British EBF to Support Junior Hurdle Programme

The British EBF is to refocus part of its National Hunt prize-money contribution to support the junior hurdle programme, it was announced on Thursday.

Now in their fourth year, Junior National Hunt Hurdle races are designed to enhance the potential of young horses through earlier jumping education. Racing against their own age group, the development of the programme aims to mirror the early education options available to National Hunt trainers in Ireland and France.

Open exclusively to three-year-olds from October to December and four-year-olds from January to April of the following year, Junior Hurdle runners must not have previously competed, except for running in a NH Flat or Junior 'NH' Hurdle. They carry the same status as NH Flat and point-to-point races, in that winners will not be precluded from competing in novice hurdles during the following jumps season.

“We are constantly looking at the best ways to strategically support the race programme,” said Simon Sweeting, chairman of the British EBF.

“With guidance from the BHA, we agreed to lend support to this relatively new initiative so it had time to gain traction with owners and trainers and give its creators [the TBA and BHA] time to assess its value to the wider National Hunt racing and breeding landscape.”

Simon Cox, chairman of the TBA National Hunt Committee, added, “We are delighted that the British EBF are supporting the Junior 'NH' Hurdle races from this autumn through sponsorship. These races provide a vital education for NH-bred horses to compete against each other at the same development stage, without the burden of taking on more mature Flat-breds.

“As a NH Committee, we were pleased with the interest that these races have had from the first to the second year, and as more and more stakeholders understand the concept and its benefits, we anticipate the standard to keep on improving.”