The big races

Cheltenham · 3m2½f · 10–14 runners · Cheltenham Festival

The Blue Riband of National Hunt racing. Run on the closing day of the Cheltenham Festival, the Gold Cup brings together the best 3-mile chasers in Britain and Ireland. A test of stamina, jumping and class.

2025 winner: Inothewayurthinkin (16/1) — Gavin Cromwell

Cheltenham · 2m½f · 8–12 runners · Cheltenham Festival

The opening-day championship event at the Cheltenham Festival. The premier 2-mile hurdle race in Europe and the test that defines the season for the top hurdlers.

2025 winner: State Man (8/15F) — Willie Mullins

Cheltenham · 2m · 6–10 runners · Cheltenham Festival

The premier 2-mile championship chase, run on Festival Wednesday. A test of speed, jumping and acceleration on the run for home up the Cheltenham hill.

2025 winner: Marine Nationale (9/2) — Barry Connell

Cheltenham · 2m7½f · 8–14 runners · Cheltenham Festival

The Festival Thursday championship for staying hurdlers. Three miles of testing flights over a galloping circuit — pure attrition.

2025 winner: Bob Olinger (12/1) — Henry de Bromhead

Aintree · 4m2½f · 34 runners (max) · Aintree Grand National Festival

The most-watched race in British racing. Thirty fences over four-and-a-quarter miles around Aintree's unique left-handed track — Becher's, The Chair, Foinavon, Valentine's. A national institution.

2025 winner: Nick Rockett (33/1) — Willie Mullins

Kempton · 3m · 6–9 runners · Kempton Christmas Festival

Boxing Day's premier 3-mile chase. A flat, right-handed track that puts a premium on jumping accuracy and tactical speed — often a Cheltenham Gold Cup prep race for the older chasers.

2024 winner: Banbridge (16/1) — Joseph O'Brien

Epsom · 1m4f6y · 10–18 runners · Epsom Derby Festival

The most prestigious Classic. A unique mile-and-a-half on the undulating Epsom course tests stamina, balance and class — a brutal final furlong test that decides the year's best three-year-old.

2025 winner: Lambourn (13/2) — Aidan O'Brien

Epsom · 1m4f6y · 8–14 runners · Epsom Derby Festival

The fillies' Classic at Epsom, run the day before the Derby. Same distance, same camber, same brutal final furlong — the championship test of the season's three-year-old fillies.

2025 winner: Minnie Hauk (8/15F) — Aidan O'Brien

Doncaster · 1m6f115y · 8–12 runners · St Leger Festival

The world's oldest Classic, run since 1776. The final Classic of the season tests stamina over almost 1m6½f and crowns the year's best staying three-year-old.

2024 winner: Jan Brueghel (10/3) — Aidan O'Brien

Ascot · 2m4f · 8–14 runners · Royal Ascot

The headline race of Royal Ascot's third day (Ladies' Day). Britain's premier staying race at 2m4f — a championship test for the older horses and the route to the Stayers' Million.

2025 winner: Trawlerman (9/4) — John & Thady Gosden

Ascot · 6f · 12–22 runners · Royal Ascot

The sprint championship of Royal Ascot's closing day. Six furlongs straight, often the deepest sprint field of the year — international challengers come to mix it with the home division.

2025 winner: Spritely Stride (12/1) — Christophe Soumillon

Ascot · 1m2f · 7–11 runners · Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot Wednesday's middle-distance championship. 1m2f at Group 1 level — often the year's deepest mile-and-a-quarter field as European and US-based older horses converge.

2025 winner: Anmaat (5/2) — Owen Burrows

Ascot · 1m · 8–14 runners · Royal Ascot

The Royal Ascot opener — the year's first Group 1 over a straight mile, traditionally run at exactly 2:30pm on the Tuesday. Sets the tone for the entire week.

2025 winner: Rosallion (11/4) — Richard Hannon

Goodwood · 1m · 5–10 runners · Glorious Goodwood

Wednesday of Glorious Goodwood — the mid-summer mile championship, traditionally pitting the three-year-old generation against the older milers. The 'Duel On The Downs'.

2025 winner: Notable Speech (2/1F) — Charlie Appleby

Goodwood · 2m · 6–10 runners · Glorious Goodwood

Tuesday opener of Glorious Goodwood. The second leg of the Stayers' Triple Crown — Ascot Gold Cup → Goodwood Cup → Doncaster Cup — and a championship 2-mile test.

2025 winner: Trawlerman (2/1) — John & Thady Gosden

York · 1m2f56y · 5–9 runners · York Ebor Festival

The opener of York's Ebor Festival and historically one of the most rated middle-distance Group 1s in the world. Frankel, Sea The Stars and Authorized all won this on their way to championship status.

2025 winner: Anmaat (7/2) — Owen Burrows

York · 1m3f188y · 6–10 runners · York Ebor Festival

The midsummer championship for staying fillies and mares, run on day two of the Ebor Festival. Epsom and Irish Oaks form usually dominates, and Aidan O'Brien has treated it almost as a private event in recent seasons.

2025 winner: Minnie Hauk — Aidan O'Brien

York · 5f · 10–16 runners · York Ebor Festival

Britain's most democratic Group 1 sprint — five flat-out furlongs on the Knavesmire, open to two-year-olds and older sprinters alike, with outsiders landing it more often than any other top-level race. Low draws and early speed matter at York over the minimum trip.

2025 winner: Asfoora — Henry Dwyer

York · 1m6f · 20–22 runners · York Ebor Festival

Europe's richest staying handicap and the festival's namesake finale — a 22-runner cavalry charge over a mile and six. Jumps yards raiding with well-handicapped dual-purpose horses have become the modern pattern, and with 20+ runners the each-way place terms genuinely matter here.

2025 winner: Ethical Diamond — Willie Mullins

Ascot · 1m2f · 6–12 runners · QIPCO British Champions Day

The headline race of British Champions Day. Often the year's championship-deciding middle-distance Group 1 — often soft autumn ground separating the field's true heavyweights.

2024 winner: Anmaat (16/1) — Owen Burrows