The National Hunt is in the early stages of the new campaign, but we’re already seeing the stage being set for the major races taking place towards the end of the season.
Horses are already making statements for the ultimate prizes that will come in the early stages of 2020. The New Year promises to bring a mouth-watering schedule of events. Here are the biggest horse racing events scheduled for the jumps season as noted by HorseRacingBetting.co.uk lists for 2020.
Irish Gold Cup
The Irish Gold Cup is one of the major races taking places earlier in the schedule before the leading owners, trainers, jockeys and horses converge on Cheltenham. The event takes place in February at Leopardstown and is competed over three miles.
Although the race is a prestigious one in Dublin, it also provides parties with a measuring stick for the races to come later in the campaign. Sizing John won the 2017 Irish Gold Cup and went on to claim the Cheltenham Gold Cup six weeks later. There will surely be a talented array of horses at Leopardstown for that event.
Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is the first leading race of Cheltenham Festival, beginning on the Tuesday of the Festival. Its prize money was elevated in 2019 up to £450,000 – only the Gold Cup is worth more. The race is competed over two miles and half-a-furlong for competitors above the age of four.
Last season, Buveur D’Air saw his reign as back-to-back Champion Hurdle winner ended by the late Espoir D’Allen. As a result of the sad passing of Espoir D’Allen, there will be a new champion in the event in 2020 and there are a number of talented horses, including Buveur D’Air, who will be battling for the crown.
The moment Espoir D’Allen entered the #CheltenhamFestival history books as the 2019 @UniBet Champion Hurdle champion pic.twitter.com/dlOjr2DlC3
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 12, 2019
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Champion Chase lays during the middle of the Festival on Wednesday and is behind only the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup in terms of prize money – worth up to £400,000. It is competed over a distance of 1 mile 7 furlongs and 199 yards and there are 13 fences to be jumped in the event.
One of the modern-day greats Altior has dominated the race for the past two seasons for trainer Nicky Henderson, dominating the rest of the field. He shows no signs of slowing down and will be out to join Badsworth Boy as the only horse to win the Champion Chase three times.
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is arguably the greatest prize in jumps racing. It is the event that all the leading owners and trainers have their charges geared towards. It’s the signature event of Cheltenham Festival, occurring on the final day of the week. Triumphing in the race is now worth £625,000, although all parties are made to work over the 3 miles 2 furlongs and 70 yards of the meet. There are 22 fences to be cleared for horse and jockey, proving to be one of the ultimate tests of endurance and then the all-important sprint to the line.
Willie Mullins tasted victory for the first time in the Gold Cup as Al Boum Photo claimed the crown in 2019. It has been a long wait for a defending champion to return to Cheltenham to claim the ultimate prize for two years on the bounce. Al Boum Photo will be looking to become the first horse since the legendary Best Mate won the last of his three successive victories in 2004. Could 2020 be the year where we see a repeat champion?
Grand National
The only race that can top the Gold Cup in jumps racing is the Grand National at Aintree. It’s the most famous meet in the world and the one that puts horses, jockeys and trainers in the folklore of the great sport along with the potential of a £1m pot of prize money. Horses that triumph at Aintree are remembered forever, especially the ones that win in style. There is no greater test than the four miles and 514 yards of the National, which includes 30 fences over two laps of the course.
The jumps are some of the most daunting in the sport, featuring The Chair and Becher’s Brook. It takes a special one to overcome the rigours to triumph – nevermind do it twice. Tiger Roll became the first horse since Red Rum to win back-to-back races in 2019, and will look to become the first competitor to win three-straight Nationals in 2020.
