Classification of Races.

Steeple Chases, Hurdle Races and

National Hunt Flat Races.

A lot of people may be familiar with the information provided here, but, I am aware that others may not be.

The confusion (which is entirely understandable) does seem to be more to do with the Class 1 classification of National Hunt races.

You can read the official classification of National Hunt races by clicking the link below...

CLICK HERE for National Hunt classification.

Now that you have read through that information, I will attempt to put it into plain English.

As I say, it's the class 1 catoregory that seems to cause the most confusion, so here goes:

Within Class 1 races there are three Grades, Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3.

Just below these Graded races you have Listed races (which is another step).

From a Grade 1 to a grade 2 counts as a move down in Class by one.

From a Grade 3 to a Listed race counts as a move down in Class by one.

From a Grade 3 to a Class 2 counts as a move down in Class by two.

From a Grade 3 to a Class 3 counts as a move down in Class by three.

It is done like this as otherwise a Grade 1 to a Grade 3 would not count as a move in Class.

And then you have Class 2 races and so on.

Hopefully, this make things a little clearer.

Paul Broadway.