The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed a series of changes to the Jump Pattern and an update on the scheduling of Chasing Excellence races ahead of the core 2026/27 Jump season.

The changes to the Jump Pattern are predominantly in relation to the Class 1 Premier Handicap programme, which follows a review of these races by the Jump Pattern Committee (JPC).

The JPC assessed the Premier Handicap programme with a view to refining and strengthening the races to ensure they are as competitive and appealing to racing’s customers as possible.

As a result, seven races have been upgraded to Premier Handicaps, including the Silver Trophy Hurdle at Chepstow in October and the Hurst Park Steeple Chase at Ascot in November.

To increase familiarity and engagement with the Jump Pattern, and in particular Premier Handicaps, a new rule has been introduced requiring all Jump Pattern races to have a permanent race handle for ease of identification – a requirement previously limited to Grade 1, Grade 2 and Listed races only. Background information on some of the new race handles and why they have been chosen can be found here.

A further change to Premier Handicaps this season will see all races switch to an early closing system. Previously this was only the case for around half of all Premier Handicaps.

Among other changes to the Jump Pattern, two Mares’ Steeple Chases have been upgraded to Grade 2 level: the Yorkshire Silver Vase at Doncaster in December and the Fair Maid of Perth in April, while the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle will move permanently from Wincanton to Aintree in November and be renamed the Molyneux.

The full list of changes can be found here or at the bottom of this press release.

Chasing Excellence Novices’ and Beginners’ Chases

As Chasing Excellence Novices’ and Beginners’ Chases return to the race programme this autumn, the BHA now retains the flexibility to remove or reschedule individual races where it considers that the forecast ground conditions are unlikely to support sufficient runner numbers.

Where a race is removed from its original fixture, this decision will be announced at least ten days before the scheduled date. Subject to the availability of other suitable opportunities, the race may or may not subsequently be rescheduled at an alternative fixture.

This approach recognises that, on occasions last season, Chasing Excellence races were staged on ground that resulted in walkovers and matches, providing limited benefit for participants and offering little value to customers.
While that can never be fully protected against, particularly given the variability of the weather, the policy is designed to protect the wider position of these races within the programme, while introducing greater flexibility over when and where they are staged.

This supports the sport’s wider ambition of developing a more sustainable and competitive programme for Novice Chasers, ensuring these races are more likely to be run under conditions that encourage meaningful participation.

Changes to the 2026/27 Jump Pattern

Races upgraded to the Premier Handicap programme

• Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle (2m 3.5f) at Chepstow (10 October 2026)
• Hurst Park Steeple Chase (2m) at Ascot (21 November 2026)
• Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (2m 5f) at Kempton Park (9 January 2027)
• Morebattle Handicap Hurdle (2m) at Kelso (6 March 2027)
• Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (2m) at Sandown Park (13 March 2027)
• Tradesmen’s Plate – new 2m 4f Premier Handicap hurdle race at Kelso (Sun 6 December 2026)
• Wolsey – new 2m Premier Handicap steeple chase at Sandown Park (6 February 2027)

Other upgrades

• Mares’ novices’ hurdle (2m) at Windsor’s Winter Millions fixture (24 January 2027) upgraded to Listed status and named the ‘Round Tower’.
• Grade 2 upgrade for both the Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares’ Steeple Chase (2m 4.5f) at Doncaster (29 December 2026) and the Fair Maid of Perth Mares’ Steeple Chase (3m) at Perth (21 April 2027).

Downgrades and adjustments

• Ascot’s 2m Premier Handicap steeple chase (31 October 2026) downgraded to Class 2 (to facilitate the upgrade of the Hurst Park).
• Scottish Champion Hurdle (2m) at Ayr (17 April 2027) to be converted from a limited handicap Grade 2 to a full weight range Premier Handicap.

Venue change

• Grade 2 Elite Hurdle (2m) to move permanently from Wincanton racecourse to Aintree (7 Nov 2026) and renamed the ‘Molyneux’.

Jump Pattern Committee Quality Control

• Introduction of an average field size metric as part of Jump Pattern Committee’s annual quality control for Premier Handicap races. Premier Handicaps are required to achieve 3-year average declarations of 10 in steeple chases and 12 over hurdles, else face possible downgrade.
• Revised ratings parameter for Premier Handicap Hurdle races (135) as part of Jump Pattern Committee’s annual quality control.

Other changes

• All Jump Pattern and Listed races are to include a permanent word to establish the continuity of the race (the ‘race handle’). This requirement was previously limited to Grade 1, Grade 2 and Listed races only.
• From this season all remaining standard closing Premier Handicaps will switch to an early closing system.
• Adjustments to the penalty structures for Grade 2 weight-for-age races. Non-novice Grade 2 races will no longer penalise recent Premier Handicap/Listed weight-for-age winners, which will hopefully make these races more appealing options for connections with horses looking to step up in grade. The equivalent novice penalty structures in Grade 2 and Listed races have been altered to fit in line with the new non-novice structures, but using 3lb and 5lb amounts as before.