The horse racing season is well underway in the UK, with the famous Cheltenham Festival having just passed and the Irish and England Grand National Races coming up in the following weeks.
The UK is famous for having some of the very best horse races in the world – and these attract fans from all over the world. No matter what you are looking for, you can find Boylesports horse racing betting & odds on the biggest and best of the races.
That being said, here are some of the most prestigious Flat and National Hunt Races to look out for.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup in March
The pinnacle of the Cheltenham Festival is the Cheltenham Gold Cup considered to be the Blue Riband of the National Hunt season.
In fact, when looking at prize money and prestige, this is second only to the Grand National, with more than £500,000 on the table. As such, any horse that wins the title will automatically become a household name… with past winners including Kauto Star, Golden Miller, Best Mate and Arkle.
The Grand National in April
The English Grand National, held in Aintree is one of a kind. It is run by 40 racers over 4.25 miles with 30 fences. It has been around since 1839 and has always held a special place in British sporting culture.
This race is considered to be the ultimate endurance and stamina test of horses and jockeys, which attracts spectators and bettors from all over the world. Arguably, the most well-known of all winners is Red Rum, who quickly became the people’s champion after winning the race three times during the 1970s.
The race has spawned all sorts of fantastic stories, such as when Mon Mome won the race in 2009 after being given odds of 100/1. Three years later, Neptune Collonges edged victory in the closest ever finish in the race ever, and the world-class Tiger Roll won two consecutive Grand Nationals in 2018 and 2019.
History was made yet again when Rachel Blackmore became the first-ever female to win the race.
This attracts more spectators and bettors than any other race in the UK, with more than 13 million UK punters placing a bet.
The Epsom Derby in June
This is arguably the most prestigious and famous Flat race in the UK and across the world.
The race is run on the unique undulating Epsom race track which tests both the jockey and the horse with its famous camber. This race, which has been around since 1870, has inspired numerous copies all across the globe, but this is the original and the best.
It is run by 3-year-old colts – and usually the winners will have very successful careers. It has been won by some of the stars of the industry including Will Reef, Galileo, Nijinsky, Sea the Stars and Shergar.
Royal Ascot Gold Cup in June
The Gold Cup is the pinnacle of the Royal Ascot Festival, and is a test of speed and stamina. Run over 2.5 miles, it is one of the world’s longest Group races.
This is one of the oldest races in the world, having first been run back in 1807. It is also the first leg of the Stayers’ Triple Crown – along with the Goodwood Cup and then the Doncaster Cup.
This is a good race for the Royals who have won it several times, including in 2013 when the Queen’s horse, Estimate, took the crown. Yeats is one of the most famous of all winners, having won the race four times consecutively between 2006 and 2009.
King George VI Chase in December
This race is one of the biggest jumps races in the season before the Cheltenham Festival and many use it to see the form of the different runners going into the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
It is run over 3 miles with 18 jumps and takes place on Boxing Day as it has done every year since 1937. Some of the biggest names to have won the title include Desert Orchid, who won 4 times and Kauto Star who won it a remarkable 5 times.