From church steeple to Cheltenham Gold Cup
A comprehensive guide to the history, tradition and passion of National Hunt racing and Point to Point — Britain's most thrilling equestrian sport.
"There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse."
— R.S. Surtees, 1843
Jump racing owes its very existence to a wager between two Irish landowners and the church steeples that guided their way across open countryside.
The story of jump racing begins not on a racecourse, but in the fields of rural Ireland. Its roots stretch back to the ancient traditions of fox hunting, where mounted riders would follow hounds across hedgerows, ditches and stone walls, and to the age-old human impulse to test one horse's speed against another's.
The sport blossomed from the hunting field, where landowners and cavalry officers would challenge one another to informal races across country. The most prominent landmarks in the landscape were church steeples, and so competitors would pick a distant steeple as their finish, riding hell-for-leather across whatever obstacles the countryside placed in their path — walls, hedges, streams and ditches.
This direct, exhilarating form of racing — riding quite literally from one point to another — gave birth to both the steeplechase and the point-to-point, two traditions that endure to this day with scarcely diminished passion.
Cornelius O'Callaghan and Edmund Blake placed a wager and raced four and a half miles cross-country from the church of St John's in Buttevant to the church of St Mary's in Doneraile, County Cork. Horses jumped stone walls, ditches and hedges as they presented themselves. The church steeple at Doneraile guided the riders to their finish. This race is considered the founding moment of steeplechasing — and of point-to-point racing.
The word "steeplechase" is entirely literal — competitors fixed their eyes on a distant church steeple and raced toward it. The word "chase" in so many race names today is simply a shortening of the original "steeplechase."
Jump racing grew from the hunting field — hence the name "National Hunt." Horses used for hunting were naturally trained to jump obstacles at speed, making them ideal racing prospects. This link between the hunt and the racecourse survives powerfully in point-to-point racing today.
Over two and a half centuries, jump racing has grown from a gentleman's wager in rural Ireland into one of the most passionate sporting traditions in the British Isles.
During the reign of James I, hunters are reportedly match-raced in England using church steeples as the most convenient finishing posts. The tall steeples, visible for miles across the countryside, provide perfect landmarks for cross-country racing.
The historic race from Buttevant to Doneraile in County Cork is held between Cornelius O'Callaghan and Edmund Blake, covering four and a half miles over open country. This is universally accepted as the founding race of jump racing.
The first recorded steeplechase in England takes place in Leicestershire, from Barkby Holt to Billesdon Coplow — a gruelling eight-mile round trip. The sport quickly captures the imagination of hunting society across the country.
The first steeplechase staged on an actual racecourse is recorded at Bedford. This marks the beginning of the transition from wild cross-country racing to the more structured format we recognise today.
The celebrated St Albans Steeplechase is run for the first time and quickly becomes one of the most prestigious events of the early jump racing calendar, drawing huge crowds and elite competition.
The first Grand National is run at Aintree, near Liverpool. Although the official race did not take place until 1839, an earlier version is run in 1836. The race over Aintree's unique fences — including the famous Becher's Brook — will become the most famous steeplechase in the world.
The formation of the National Hunt Committee brings much-needed regulation and respectability to jump racing. The National Hunt Steeplechase begins to be run as an annual fixture, moving between courses including Derby, Liverpool, Newmarket and Leicester.
The first traceable use of the phrase "point-to-point" in connection with a horse race appears in Bell's Life, describing a race held on 2 January by the 9th Lancers stationed near York. A year later, the Sporting Gazette records the Monmouthshire Hunt Point-to-Point Chase.
The National Hunt Meeting is staged at Cheltenham for the first time. After a brief return to Warwick, it settles permanently at Cheltenham, which grows to become the spiritual home of jump racing — the Cheltenham Festival.
The Master of Hounds Point-to-Point Association is established in Great Britain, introducing a general set of rules to the sport for the first time. Previously each hunt had run its own affairs entirely independently.
Women are allowed to ride in point-to-point races on equal terms with men — a landmark moment for the sport. Female riders had long been involved in the hunting field, and their inclusion in racing transforms both the competitive landscape and the social character of the sport.
Around 3,000 National Hunt races are held each year in Britain, with Great Britain and Ireland together accounting for over 50% of all jump races worldwide. Point-to-point racing continues across some 100 courses in the UK, with roughly 2,000 horses in training — the vibrant grassroots of British jump racing.
National Hunt racing is not a single discipline but a family of three distinct race types, each with its own character, obstacles and demands on horse and rider.
The oldest and most demanding form of jump racing. Horses tackle a variety of fixed obstacles including plain fences (minimum 4ft 6in), open ditches and water jumps. Races typically run between two and four and a half miles. The fences are solid and largely unforgiving — a horse must jump cleanly to avoid a fall. The Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National are the crown jewels of chasing.
Since 1752Hurdles were introduced to give younger, less experienced horses a pathway into jump racing without the rigours of the chasing course. Hurdle obstacles are smaller (around 3ft) and constructed of lightweight brush, so they give way if struck. This makes hurdling more forgiving of jumping errors. The Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival is the sport's greatest hurdling prize.
Younger HorsesFormally known as a National Hunt Flat Race, bumpers are run over approximately two miles with no obstacles whatsoever. They exist to give young National Hunt horses their first experience of racing in a competitive environment before they are asked to jump. The name "bumper" derives from the erratic riding style of the amateur jockeys who originally contested them.
No ObstaclesPlain fences must be at least 4ft 6in (1.37m) high. Water jumps must be at least 3ft (0.91m) high with a water landing. Open ditches feature a ditch on the take-off side of the fence. Hurdles stand at approximately 3ft (0.91m).
National Hunt races are graded 1–4, plus Premier Handicaps (formerly Grade 3). There are 40 Grade 1 races in the UK. Grade 1 steeplechases carry a minimum prize of £100,000. The grading system was introduced in 1964 and has been refined several times since.
Certain races transcend the sporting calendar and become part of the national fabric — tests of courage, stamina and the enduring bond between horse and rider.
Run at Aintree since 1839, the Grand National is the most famous steeplechase in the world, watched by an estimated 600 million viewers globally. The race's 30 unique fences — including the Chair, Becher's Brook and The Canal Turn — demand extraordinary jumping ability and stamina. Up to 40 horses contest the race, making it a spectacle of colour, courage and drama unmatched in sport.
Held on the Friday of the Cheltenham Festival, the Gold Cup is the blue riband of jump racing — a pure test of chasing ability over three miles and two furlongs with no weight allowances or handicapping. Legends such as Arkle, Desert Orchid and Best Mate (who won three consecutive titles 2002–2004) have sealed their immortality here on Cheltenham's famous hill.
The supreme test of hurdling, run on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. Champions such as Persian War, See You Then and Istabraq (three consecutive wins) have written their names into the sport's folklore. Speed is paramount over the shorter trip, and the Champion Hurdle regularly produces some of the fastest times in National Hunt racing.
Staged at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, the King George is Christmas racing's greatest prize — a mid-season clash between the leading staying chasers. The flat, right-handed Kempton track rewards jumping and galloping ability. Desert Orchid and Kauto Star each won the race five times, cementing its place among the most cherished fixtures in the calendar.
Four days in March that represent the pinnacle of the National Hunt season. The Cheltenham Festival draws over 250,000 spectators across its four days and features 28 races including 14 Grade 1 events. The Irish challenge is a defining feature — Irish-trained horses regularly dominate the meeting, creating an unparalleled atmosphere of international rivalry and celebration.
Scotland's answer to Aintree, the Scottish Grand National at Ayr is one of the most competitive staying chases of the season. Run over four miles on Ayr's left-handed track, the race attracts a strong field of proven stayers and frequently produces surprise results that delight the large Scottish crowd.
Run at Chepstow on the day after Boxing Day, the Welsh Grand National is a demanding test over undulating Welsh terrain. Often run in testing winter ground, it rewards tough, thorough stayers and has provided the form backdrop for subsequent Grand National winners.
The Irish equivalent of the Cheltenham Festival, Punchestown concludes the National Hunt season in style. Staged over five days in County Kildare, it features some of the finest National Hunt racing of the year and provides the opportunity for rematch between Cheltenham protagonists in front of a passionate Irish crowd.
Jump racing has produced figures of almost mythological stature — horses and humans whose deeds on the turf have passed into sporting legend.
Widely considered the greatest steeplechaser of all time. Arkle won three consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups (1964–66) with a brilliance that caused the handicapper to impose unprecedented weights. Trained by Tom Dreaper, ridden by Pat Taaffe, owned by Anne, Duchess of Westminster — he remains the benchmark against which all chasers are measured.
"Dessie" became Britain's most beloved racehorse during the late 1980s and early 90s. A grey front-runner of breathtaking bravery, he won four King George VI Chases, the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup and captured the hearts of an entire nation. His 1989 Gold Cup victory in atrocious conditions remains one of jump racing's most iconic moments.
Tony McCoy was Champion Jockey for an unprecedented 20 consecutive seasons (1996–2015). He rode 4,348 winners in Great Britain and Ireland — a record that seemed impossible before he achieved it. His partnership with Don't Push It in the 2010 Grand National was one of the sport's most celebrated and emotional victories.
Fred Winter was a double Champion Jockey (1952–53 and 1955–56) before transforming himself into one of the great National Hunt trainers of the 20th century. He won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Grand National as both jockey and trainer — one of the sport's most remarkable dual careers.
Trained by Henrietta Knight and ridden by Jim Culloty, Best Mate won three consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups between 2002 and 2004 — the first horse since Arkle to achieve the feat. An Irish-bred horse trained in England, he represented everything romantic about jump racing and was mourned across the sport when he died on a racecourse in 2005.
Ireland's greatest National Hunt jockey, Ruby Walsh partnered the legendary Kauto Star and Denman in their epic rivalry, and won the Grand National twice (2000 and 2005). His timing, courage and horsemanship were peerless, and his partnership with trainer Willie Mullins defined an era of Irish dominance in jump racing.
Ireland's most successful National Hunt trainer of the modern era. Willie Mullins has dominated the Cheltenham Festival for over two decades, sending out a torrent of Grade 1 winners each season. His Closutton operation in County Carlow has produced champions including Faugheen, Annie Power, Douvan and Galopin des Champs.
A Champion Jockey three times and winner of the Grand National twice (1986 and 1994), Dunwoody was one of the most gifted race-riders of the late 20th century. His combination of positional genius and ice-cool temperament made him the ideal big-race jockey, and he holds the record for the most career winners by a jump jockey before McCoy surpassed him.
The most honest, unvarnished and intoxicating form of jump racing — still run between the flags by amateur riders, still bound to the hunting world that created it.
Point to point racing is steeplechasing in its purest form. Stripped of the grandstands, the television cameras and the professional polish of the licensed racecourse, pointing takes place on temporary courses set up on open farmland — usually on a hillside or in a valley, where the entire course can be seen from the bank that serves as the grandstand.
Its links to the hunting field remain direct and living. Every horse that runs in a point-to-point must hold a Hunter Certificate signed by a Master of Foxhounds, confirming it has been hunted during the season. Every jockey must obtain a Riders Qualification Certificate from a Hunt Secretary. The sport is administered at local level by hunt clubs and recognised clubs, with oversight from the Point-to-Point Authority and ultimate oversight from the British Horseracing Authority.
Yet for all its rules and governance, pointing retains a spirit that no racecourse can quite replicate — the smell of the turf, the sight of horses sweeping over plain fences under grey winter skies, the crowd pressed against the running rail, and the feeling that this is exactly what horse racing looked like before it was regulated, packaged and sold.
Point-to-point is one of the most accessible forms of competitive equestrian sport, but it has its own customs, rules and pathways that are worth understanding from the outset.
Every horse competing in a point-to-point must have been hunted during the season. The horse's owner must be a member, subscriber or farmer of a recognised pack of Hounds and must obtain a Hunter Certificate from the Master confirming the horse has hunted. This certificate is then registered with the Point-to-Point Authority (PPA).
All jockeys must hold a Riders Qualification Certificate (RQC) obtained from a Hunt Secretary and registered with the PPA. First-year riders must complete a Rider Assessment with an approved Jockey Coach. All riders must be 16 or over. Novice riders — those with fewer than 10 winners — can claim a 5lb weight allowance.
Race days are organised at local level by a hunt or recognised club. A typical fixture includes at least six races. Courses are set up on temporary ground — often a hillside or river meadow — with plain fences of at least 3ft 6in and a minimum of 18 fences per three-mile race. Licensed racecourse-standard veterinary and medical provision is required at all meetings.
Horses running in point-to-points must be Thoroughbreds, except in Hunt Members races and certain Club Members races. Once a horse holds a Hunter Certificate registered with the PPA, it is also eligible for Hunter Chases — races for similarly qualified horses run under BHA Rules on licensed racecourses.
The British pointing season runs from mid-November through to mid-June. Meetings are spread across all regions of England, Scotland and Wales, with different areas offering very different terrain, character and atmosphere. The Cheltenham Point-to-Point evening in May is considered one of the season's highlights.
Point-to-point racing serves as the training ground for much of British and Irish National Hunt racing. Many leading National Hunt racehorses — and jockeys — began their careers in the pointing field. Hunter Chases on licensed courses provide a natural stepping stone between the two worlds.
A point-to-point fixture will typically feature several different race categories, catering for horses and riders at every stage of their career.
Open to any qualifying horse and offered as men's, ladies' or mixed events. Open races attract the best horses and most experienced riders in the field and represent the highest level of point-to-point competition. A Mens' Open, Ladies' Open or Mixed Open is the blue riband race at most fixtures.
For horses that have not previously won a point-to-point or a race under Rules. Maidens are the entry point for young and inexperienced horses and often provide the day's most compelling drama — raw talent on display, unpolished but full of potential. Many future National Hunt stars begin their careers in maiden races.
Restricted to horses that have not won more than a set number of point-to-points or a race under Rules. These races provide a competitive middle ground for horses that have broken their maiden but are not yet ready for open company.
Exclusive to members or farmers of the host hunt. These races embody the community spirit of pointing and allow local hunting folk to compete on equal terms regardless of the quality of their horse. Non-Thoroughbreds may compete in members' races, maintaining a link to the working hunter tradition.
Races set with specific conditions relating to the horse's age, sex or previous form. Conditions races allow organisers to create competitive fields from horses that might otherwise be mismatched in an open contest.
Run under BHA Rules on licensed racecourses but confined to point-to-point qualified horses and amateur riders. The two most prestigious are the Cheltenham Foxhunter Chase (run on Gold Cup day) and the Aintree Fox Hunters' Chase (run over the Grand National course). Both are considered the "amateur Gold Cup" and "amateur Grand National."
Point-to-point courses are as varied as the British landscape — from the rolling Cotswold hills to the moorland of the North, each with its own character and traditions.
A popular Cotswold venue known for its off-the-course atmosphere and excellent views. Has grown significantly in reputation in recent years.
One of the most established courses in Britain, first used in 1936. Promises magnificent views of Lune Valley and toward the Lake District.
One of the last true cross-country point-to-points. The start is kept secret until race day; riders choose their own route across open Forest terrain.
The annual May evening at Cheltenham Racecourse is the season's showpiece. Qualification races throughout the season lead to this glamorous finale.
A beautifully situated Cornish course used by the Four Burrow Hunt, capturing the rugged character of West Country pointing at its most authentic.
A well-regarded Midlands course with a loyal following, used by the North Shropshire and other local hunts.
Set in the grounds of Duncombe Park Estate in the North York Moors, one of the most scenic point-to-point venues in England.
A popular Fife fixture offering quintessential Scottish countryside pointing in front of a devoted local following.
Britain's National Hunt tracks each have their own distinct character — some flat and fast, others rolling and testing, all bound by the shared drama of the jumping game.
The spiritual home of jump racing. The undulating course on the Cotswold escarpment demands a particular blend of jumping ability, stamina and class. The famous hill in the home straight separates the genuine champions from the merely good.
Home of the Grand National, Aintree's unique fences — including Becher's Brook, The Chair and The Canal Turn — are unlike anything else in racing. The circuit requires specialist jumping and creates moments of unforgettable drama.
A flat, right-handed track that rewards pure galloping ability and slick jumping. The home of the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day and a vital winter venue throughout the National Hunt season.
One of the sport's most atmospheric tracks. The Railway fences in the back straight are amongst the most testing in Britain, and the uphill finish produces dramatic finishes. Home to the Tingle Creek Chase and the Grand Military Gold Cup.
A flat, galloping track that suits the big, staying types. Home to the Ladbrokes Gold Cup (formerly the Hennessy), one of the season's most prestigious handicap chases.
The home of flat racing's Royal Meeting hosts a prestigious National Hunt programme in winter, including the long-running SBK Chase and the Clarence House Chase — Britain's premier two-mile chasing event outside the Festival.
A flat, left-handed track in the North West that regularly hosts high-quality chasing, including the Grand National Trial and various Graded races throughout the winter season.
One of the South West's great jumping venues. Exeter's demanding, undulating circuit tests jumping thoroughly and has launched the careers of countless horses who went on to become Festival winners.
The North's premier jumping track. Wetherby's Boxing Day fixture is one of the most popular racedays of the season, drawing large crowds and top-quality horses to the Yorkshire course.
National Hunt racing is primarily a winter sport, while point-to-pointing bridges the gap into spring and early summer.
The heart of the National Hunt season. Softer winter ground protects horses landing from jumps and creates ideal conditions for racing.
Pointing runs through the winter and into early summer, with the Cheltenham evening in May marking the season's pinnacle.
Four days in March that represent the summit of the National Hunt season — 28 races, 14 Grade 1s, 250,000 spectators.
Jump racing has its own rich vocabulary, inherited from the hunting field and refined over two and a half centuries of competition.
The collective term for all forms of jump racing in Britain, encompassing steeplechases, hurdle races and bumpers. Derived from the hunting origins of the sport.
A race over fixed fences, the oldest form of jump racing. The "steeple" refers to the church steeples used as landmarks in the original cross-country races.
Informal term for point-to-point racing, referring to the flags used to mark the start, finish and course boundaries at temporary point-to-point venues.
A National Hunt Flat Race — a race with no obstacles, designed to introduce young horses to racing. The name comes from the ungainly riding style of early amateur participants.
A fence with a ditch on the take-off side. The ditch encourages horses to stand well back and jump more boldly. One of the most demanding obstacles in chasing.
A low fence (minimum 3ft) with a wide stretch of water on the landing side. Horses must jump both the fence and the water. Aintree's famous water jump is one of the most recognisable fences in racing.
A certificate issued by a Master of Foxhounds confirming that a horse has been hunted during the season. Required for all horses competing in point-to-points.
A race run under BHA Rules on a licensed racecourse, restricted to point-to-point qualified horses and amateur riders. The Cheltenham Foxhunter is the most prestigious.
A horse that has not won a chase or hurdle race before the start of the current season, or (in pointing) a rider who has not yet ridden 10 winners. Novice riders claim a 5lb weight allowance.
A horse that has not won any race. Maiden races in point-to-pointing are restricted to horses that have never won under Rules or in a point-to-point.
The earliest form of cross-country horse racing, involving two horses racing over open country jumping whatever obstacles they encountered. The forerunner of both the steeplechase and point-to-point.
The highest level of National Hunt race. There are 40 Grade 1 races in the UK, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, and King George VI Chase. Grade 1 steeplechases carry a minimum prize fund of £100,000.
A cloth placed under the saddle carrying lead weights to ensure a horse carries the correct allocated weight for a race. All horses in National Hunt races must carry a minimum weight.
When a jockey is dislodged from the saddle — typically at a fence — but the horse completes or continues the course without its rider. Distinct from a "fall" in which the horse itself falls.
The state of the ground on a racecourse. Jump racing thrives on soft to good-to-soft ground, which cushions the impact of landing. Ground descriptions range from Firm through Good to Heavy.
The body responsible for the day-to-day regulation of point-to-point racing in Great Britain, working under the British Horseracing Authority. Oversees licensing, rules and fixture lists.