National Hunt horse racing is one of the finest sporting codes on show in the UK and Ireland throughout the year.
Watching horses leap over hurdles and fences, their teeth bared and nostrils flaring as they gun for the line, is what keeps horse racing betting punters coming back for more.
But newcomers to horse racing may not be too familiar with what the National Hunt actually is and when is starts! That’s why Paddy Power is here to help, as part of our Demystifying Racing series for new and experienced punters.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the National Hunt calendar, so you can bet more confidently when checking out the latest race cards in Paddy’s sportsbook!
What is National Hunt in horse racing?
National Hunt racing is a form of horse racing in the UK and Ireland where horses must leap obstacles like fences, hurdles or ditches during a race. This tests the skill of the horse and the jockey as the pair career round the racecourse at breakneck speeds.
The three different types of National Hunt race are hurdles, chases and bumpers.
The core National Hunt season runs largely through the winter (GETTY)
National Hunt season start
Jump races are run in the UK and Ireland all year round but the National Hunt season can be said to start and end in line with the Jump Jockeys Championship.
The Jump Jockeys Championship begins at the start of July and runs to Finals Day at Sandown Park towards the end of April the following year.
The reason for defining the National Hunt season with a specific calendar date is so an annual Champion Jockey and Champion Trainer can be recognised.
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Some jump races run between the end of April and start of July but these are not considered part of the Championship.
Meanwhile, the autumn Charlie Hall meeting at Wetherby is often seen as the date the racing world puts its full attention behind Nation Hunt meetings.
Fences are one of the most notable aspects of many National Hunt races (GETTY)
Famous jump jockey champions
- AP McCoy – 20 titles
- Peter Scudamore – 8 titles
- John Francome – 7 titles
- Richard Johnson – 4 titles
How to bet on National Hunt races
If you’re looking for racing betting upsets then National Hunt races are one of the best formats for big-odds wins.
This is because the hurdles and fences horses must overcome during a National Hunt race can cause even the favourite to fall.
Big National Hunt races such as the Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup and King George VI Chase are famed for producing long-odds upsets down the years.
And this makes the races particularly attractive for horse racing betting enthusiasts who are seeking to make big gains on their bets.
DEMYSTIFYING RACING
- Why are there false starts in horse races like the Grand National?
- How many horses are there in the Grand National?
- Grand National prize money: How much does the Grand National winner get?
- 9 things to consider when picking a Grand National winner
- Grand National fence names and the stories behind every Aintree jump
- How high are Grand National fences at Aintree Racecourse?
- What are Grand National fences made of at Aintree Racecourse?
- Grand National fences: Order of jumps, total and which are taken twice
- Grand National weights: Why do horses carry different weights at Aintree?
- How many people usually attend the Grand National? What is Aintree’s capacity?
- What is the distance of the Grand National? How far do the horses run?
- How does a horse qualify for the Grand National?
- When did a horse last win the Grand National carrying top weight?
- Do Grand National reserve horses ever run in the race at Aintree?
- What does it mean when a horse is On the Bridle?
- What is a Black type horse race?
- What are the different types of going in horse racing?
- What is a bumper horse race?
- What are blinkers and why do some horses wear them?
- What is an Allowance Race in horse racing?
- What is the difference between hurdles and fences in National Hunt racing?
- What is a halter and why do some horses wear them?
- What does it mean when a horse has spread a plate?
- What is the Rule 4 betting rule in horse racing?
- What is the difference between graded, handicap and selling horse races?
- What does a novice hurdle in horse racing mean?
- What is a listed horse race?
- What does a novice chase in horse racing mean?
- Why do race horses have different ratings and what do they mean?
- When does the National Hunt season start and when does it end?
- Why are there different grades of horse race?
- Why are there 3 different types of National Hunt race?
- Why are race horses given different weights and what does it mean?
- How many different classes of horse race are there?
- What is a claiming race and what do they mean?
- What is an optional claimer in horse racing?
- What is a shadow roll and why do some race horses wear them?
- Why do some races start from stalls and some not?
- What is the difference between Derby and Oaks races?
- What does it mean when a horse knuckles during a horse race?
- What is a stayer in horse racing?
- What is a yearling horse and when are they ready to race?
- What does it mean if a horse has won a point race?
- What does a maiden mean in horse racing?
- How are horses’ ages calculated and why is it not the same as humans?
- What advantages do apprentice jockeys get when riding against professionals?
- What is a conditional jockey?
- What does the term ‘connections’ mean in horse racing?
- Why do some horses wear cheekpieces?
- Who are the stewards in horse racing?
- What does ‘weighed in’ mean at the end of a horse race?
- What is a nursery race?
- Why are some National Hunt races run without fences?
- Why are some horses given a tongue tie during races?
- What does it mean when a horse is ‘pushed out’?
- How are horse racing ratings calculated?
- What does it mean when a horse has a ‘wind operation’?
- How high are the fences and hurdles in horse racing?
- What is an apprentice jockey?
- What is a Bull Ring in horse racing?
- What does the phrase ‘Look of Eagles’ mean in horse racing?
- Why do some horses wear a ‘weight cloth’ during races?
- What is the Triple Crown in horse racing?
- What is a Steeplechase race in horse racing?
- How high are the Cheltenham Festival fences and hurdles?
- Why is the Champion Chase named after the Queen Mother?
- Why does Cheltenham racecourse have an Old Course and a New Course? What’s the differences between the two?
- What is the Cheltenham roar? What difference does it make in races?
- Why are there no jumps in the Cheltenham Festival Champion Bumper?
- How many fans usually attend the Cheltenham Festival? How big is the capacity?
- What is a juvenile in horse racing?
- What is a sire and a dam? Why is breeding so important in horse racing?
- What’s the difference between a colt, filly, gelding, stallion and mare?
- What does it mean when a horse goes to stud?
- What do horse racing commentators mean by sectional times?
- What is the Royal Procession at Royal Ascot? Which members of the Royal Family attend?
- How do they choose Epsom Derby stall numbers? Is there a draw bias?
- How long does it take horses to complete the Epsom Derby? How fast are the runners?
- What has happened to the Queen’s racehorses?
- What is a stewards’ enquiry in horse racing?
- What does it mean when a horse is exposed?
- What happens when there is a dead-heat in horse racing?
- What does the Clerk of the Course do in horse racing?
- What does schooling mean in horse racing?
- How are horses named and who approves them?
- Men must wear socks and other weird Royal Ascot dress codes
- Market movers: What is a market mover in horse racing?
- What is a Ladies’ Day in horse racing and why do they exist?
- Where’s the toilet and how much is a beer – Paddy’s guide to Cheltenham
- How many horse racing courses are there in the UK? Full list
- Top 8 most famous race horses of all time
- 8 of the best retired UK and Irish jockeys
The latest Cheltenham horse racing odds are on PaddyPower.com now
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
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