If you only follow a dozen race days in the winter jumps season, make them these – the true season highlights of the 2025/26 National Hunt calendar. This guide highlights the top National Hunt fixtures 2025/26, the landmarks that shape form, narratives and betting markets from November through May.
Below you’ll find the what/when/why for each, plus how they signpost Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown. For the complete list of fixtures, see our updated National Hunt Calendar 2025/26. Dates are confirmed where racecourses have published them; where they’re not yet on an official fixture page, we reference racecourse partners and long-standing scheduling conventions and note that they’re subject to change.
November: the season takes shape
Betfair Chase — Haydock (Sat 22 November 2025)
The first Grade 1 chase of the British campaign and a proper early stress-test for staying chasers. Historically a launchpad for Gold Cup-class horses (think Kauto Star), it tends to reward a fit, fluent jumper who handles Haydock’s flat, galloping track and often deep ground. 2025’s renewal is scheduled for Saturday 22 November.
Why it matters: it frames the 3m division before Christmas and hints at King George targets. A strong performance here usually shortens Cheltenham Gold Cup prices and sets a stable’s winter plan. For more on who’s shaping the season, see our Top Trainers to follow 2025/26.
Coral Gold Cup (formerly Hennessy) — Newbury (Sat 29 November 2025)
Britain’s most storied handicap chase over 3m2f (approx.), traditionally producing Grade-1 horses off workable marks. It’s the savvy form-student’s playground: second-season chasers, stable switchers, improvers with staying pedigrees. Newbury lists the feature day on Saturday 29 November 2025.
Why it matters: it uncovers future graded performers and is a deep collateral form reference for the spring festivals’ staying handicaps.
Fighting Fifth Hurdle — Newcastle (Sat 29 November 2025)
The UK’s first Grade 1 for two-mile hurdlers. A sharp right-handed track, frequently on testing ground; you need slick hurdling and an engine. Newcastle has the 2025 Fighting Fifth on Saturday 29 November.
Why it matters: It sets the early Champion Hurdle pecking order. When a genuine star turns up here, the market reacts fast.
Early December: speed at Sandown, winter clues at Ascot
Betfair Tingle Creek Chase — Sandown (Sat 6 December 2025)
Two miles, right-handed, 13 fences, proper pace and precision. It’s where genuine two-mile chasers show class and agility. Sandown’s Tingle Creek Festival runs Fri 5 – Sat 6 December 2025, with the Grade 1 Tingle Creek on the Saturday.
Why it matters: Often the clearest pre-Christmas line on the Champion Chase division; it also tests how stars cope with Sandown’s Railway fences rhythm. (Jonbon’s 2024 win is a good template for the kind of performance that translates to March).
Howden Long Walk Hurdle — Ascot (Sat 20 December 2025)
Britain’s mid-season championship for staying hurdlers (3m and a smidge). Ascot’s Christmas Racing Weekend is Fri 19 – Sat 20 December 2025, with the Grade 1 Long Walk headlining Saturday.
Why it matters: It’s the clearest form anchor for the Stayers’ Hurdle before Cheltenham. Ground and stamina really bite here.
Christmas & Boxing Day: the heart of winter
King George VI Chase — Kempton (Fri 26 December 2025)
A Christmas Day hangover cure and a genuine championship in its own right: 3 miles around Kempton, 18 fences, speed as much as stamina. Kempton’s King George Day is Friday 26 December 2025. The meeting continues on Saturday 27 December (Desert Orchid day).
Why it matters: Many Gold Cup winners either win or run very well here. The track rewards a slick, accurate jumper who travels. That’s very different to the Cheltenham test. This is why reading the form properly — pace, jumping, how they hit the line — matters more than simply the finishing position. (The race is a Grade 1 over ~3 miles.)
Also on the card: the Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m), the second leg of the traditional hurdling “triple crown” (Fighting Fifth – Christmas Hurdle – Champion Hurdle).
Leopardstown Christmas Festival — Dublin (Fri 26 – Mon 29 December 2025)
Four days, seven Grade 1s across the holiday. Official festival dates are 26–29 December 2025, with Savills Chase Day on Sunday 28 December and December Hurdle Day on Monday 29 December. Expect Irish champion yards to run deep squads here.
Why it matters: It’s Ireland’s Christmas form book. The Savills (3m chase) and the Matheson/December Hurdle (2m) recycle into the spring Grade 1s and shape the Dublin Racing Festival entries five weeks later.
Coral Welsh Grand National — Chepstow (Sat 27 December 2025, typically the day after Boxing Day)
Britain’s great festive marathon handicap—attritional, course-specialist friendly, and a serious test of jumping in a big field on deep ground. Chepstow confirms the race is scheduled the day after Boxing Day each year; 2025 tickets are live.
Why it matters: Better winter-ground stayers use this as a target, and its form often holds up for the Midlands and Scottish Nationals in the spring.
New Year to Festival Trials: the last clues before March
BetMGM Clarence House Chase — Ascot (Sat 17 January 2026)
Britain’s mid-winter Grade 1 over two miles. On a stiffer track than Kempton, it asks harder questions late. Ascot’s 2026 fixture list confirms Clarence House Chase Raceday on Saturday 17 January 2026.
Why it matters: It’s the final deep read on the two-mile chase division before the Festival, especially if Christmas threw up mixed signals.
Festival Trials Day — Cheltenham (Sat 24 January 2026)
Cheltenham’s last raceday before the Festival, with seven contests mapped to March targets (Cleeve Hurdle for stayers, key novice trials, etc.). The course lists Saturday 24 January 2026 as Trials Day.
Why it matters: Conditions, jumping rhythm and track craft at Prestbury Park are unique; Trials Day is your fresh form on the actual stage.
Dublin Racing Festival — Leopardstown (Sat 31 Jan & Sun 1 Feb 2026)
Two afternoons; eight Grade 1s; real championship racing. Saturday features the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup; Sunday headlines the Irish Champion Hurdle.
Why it matters: It’s Ireland’s pre-Cheltenham summit. Most top Irish yards run their A-team here, which gives punters the most reliable, like-for-like form lines into March.
Cheltenham Festival — Tue 10 to Fri 13 March 2026
The week. Four days: March 10–13, 2026—Champion Day (Tue), Ladies Day (Wed), St Patrick’s Thursday, Gold Cup Day (Fri). It’s the climax of the season, where Gold Cup contenders and Champion Hurdle stars define the year’s narrative. Full details and tickets can be found on the official Cheltenham Racecourse website.
The four championship races:
- Champion Hurdle (2m) – Day 1 feature.
- Queen Mother Champion Chase (2m) – Day 2 feature for top two-mile chasers.
- Stayers’ Hurdle (3m) – Day 3 feature for long-distance hurdlers.
- Cheltenham Gold Cup (about 3m2½f) – Day 4 blue riband for staying chasers.
Why it matters: Everything flows into and out of this week—handicaps, novice grades, mares’ programme. Use your November–February notes to spot price ricks when the declarations drop. For more insights on potential Festival contenders, check our Horses to follow 2025/26
New for 2026: Cheltenham has announced a return of Ladies Day (Wed 11 March 2026) and racegoer-focused tweaks across pricing, capacity (66,000/day), and amenities. This won’t change the racing, but it will affect attendance patterns and on-course markets.
Cheltenham week is also the benchmark when looking back at the top National Hunt fixtures 2025/26, since nearly every champion has passed through one of them.
Aintree Grand National Festival — Thu 9 to Sat 11 April 2026
Three days of Grade 1s on the Mildmay and National courses, culminating in the world’s most watched jumps race. Official festival dates: April 9–11, 2026; Grand National Day is Saturday 11 April 2026.
About the Grand National itself:
- Distance: officially about 4 miles and 2½ furlongs, with 30 fences over two laps of the National Course. Iconic obstacles include Becher’s Brook, Canal Turn and The Chair (the highest at 5ft 2in, with a 5-foot take-off ditch).
Why it matters: Aintree is not just the National — its Grade 1 races like the Aintree Hurdle and Melling Chase often feature Cheltenham heroes on a flatter, speed-favouring track, acting as a continuation of the Cheltenham build-up storylines. And the National’s unique demands make it a separate handicapping puzzle from anything at Cheltenham.
Punchestown Festival — Tue 28 April to Sat 2 May 2026
Ireland’s five-day finale—often a “rematch” venue where Cheltenham and Aintree stars meet again on fresh ground. The 2026 festival is widely listed as April 28 – May 2.
Why it matters: Trainers allow horses to run freer here if spring ground suits; it’s a brilliant spot for pattern recognition (who backs up quickly, who’s over the top) and for finding value if the market overreacts to March form.
Quick calendar recap – top National Hunt fixtures 2025/26
- Nov 22, 2025 — Betfair Chase (Haydock).
- Nov 29, 2025 — Coral Gold Cup (Newbury).
- Nov 29, 2025 — Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Newcastle).
- Dec 6, 2025 — Tingle Creek Chase (Sandown).
- Dec 20, 2025 — Long Walk Hurdle (Ascot).
- Dec 26–27, 2025 — Kempton Christmas Festival (King George VI Chase on Dec 26).
- Dec 26–29, 2025 — Leopardstown Christmas Festival (Savills Dec 28; December Hurdle Day Dec 29).
- Dec 27, 2025 — Welsh Grand National (Chepstow).
- Jan 17, 2026 — Clarence House Chase (Ascot).
- Jan 24, 2026 — Festival Trials Day (Cheltenham).
- Jan 31–Feb 1, 2026 — Dublin Racing Festival (Leopardstown).
- Mar 10–13, 2026 — Cheltenham Festival.
- Apr 9–11, 2026 — Aintree Grand National Festival (National on Sat 11).
- Apr 28–May 2, 2026 — Punchestown Festival.
((Always check the racecourse page close to raceday in case of operational changes or weather. This calendar is your quick reference for the top National Hunt fixtures 2025/26.)
How to use this guide on the top National Hunt fixtures 2025/26
- Match race profiles to track DNA. Kempton’s King George rewards pacey, accurate 3-milers; Haydock’s Betfair Chase can magnify fitness and heavy-ground stamina. That context is gold when comparing collateral lines.
- Respect the Irish staging posts. The Savills Chase and Dublin Racing Festival are brutally informative because the top Irish yards run. Those performances translate almost directly to Cheltenham targets.
- Don’t overreact to Christmas. Leopardstown/Kempton form can flip in March on different ground and an undulating track. Use Trials Day and the Clarence House as tie-breakers.
- Grand National is its own code. Weight, jumping rhythm over 30 famous fences and luck-in-running matter more than raw class; treat it as a separate model.
Frequently asked questions about the 2025/26 National Hunt season
Tuesday 10 March to Friday 13 March 2026—Champion Day, Ladies Day, St Patrick’s Thursday, Gold Cup Day.
When is the 2026 Grand National?
Grand National Day is Saturday 11 April 2026, within a three-day festival from Thu 9 to Sat 11 April 2026 at Aintree.
They include Becher’s Brook, Canal Turn and The Chair (the highest at 5ft 2in with a 5-foot ditch), over 30 fences in total.
Boxing Day (Fri 26 December 2025) at Kempton, headlining the Christmas Festival.
Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February 2026, featuring the Irish Gold Cup (Sat) and Irish Champion Hurdle (Sun).
Final thoughts on the top National Hunt fixtures 2025/26
If you’re time-poor, keeping track of the top National Hunt fixtures 2025/26 is the shortcut to staying sharp all winter. They offer the richest, most transferable clues for March and beyond—provided you read them in context (track, ground, pace, fitness). Used smartly, they act as a roadmap to spot value in festival trials, long-term betting angles, and upcoming jumps racing fixtures. Bookmark the calendar above, cross-check final times and sectionals against ground descriptions, and you’ll start each festival week with an edge.
Follow these top National Hunt fixtures 2025/26 and you’ll have the clearest roadmap for betting, form study, and enjoying the jumps season at its best.
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