Jon Pullin

The programme for next year's Cheltenham Festival has undergone some key changes in order to improve competitiveness in a number of races. From 2025, the two-and-a-half-mile Turners Novices' Chase will be replaced by a Grade 2 limited novice handicap chase over the same trip, while the National Hunt Chase, which has been contested by amateur riders, will be open to professionals and become a novice handicap chase for horses rated 0-145. Jon Pullin, head of racing and clerk of the course at Cheltenham, said, "We have had to acknowledge that...

Jon Pullin, who has been clerk of the course at several British racecourses including Doncaster, Uttoxeter, Southwell and Wolverhampton, will take up that position at Cheltenham. Pullin held the positions of group racing manager at Arena Leisure, managing director of Royal Windsor Racecourse and assistant racing director at Arena Racing Company before being promoted into his current role as ARC's racing director in 2017. Current Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse will remain in his position through the new season opening on Oct. 22 and 23, with Pullin to...