After flat racing saw Starman shoot to the finish in the July Cup, Hurricane Lane whirl to victory in the Irish Derby, and Snowfall plough to double success in the English and Irish Oaks, what storms are brewing for jump racing? As the UK opens sporting events to full capacity, the jump season – known as National Hunt racing in the UK, Ireland, and France – is set to be bursting at the seams with celebratory race meetings.
Several courses celebrate with a season opener, including Warwick (20-21 September) and Chepstow (8-9 October). In the early weeks of the season, there are a plethora of thrilling meetings. Cheltenham hosts the Showcase Meeting (22-23 October), the November Meeting (12-14 November), and the International Meeting (10-11 December); all of which are the perfect way to experience one of the most famous racecourses in the world. Speaking of notable courses, Aintree holds the exhilarating Becher Chase Meeting (4 December) as an early-season trial for the Grand National.
Is it too early to talk about Christmas? There’s a fantastic range of festive racing events throughout the UK starting with the famous Tingle Creek Festival at Sandown Park (3-4 December). Eat, drink, and be merry at the highlight of the racecourse’s jump season which, in the past, has seen stars of racing like Desert Orchid and Kauto Star claim victory in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase. Only a few days later, Warwick hosts its Christmas at the Races meeting (9 December) featuring 12 high-quality races over 2 days of action and off-track jolly entertainment. This is followed by the Christmas Festival (26-27 December) at Kempton Park where you may not catch a glimpse of Rudolph but there’ll be plenty of his four-legged cousins racing down the finishing straight.
If you’ve had one mince pie too many, you might be in the mood for a post-Christmas walk around Chepstow Racecourse: the Welsh Grand National retains its annual place on the day after Boxing Day and is the perfect way to fill your “Betwixtmas”. Warwick starts the New Year’s Eve parties in style with a meeting on the last day of the year. After ringing in 2022 with a happy Hogmanay, enjoy the New Year’s Day raceday at Musselburgh. Although tickets are yet to be released for some of these fixtures, Cheltenham’s New Year’s Day meeting has some luxurious private box tickets ready to be snatched up.
There’s lots to look forward to in 2022 and tickets are already on sale for the 2 biggest jump racing meetings. The prestigious Cheltenham Festival – with numerous significant races including the Gold Cup – takes place from 15-18 March. Only 3 weeks later, the “ultimate test of horse and rider” is held at Aintree Racecourse: the Grand National. The famous meeting runs from 7-9 April.
Don’t miss out on what is set to be an unforgettable National Hunt season with returning racegoers roaring on the runners and riders!