Jump programme changes confirmed for 2025/26

Full details, including adjustments to Junior National Hunt Hurdles and Go North Series, can be found here.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today confirmed several changes to the race programme for the 2025/26 Jump season, which focus on the development of horses at the early stages of their careers.

The changes, which come into effect immediately, are part of wider efforts to strengthen British Jump racing by giving horses more opportunities to gain valuable early jumping experience and hone their technique over obstacles.

Introduced following consultation and engagement with stakeholders and participants, the measures, which can be viewed in full here, include:

• Increasing the number of weight-for-age novices' steeple chase opportunities. A significant number of Class 3 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chases have been removed from the programme and replaced with ‘Chasing Excellence’ Beginner/Novices’ Chases, each run for an increased minimum value of £12,000 at Class 3 (rising to £15,000 in 2026)
• New requirements for Grade 1 Novices' and Juvenile Hurdle races, with horses only eligible if they have been allotted a minimum rating of 110 – either through a published handicap mark or as assessed by the BHA handicapper to have to raced to that level in at least one hurdle run. This aims to ensure that horses competing in these showpiece contests have demonstrated a suitable level of ability over hurdles and brings these races into line with other Grade 1 contests.
• Adjustments to the Junior National Hunt Hurdles programme, with the first races scheduled later in the year to give horses a little longer to develop, penalties for winners not being carried into a horse’s future career and non-winners permitted to drop back to Junior National Hunt Flat races. The programme has also been extended by another three years to provide added stability and certainty when sourcing horses and planning campaigns.

In addition, several changes have been made to the Go North Series, which culminates in finals weekend at Kelso, Musselburgh and Carlisle racecourses in late March.

This season’s series finals will be run for increased minimum values, with a prize fund of at least £40k per race, and there will be adjustments to the programme following a wider review, so that the initiative continues to provide a compelling spectacle of Jump racing in the region.

Full details about the changes for the 2025/26 Jumps season, which includes further explanatory comments and quotes, can be viewed here.

Tom Byrne, BHA Head of Racing and Betting, said:

“There’s a recognition across our industry about the importance of growing the number of horses – and particularly high-quality horses – that are bred, owned, trained and raced in Britain.

“Central to this is ensuring that developmental pathways exist so that we are nurturing future talent and, over the longer-term, making sure we are competitive at the top level.

“The changes being introduced for the Jump season are primarily geared towards improving the quality of racing for our participants and customers, and giving our promising younger horses the right opportunities to help them fulfil their potential over hurdles and fences.

“Like the measures introduced as part of the 2026 fixture list, such as the point-to-point bonus series and additional investment in the Elite Mares’ Scheme, these improvements may take time and require patience before we start to see the true benefits. For instance, the changes to weight-for-age novice chases may well result in some smaller field sizes for these contests in the short-term.

“But we firmly believe that whether it’s refining the novice chase division, requiring our top novice and juvenile hurdlers to show a level of form before competing in Grade 1 contests, or bolstering competition and returns for connections in the North, these are positive steps that can help support the long-term future of British Jumps racing.”