National Hunt events can be split into several types of race.

A chase involves larger, rigid fences while a hurdle race is run over shorter, more flexible obstacles. A bumper is another term for a National Hunt Flat race. These races are usually confined to four, five and six-year-olds who have not run on the Flat - and have not yet competed in jumping races. The principal bumper of the year is run at the Cheltenham Festival. A novice is a horse who has not won a race under a particular code (hurdling or chasing) before that season. There is nothing to stop novices running in normal hurdles or chases. The last novice to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup was Captain Christy in 1974 while Alderbrook was still a novice when capturing the Champion Hurdle in 1995. Another category of race is the hunter chase. These are confined to amateur riders and to horses that have hunted.

If you are new to Jump Racing, and would like to know more, you have come to the right place.

Jump Racing is a type of Horse Racing in which the horses run around a predefined course which includes a number of obstacles, normally described as hurdles or fences. The sport originated in Western Europe where it was called steeplechasing. This word is derived from the word "steeple" - a tall tower that stood above the roof of old churches. Gentlemen would challenge each other to a race on horseback between two churches across country. Over the years the sport has developed into many different forms and horses are now commonly bred specially for this type of activity. The sport is divided into a number of subcategories which range from those closely associated with Hunting to more commercial thoroughbred racing. Races which take place on a commercial racetrack (all below except point to point) are collectively know by many as "National Hunt Racing". -Point to Point Racing "Between the Flags" -Hunter Chasing -Chasing -Hurdling -National Hunt Flat Racing

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