Cartmel Racecourse will bring its 2026 summer jumping programme to a close with a six-race meeting on Monday, August 31. The fixture, billed as the August Monday Season Finale, promises an afternoon of competitive hurdle and steeplechase action, with races covering distances from just over two miles to more than three miles. Cartmel’s distinctive setting and compact summer programme make the final fixture an important part of the course’s annual calendar.
Cartmel Racecards 31 August 2026
The highlight of the afternoon is the EWGA Handicap Hurdle Race, scheduled for 3:45pm. Carrying a prize fund of £24,800, it is the most valuable contest on Monday’s card. The Class 2 event is open to horses aged four and above and will be contested over 3 miles, 1 furlong and 119 yards. The demanding distance should place considerable emphasis on stamina, jumping rhythm and the ability to maintain concentration through the closing stages. The race forms the centrepiece of a strong middle section of the programme.
The Wicks Group Cavendish Cup Handicap Steeple Chase, at 4:19pm, follows closely behind in prize-money terms with £24,650 available. Although only £150 separates it from the afternoon’s highest-value contest, the race presents a very different challenge, taking place over 3 miles, 1 furlong and 137 yards and featuring steeplechase obstacles. It is a Class 3 contest for horses aged four and above with a rating range of 0-140. Together, the two races provide the meeting with its strongest concentration of high-level jumping action.
The afternoon begins at 2:35pm with the Sticky Toffee Pudding Juvenile Hurdle Race, a Class 4 contest for three-year-olds. The race is run over 2 miles, 1 furlong and 70 yards, giving the younger horses an opportunity to demonstrate their hurdling ability over a relatively sharp distance.
The official race information lists the contest as a GBB Race, with £10,000 attached to the race conditions. The event is particularly interesting because it brings together developing three-year-olds at an important stage of their early jumping careers. The combination of age, distance and hurdles should test how effectively the juveniles can settle into their rhythm while negotiating the obstacles. The latest published racecard lists the distance as 2 miles 1 furlong 46 yards and shows seven declared runners in the available field information.
At 3:10pm, attention turns to the Campbell & Rowley Handicap Hurdle Race. The Class 4 event is open to horses aged four and above and carries a prize fund of £8,050. It will be staged over 2 miles, 6 furlongs and 61 yards, making stamina an important factor as the field moves beyond the shorter hurdle distance.
The race has a rating band of 0-115 and is expected to provide a competitive test for experienced hurdlers. The longer trip means horses will need to conserve energy while maintaining an efficient jumping technique. Published race information lists the race as a 2-mile-6-furlong contest with 13 runners in the available field.
Following the feature hurdle contest at 3:45pm, the Wicks Group Cavendish Cup Handicap Steeple Chase begins at 4:19pm. The Class 3 race covers 3 miles, 1 furlong and 137 yards and carries a £24,650 prize fund. With a rating limit of 0-140, it represents one of the strongest tests on the card.
Steeplechasing brings an additional dimension to the meeting, with horses required to negotiate larger obstacles while sustaining their pace over a lengthy trip. The combination of distance and jumping accuracy could make this one of the most demanding contests of the afternoon.
The FGH Handicap Steeple Chase follows at 4:55pm. This Class 3 race is open to horses aged four and above and carries £17,150. The distance is 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 64 yards, while the rating range is 0-125. It provides another opportunity for experienced jumpers to demonstrate their consistency and jumping technique.
The meeting concludes at 5:30pm with the Furness RDA Handicap Steeple Chase, a Class 5 contest worth £8,250. The race covers 2 miles, 1 furlong and 85 yards and is restricted to horses aged four and above with a rating range of 0-100.
This final contest brings the afternoon to a close with a shorter steeplechase challenge. After several demanding races, the ability to maintain concentration and negotiate the obstacles efficiently could prove especially important.
With six races scheduled between 2:35pm and 5:30pm, Cartmel’s August Monday Season Finale offers a varied programme of hurdles and steeplechases. The £24,800 EWGA Handicap Hurdle stands as the day’s richest contest, while the Cavendish Cup provides another major attraction only 31 minutes later. The meeting therefore combines valuable races, varied distances and a broad range of jumping challenges, providing a fitting conclusion to Cartmel’s 2026 summer jumping season.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to Racebuzz.