With fixtures taking place on practically every day of the year, it can be difficult to know where to head next. These are the top upcoming horse races to schedule into your diary for the coming months, where you’ll experience a wonderful atmosphere, world-class racing, and incredible entertainment, check out these itv 7 picks today.
Ladbrokes Winter Carnival – 29 Nov – 30 Nov
Held at Newbury, the Ladbrokes Trophy is one of the best-loved races in the jump racing calendar and a real highlight of the season. Dating back to 1957, this race has long been a pointer to the famous Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National later in the season, so it’s a must for punters who want to gauge who to bet on. The meeting is held over two days and has a brilliant atmosphere.
The Betfair Tingle Creek Christmas Festival – 06 Dec – 07 Dec
The Betfair Tingle Creek Chase takes place at the beginning of December and is one of the most competitive races of the winter season. It brings in some top-class chasers and is a prestigious event in its own right, while also serving as a stepping stone for the Cheltenham festival. What’s more, it’s held at the stunning Sandown Racecourse, bringing in huge crowds every year.
Cheltenham Festival – 10 – 13 March
Cheltenham Festival is one of the best-known events in the sport and is four days of incredible action, excitement and a wonderful atmosphere. Some great racing memories have been made here and it’s a must for fans of the sport, with virtually every top chaser and hurdler aiming for this event. The feature races include the Unibet Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Stayers’ Hurdle, culminating with the Gold Cup and the famous Cheltenham roar.
Grand National Festival – 02 – 04 April
Following its inaugural running in 1839, the Grand National has become one of the most famous races in the world and there’s truly nothing like the amazing atmosphere that this event has. Held over three days at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, it’s a top-class meeting that attracts thousands of in person viewers and millions more watching on TV.
Ayr Scottish Grand National – 13 – 14 April
The two-day Scottish Grand National is the richest jumps meeting in the Scottish calendar and is held just after the Grand National in Aintree. While only Red Rum has managed to win both races in the same year, it’s a race that attracts the leaders of Aintree in their attempts to achieve the same feat. Ayr enjoys crowds of over 20,000 people who come to watch this exciting spectacle, as 28 of the best long-distance chasers in the country battle it out for success.
Jump Finale at Sandown – 25-26 April
The Gold Cup meeting at Sandown Park is held over two days and is one of the best big race meetings of the jump season. It’s an exciting race day with a brilliant end-of-season atmosphere that provides one last opportunity for chasers to prove their talents around the famous course.