Great British Bonus to be extended to National Hunt geldings

Following today's announcement from the BHA, the Great British Bonus (GBB) is delighted to confirm that the scheme will be extended to include National Hunt geldings from 2027 named GBB Gents. The extension has been made possible by additional funding from the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB), with the support of the BHA and the High-Quality Horse Group. 

GBB Gents aims to support British jumps breeding by making geldings more attractive to owners. With £300,000 of funding in place, bonuses will be available in all races currently covered by GBB, with the exception of Class 3 and 4 handicap chases and National Hunt Flat races.

Only geldings qualifying as 100% GBB – those born in GB and by a British-based stallion will be eligible to join the scheme. Bonuses for such horses will be 50 per cent of the equivalent filly or mare bonus, at a maximum of £10,000 per race for qualifying geldings. This value has been agreed in order to ensure the primacy of the existing GBB scheme for fillies and mares. Horses from the 2024 and 2025 foal crops will be able to register retrospectively.

Dave Futter of Yorton Farm Stud said: "Since 2021, GBB has been game-changing for British-bred fillies, making them in-demand and valuable in the sales ring. We're delighted to see that geldings will now be incorporated into the scheme, and we can look forward to next year's store sales, where we and all other British breeders can head to the sale knowing all our homebreds are supported by this fantastic initiative."

TBA trustee and NH Committee member, Colm Donlon said: "We are delighted that geldings will be joining GBB, and we’d like to thank the HBLB for the additional funding that has made this possible. This is a real vote of confidence in British National Hunt breeding and something the industry has been asking for. We know people will be keen to get their horses registered, with a full launch due later in the Autumn." 

GBB geldings will operate on a similar basis to the current scheme, with full rules and registration details to be published in due course.