Veteran chasers and conditional riders to team up in new series

The first qualifying race in a new veterans' chase series for conditional riders will take place at Huntingdon in November.

There will be 12 qualifiers throughout the jumps season, ranging in distance from 2m4f to 3m and for horses rated up to 125 and aged ten or older, culminating in a £50,000 final at Newbury next March.

The new series aims to build on the success of the class 2 veterans' series for runners rated up to 150 by creating more opportunities for lower-level older horses to remain competitive.

Stuart Middleton, the BHA's racing operations manager, said: "Following the success of the original class two veterans' chase series, we are excited to introduce this new series aimed at the veteran chasers rated just below that level. The final at Newbury in March should prove a significant target for these older chasers.

"It is also a significant prize for the many talented upcoming riders in the conditional jockeys' ranks. Teaming them up with seasoned horses offers an appealing combination, whilst providing an easily identifiable difference between this and the existing class two series."

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