海角大神 (BHA) is delighted to announce a number of significant upgrades to British Jump Pattern and Listed races for the 2013/14 season.
Applications for upgrade were considered in detail by the BHA Jump Racing Committee at its meeting on 3rd July, and support was provided for a number of races.
Ruth Quinn, Director of Racing at the BHA, said:
鈥淭he quality within the Jump Pattern remains very high and the success of the races at the top end of the Jumping scale is evident. The Jump Racing Committee recently considered a number of applications for upgrade and we鈥檙e really pleased to be able to support four races being promoted to Grade 1. This enhancement will provide further recognition of the quality of races on offer at the season鈥檚 flagship events at Cheltenham and Aintree, as well as providing a further boost to the final day of the Jump season at Sandown Park.
鈥淣ine other races were identified as being worthy of promotion to either Grade 3 or as new Listed races, which include first black-type Jumping races for both Musselburgh and Carlisle.鈥
The eight races to receive an upgrade in their status are:
|
Name of Race |
Venue and Approximate Date |
Distance |
Previous Grade |
New Grade |
|
Jewson Novices鈥 Chase (registered as The Golden Miller Novices鈥 Chase) |
Cheltenham, March |
2m 4f |
Grade 2 |
Grade 1 |
|
The Mildmay Novices鈥 Steeple Chase |
Aintree, April |
3m 1f |
Grade 2 |
Grade 1 |
|
The Mersey Novices鈥 Hurdle |
Aintree, April |
2m 4f |
Grade 2 |
Grade 1 |
|
The bet365.com Celebration Chase |
Sandown, April |
2m |
Grade 2 |
Grade 1 |
|
Handicap Hurdle |
Aintree, April |
2m 4f |
Listed |
Grade 3 |
|
The Betfred Becher Steeple Chase |
Aintree, November |
3m 2f |
Listed |
Grade 3 |
|
The Paddy Power Imperial Cup (Handicap Hurdle) |
Sandown, March |
2m |
Listed |
Grade 3 |
|
The Ladbroke (A Handicap Hurdle Race) |
Ascot, December |
2m |
Listed |
Grade 3 |
In addition, the following races have been granted Listed status:
|
Name of Race |
Venue and Approximate Date |
Distance |
|
The John Oaksey National Hunt Steeple Chase |
Cheltenham, March |
4m |
|
The Shloer Chase |
Cheltenham, November |
2m |
|
The Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Steeple Chase |
Carlisle, October |
2m 4f |
|
The William Hill Hurdle Race |
Kempton, October |
2m |
|
The John Smith鈥檚 Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial (A Juvenile Novices鈥 Hurdle) |
Musselburgh, February |
2m 1f |
Simon Claisse, Jockey Club Racecourses鈥 Regional Head of Racing for the South West and Clerk of the Course at Cheltenham, said:
鈥淎fter three very successful years since the race was introduced in 2011, the Jewson Novices鈥 Chase, registered as the Golden Miller, continues to attract the best novices over two and a half miles. We are delighted this contest, won in 2012 by Sir Des Champs, has been upgraded to Grade 1 status reflecting the depth of strength in the race. The Festival will now include a total of 13 Grade 1 races and to have a further three Class 1 races added to our programme, with two upgraded to Listed and an additional Listed Mares鈥 Bumper, underlines our continuing drive to attract the best horses in each category across our season.鈥
Andrew Tulloch, Jockey Club Racecourses鈥 North West Regional Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Aintree, said:
鈥淭his re-emphasises The Jockey Club鈥檚 continued commitment to enhancing quality at the Grand National Festival in April, and in particular we鈥檙e delighted to stage two further Grade 1s over the three-days of the meeting. We鈥檙e also very pleased the Betfred Becher Chase has achieved Grade 3 status and we have boosted the prize fund significantly for the race from this year to 拢150,000. We look forward to that enhanced Becher Chase Day with its two races over the Grand National fences in December.鈥
Barney Clifford, Regional Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Kempton Park, said:
鈥淜empton Park are delighted that the William Hill Conditions Hurdle has been upgraded to Listed status in recognition of the quality runners it has attracted in recent years such as Katchit, Australia Day, Brampour and Get Me Out Of Here.鈥