Racing 2026
Saturday 26 December 2026 is one of the biggest days in the British jump racing calendar.
National Hunt meetings take place around Britain, but the centrepiece is Kempton’s King George VI Chase.
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 contest over three miles at Kempton Park.
Kempton is right-handed, relatively flat and places considerable emphasis on fluent jumping and the ability to maintain a strong gallop.
The race therefore provides a different test from the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Kauto Star holds the record with five King George victories, while Desert Orchid won four. Their records demonstrate the importance of tactical speed as well as stamina around Kempton.
The 2026 King George VI Chase takes place on Boxing Day, Saturday 26 December.
The race is one of the key points in the staying-chase season. By the end of Christmas, the division usually has considerably more shape than it did during the autumn.
Christmas and New Year Jump Racing
The King George is only part of the Christmas programme.
Chepstow’s Christmas meeting traditionally features the Welsh Grand National, while other courses stage popular Boxing Day and festive fixtures.
This concentrated period can produce important changes in the championship picture because leading horses compete within a relatively short period across several courses.
Christmas form also needs to be interpreted according to conditions.
A staying performance in very testing ground at Chepstow tells us something different from a speed-based performance around Kempton. Both can be high-class pieces of form without pointing towards exactly the same future targets.
January 2027: The Road to Cheltenham
January marks another change in the season.
The major Christmas races have been completed and attention increasingly turns towards the Cheltenham Festival. Trainers must decide whether established contenders require another run or can head directly towards March.
Cheltenham stages racing on New Year’s Day before Festival Trials Day on Saturday 30 January 2027.
Trials Day provides valuable course evidence because horses compete at the same venue that will stage the Festival several weeks later.
The results still require context. Ground conditions at Cheltenham in late January can be substantially different from those encountered in March, while a trainer may not have a horse at peak fitness for what remains a preparatory race.
January also contains important meetings at courses including Ascot, Haydock, Warwick, Sandown and Doncaster.
By this stage the leading novice hurdle and novice chase divisions are becoming much clearer.
February 2027: Final Festival Preparations
February is the bridge between the winter programme and Cheltenham.
Some championship contenders will already have completed their final run. Others have one last race before March, while a few may reach the Festival after an interrupted preparation.
This is the period when analysing a horse’s campaign becomes particularly useful.
A horse with fewer recent runs is not automatically underprepared. Some trainers deliberately target major races after lengthy breaks, while other horses perform best when kept active.
The same principle applies to horses that have raced frequently. A busy campaign can demonstrate fitness and consistency, but the number of previous runs alone does not tell us whether a horse will improve or regress at Cheltenham.
Form, fitness, ground, course suitability and the likely pace of the championship race should be assessed together.
March 2027: Cheltenham Festival
The 2027 Cheltenham Festival takes place from Tuesday 16 March to Friday 19 March 2027.
It is the championship meeting of the British National Hunt season and brings together leading horses from Britain, Ireland and elsewhere across four days.
The meeting contains championship races over hurdles and fences alongside novice races, handicaps and specialist contests.
Tuesday 16 March: Champion Day
The Festival opens with a card traditionally headed by the Champion Hurdle.
The race determines the leading two-mile hurdler and brings together form lines established throughout the winter.
Results from races such as the Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle can help build the picture, but Cheltenham presents its own test. The Old Course is more undulating than Newcastle or Kempton and horses need to travel, jump and finish strongly.
Wednesday 17 March: Champion Chase Day
The leading two-mile chasers contest the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Speed and jumping efficiency are crucial because mistakes become extremely difficult to recover from at championship pace.
The Tingle Creek is one of the most important earlier Grade 1 races in the division, but Cheltenham’s course creates a different examination from Sandown.
Thursday 18 March: Stayers’ Hurdle Day
Thursday features the Stayers’ Hurdle, the championship contest for long-distance hurdlers.
The three-mile distance changes the emphasis from the speed required in the Champion Hurdle. Stamina, rhythm and the ability to maintain an effort up the Cheltenham hill become central to the race.
The Long Walk Hurdle is one of the important winter form references.
Friday 19 March: Cheltenham Gold Cup Day
The Festival culminates with the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The Gold Cup is Britain’s championship race for staying chasers and one of the defining events of the National Hunt season.
Earlier races including the Betfair Chase and King George contribute important evidence, but neither replicates the Cheltenham test. The Gold Cup is run over a longer distance on an undulating course with an uphill finish.
The strongest analysis therefore considers how horses performed in their trials rather than simply whether they won them.
April 2027: Grand National Festival
Attention switches quickly from Cheltenham to Aintree.
The 2027 Grand National Festival takes place from Thursday 8 April to Saturday 10 April, with the Grand National itself on Saturday 10 April 2027.
Aintree provides a very different challenge from Cheltenham.
Many of the Grade 1 races take place on the conventional Mildmay course, while the Grand National uses the famous National fences.
The meeting attracts horses that competed at Cheltenham alongside others deliberately kept fresh for Aintree.
That distinction is important when analysing the Festival. A horse arriving from Cheltenham has recent championship form but has also raced only a few weeks earlier. A fresh rival may have had Aintree as its principal spring target for several months.
The Grand National
The Grand National remains Britain’s most famous steeplechase.
Its demands are different from conventional championship chases. The race combines a long distance, a large field and distinctive fences, making jumping rhythm, stamina and race position particularly important.
Our Grand National fences guide explains the obstacles in more detail, while the Grand National runners page follows the field as the race approaches.
The National also operates as a handicap, making Grand National weights an important part of the analysis.
The End of the Core 2026/27 Jump Season
Aintree does not mark the end of jump racing.
The Scottish Grand National period follows later in April, while Cheltenham stages its April meeting on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 April 2027.
Sandown then stages its traditional Jump Finale later in the month.
The Jump Finale provides a natural point at which to reflect on the championship season, but National Hunt racing continues afterwards.
This is why saying that the jump season simply “ends in April” is inaccurate.
The major autumn-to-spring championship campaign reaches its conclusion, while a separate programme of summer jumping continues.
Summer Jump Racing
British jump racing takes place during the warmer months at a smaller group of courses.
Racecourses regularly associated with summer jumping include:
- Cartmel.
- Market Rasen.
- Newton Abbot.
- Stratford.
- Uttoxeter.
- Worcester.
Summer National Hunt racing has its own character.
Ground is generally quicker than during the winter, different trainers and horses can become prominent and many of the championship performers seen at Cheltenham and Aintree are resting.
This creates separate form lines that should not automatically be transferred to winter racing.
A horse thriving over two and a half miles on good summer ground may face a very different test when encountering soft conditions in November.
Major Jump Racing Festivals 2026/27
Several meetings provide the structure around which the British National Hunt season develops.
Cheltenham Showcase
Cheltenham’s first meeting of the autumn provides an early opportunity to assess horses over the Festival course.
Cheltenham November Meeting
Three days of racing in November establish important form lines and bring stronger National Hunt competition to Cheltenham.
Tingle Creek Festival
Sandown’s December meeting is headed by the Tingle Creek Chase and showcases high-class two-mile chasing.
Christmas Racing
The Christmas programme contains important fixtures around Britain, with Kempton’s King George VI Chase providing the Grade 1 centrepiece on Boxing Day.
Cheltenham Festival
The four-day meeting from 16–19 March 2027 provides the championship focus of the season.
Grand National Festival
Aintree stages three days of major racing from 8–10 April 2027, culminating in the Grand National.
These meetings should be viewed as part of a season-long progression rather than isolated events.
Major Jump Races to Follow in 2026/27
The National Hunt season contains important races across several divisions.
For staying chasers, the Betfair Chase and King George VI Chase provide major winter targets before the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Two-mile chasers have the Tingle Creek before attention increasingly moves towards the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Leading hurdlers can use the Fighting Fifth and other winter Grade 1 races before the Champion Hurdle, while staying hurdlers have races such as the Long Walk before the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Handicap chasers have a different route, with major prizes including the Coral Gold Cup and ultimately the Grand National.
The important races are connected, but they are not interchangeable trials. Course, distance, ground and race conditions can change the qualities being tested.
2026 and 2027 Jump Racing Fixtures
British racing has 1,458 scheduled fixtures across all codes in 2026, including 561 jump fixtures.
The BHA has now published the 2027 fixture list, containing 1,440 scheduled fixtures across British racing. British Racecourses’ dedicated 2027 jump calendar contains 556 scheduled National Hunt fixtures.
Rather than maintaining one enormous fixture table on this page, we separate the complete calendars from this season overview.
See our Horse Racing Fixtures 2026 page for the complete current-year programme and Jump Racing Fixtures 2027 for the full National Hunt schedule next year.
This page serves a different purpose: explaining how the important meetings, races and championship divisions fit together.
How the Jump Racing Season Develops
Understanding the structure of the season helps when analysing form.
An impressive October performance should be assessed differently from a championship performance in March. Horses can improve substantially as the season develops, particularly novices gaining experience over hurdles or fences.
Fitness also changes.
Some trainers have horses ready to perform close to their peak on seasonal debut. Others build fitness through one or two early races before targeting a major winter prize.
Ground conditions evolve as well. Autumn racing can take place on relatively quick surfaces before prolonged winter rain produces much more testing conditions. By the Cheltenham Festival, spring weather can create another different racing surface.
This is why comparing finishing positions without understanding the circumstances of each race can be misleading.
Our guide to reading horse racing form explains how to interpret previous performances rather than treating every result equally.
Novice Hurdlers and Chasers
One of the most interesting parts of the National Hunt season is watching novice divisions develop.
A novice hurdler can begin the autumn in relatively ordinary company before progressing rapidly into Graded races. Novice chasers face the additional challenge of learning to jump larger fences at racing speed.
Experience matters, but improvement can be rapid.
The best novice in October is not necessarily the best novice by March. Some horses progress quickly after gaining confidence, while others reach their ceiling earlier.
Jumping technique deserves particular attention with novice chasers. A horse can win despite making mistakes against weaker opposition before finding those errors much more costly when the pace increases at Grade 1 level.
Ground Through the Jump Season
The going is central to National Hunt analysis.
Autumn, winter and spring can produce very different surfaces, while individual racecourses respond differently to rainfall.
A horse described simply as a “soft-ground horse” may actually be benefiting from a combination of slower pace, greater stamina emphasis and a particular course configuration.
Likewise, a horse with good-ground form is not necessarily incapable of handling softer conditions.
The strongest evidence comes from performances under genuinely comparable conditions.
This becomes particularly important when carrying winter form forward to Cheltenham or Aintree. The ground in March or April can create a different test from a race run in deep conditions during December or January.
Pace Through the National Hunt Season
Pace matters in jump racing just as it does on the Flat.
A slowly run hurdle can favour horses with greater tactical speed, while a strongly run staying chase places much more pressure on stamina and jumping.
Field size also affects how races develop.
A four-runner Grade 1 can become tactical if nobody wants to lead. A large handicap can produce sustained pressure from an early stage as horses compete for position.
Using pace maps helps identify the likely leaders and determine whether a previous performance came under conditions likely to be repeated.
This is particularly useful when comparing trials with championship races. Two contests over the same distance can produce very different tests if their pace profiles differ.
Following Jump Racing Form Through the Season
The best way to follow the National Hunt season is to build a picture rather than react to isolated results.
Watch how horses progress from one race to another. Note the course, ground, pace, distance and strength of opposition.
Pay particular attention to:
- How a horse jumps when the pace increases.
- Whether it finishes strongly or weakens late.
- How it performs on different ground.
- Whether a longer or shorter distance improves its performance.
- Previous form at distinctive courses such as Cheltenham, Aintree and Sandown.
- Whether a performance is supported by subsequent results from the horses around it.
The last point can be especially useful.
A race that initially looked ordinary can become stronger when several horses subsequently win. Equally, an apparently impressive victory may lose some of its significance if the opposition repeatedly performs poorly afterwards.
British and Irish Jump Racing
British and Irish National Hunt racing are closely connected.
Leading Irish-trained horses regularly travel to Britain for Cheltenham and Aintree, while major Irish festivals produce important form for British championship races.
The Cheltenham Festival has become the most obvious meeting point between the two programmes.
Irish form therefore cannot be treated as a separate subject when analysing the British championship season.
The Punchestown Festival follows Cheltenham and Aintree in the spring and provides another major championship meeting before many leading horses begin their summer breaks.
Our Irish racecourses section covers the principal venues in greater detail.
Jump Racing Calendar FAQs
When does the 2026/27 jump racing season start?
Jump racing takes place throughout much of the year in Britain, so there is no single official autumn starting date. The core 2026/27 National Hunt season gathers momentum during October as major winter courses and horses return.
When does the jump racing season finish?
The main championship season traditionally concludes at Sandown’s Jump Finale in late April. Jump racing itself continues through spring and summer at selected courses.
How many jump racing fixtures are there in 2026?
There are 561 scheduled British jump racing fixtures in 2026.
How many jump racing fixtures are there in 2027?
There are 556 scheduled British jump racing fixtures in 2027.
When is the 2027 Cheltenham Festival?
The 2027 Cheltenham Festival takes place from Tuesday 16 March to Friday 19 March.
When is the 2027 Grand National?
The 2027 Grand National takes place at Aintree on Saturday 10 April 2027. The three-day Grand National Festival runs from Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 April.
When is the 2026 King George VI Chase?
The 2026 King George VI Chase takes place at Kempton Park on Saturday 26 December.
When is the 2026 Betfair Chase?
The 2026 Betfair Chase is scheduled for Saturday 21 November at Haydock Park.
When is the 2026 Tingle Creek Chase?
The 2026 Tingle Creek Chase takes place at Sandown Park on Saturday 5 December.
Is there jump racing during summer?
Yes. Courses including Cartmel, Market Rasen, Newton Abbot, Stratford, Uttoxeter and Worcester stage jump racing during the warmer months.
What is the difference between hurdles and chases?
Hurdle races use smaller obstacles, while steeplechases use larger fences. Chasing generally places greater emphasis on jumping technique, although efficient jumping is important in both codes.
What is a National Hunt Flat race?
A National Hunt Flat race, commonly called a bumper, contains no obstacles. These races are often used to introduce young National Hunt horses to racecourse competition before they progress to hurdles.
What is the biggest jump racing festival in Britain?
The Cheltenham Festival is the championship meeting of the British National Hunt season. The Grand National Festival at Aintree is another major spring meeting and contains Britain’s most famous steeplechase.
Where can I find the complete 2027 jump fixture list?
Our Jump Racing Fixtures 2027 page contains the complete scheduled British National Hunt calendar.
2026/27 Jump Racing Season Summary
The British jump racing season is best understood as a progression rather than a collection of unrelated fixtures.
October brings the return of the main autumn programme. November introduces major Grade 1 races for hurdlers and chasers. December builds through the Tingle Creek and staying-hurdle programme towards the King George VI Chase and Christmas racing.
January and February increasingly focus attention on Cheltenham before the championship meeting takes place from 16–19 March 2027.
Aintree follows quickly, with the Grand National Festival from 8–10 April 2027, before the traditional championship season reaches its conclusion later that month.
Jump racing then continues through the summer.
Following that progression makes individual results easier to understand. Form from the Betfair Chase feeds into the staying-chase picture. The Tingle Creek provides evidence about the two-mile chasers. The Fighting Fifth helps establish the hurdling hierarchy, while the Long Walk develops the staying division.
By the time Cheltenham and Aintree arrive, months of form lines have connected those races.
That is what makes the National Hunt season compelling: the major prizes are individual contests, but the story develops from autumn through winter and into spring.
