• Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase rescheduled to Windsor on Sunday 19 January
• Ayr to host additional fixture on Monday 20 January
• Additional divisions permitted to allow maximum of eight races at upcoming Jump fixtures

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) can confirm a number of updates to the Jump programme following the recent period of adverse weather which resulted in numerous abandoned Jump fixtures.

Hampton rescheduled to Windsor

The Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase has been rescheduled to Windsor on Sunday 19 January. The race will be run for £50,000, with entries closing at noon on Wednesday 15 January and declarations to be made along with the rest of the card on Friday 17 January.

Additional fixture at Ayr

An additional fixture will be run at Ayr on Monday 20 January. Entries will close at noon on Wednesday 15 January, with declarations to be made on Saturday 18 January.

Eight races permitted per fixture

Jump racecourses have been offered the opportunity to run a maximum of eight races (currently seven during winter) at fixtures up to and including Sunday 16 February through additional divisions.

This could see two divisions on a six-race card and one division on a seven-race card, with normal division thresholds and rules still applying.

Not all racecourses have taken this opportunity, taking into account turf management, however any course that has done so will now show eight races as their maximum after entries have closed and division preferences allocated.

The BHA is grateful to all racecourses, including Ayr and Windsor, and the Horserace Betting Levy Board for their support of these measures and their contributions to prize money.

Tom Byrne, Head of Racing and Betting at the BHA, said:

“We felt it was important to take swift action in order to ensure that the impact of the last week does not have an excessively negative impact on Jump racing at this important time of the season.

“Rescheduling the Hampton allows us to retain the appropriate timing for our potentially high-class novice chasers to run over three miles before the next Pattern opportunity in the Reynoldstown at Ascot in February.

“Meanwhile, by adding a fixture in the north and widening our approach to divisions, we hope that this will provide the right number of opportunities for any pent-up demand within the wider horse population.

“We will also continue to add in additional programmed races at appropriate fixtures where we believe a particular gap has been created and requires direct filling.”

Notes to editors:

1. For more information on the process of scheduling additional fixtures and races, please read this blog written by Tom Byrne, BHA’s Head of Racing and Betting, in February 2024.