Hexham Racecourse will stage a seven-race National Hunt meeting on Saturday, October 10, 2026, featuring maiden and novice hurdles, handicap hurdle contests, steeplechases, and an open National Hunt Flat Race. The afternoon programme will begin at 1:43 PM with the Project Rugby Community Maiden Hurdle Race and conclude at 5:30 PM with the Clubs of Northumberland Open National Hunt Flat Race. With prize money ranging from £6,500 to £16,500, the meeting will offer a varied schedule for horses aged four and above, alongside younger runners in the closing contest.
The Cast Novices’ Limited Handicap Steeple Chase, scheduled for 3:45 PM, will be the highest-prize race of the meeting, carrying £16,500. This Class 3 contest will be run over 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 15 yards and is registered as a GBB race. The novices’ limited handicap format will provide a significant test for the participants, requiring them to negotiate the fences efficiently while maintaining their pace over the distance. The race will form an important part of the afternoon’s programme before the meeting moves into its final three contests.
The opening race, the Project Rugby Community Maiden Hurdle Race, will take place at 1:43 PM. This Class 4 contest will be run over 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 28 yards and is open to horses aged four and above. The race will carry £10,000 in prize money and provide an opportunity for runners seeking their first hurdle victory. The extended distance will test the participants’ jumping ability, rhythm and stamina as they negotiate the obstacles before approaching the finish. As the opening event, it will set the tone for the day’s National Hunt action at Hexham.
At 2:20 PM, the HITZ Novices’ Hurdle Race will bring the second contest of the afternoon. The Class 4 race will cover 2 miles and 48 yards, with £10,000 in prize money available. Open to horses aged four and above, it will also serve as a qualifier for the Go North Night Nurse Series. The relatively short distance will place emphasis on speed, accurate jumping and the ability to maintain momentum throughout the contest. The novice classification will make this another opportunity for developing hurdlers to demonstrate their progress over obstacles.
The third race, the Tackling Insights Handicap Hurdle Race, is scheduled for 3:05 PM. This Class 3 event will be contested over 2 miles, 7 furlongs and 63 yards, with a prize fund of £15,250. The race is open to horses aged four and above and carries a rating restriction of 0–130. The longer trip will demand stamina and consistent jumping, particularly during the later stages when the runners approach the finish. As a handicap contest, the race will bring together horses assessed within the specified rating range, adding another competitive dimension to the afternoon’s programme.
At 3:45 PM, the Cast Novices’ Limited Handicap Steeple Chase will take centre stage as the meeting’s most valuable event. The Class 3 race will cover 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 15 yards and offer £16,500 in prize money. Open to horses aged four and above, the contest will test the field’s ability to negotiate the fences while sustaining a consistent pace over the trip. With the runners tackling a steeplechase course, jumping accuracy and the management of energy throughout the race will be important elements of the challenge.
The fifth contest, the Blaydon Races Handicap Steeple Chase, will begin at 4:20 PM. This Class 5 race will be run over 1 mile, 7 furlongs and 133 yards and carry £10,000 in prize money. Open to horses aged four and above, it is restricted to runners rated between 0 and 100 and will serve as a qualifier for the Go North One Man Series. The shorter steeplechase distance will require the participants to maintain a good position and negotiate the fences efficiently, with limited opportunity to recover ground after mistakes. The contest will add another test of jumping and pace to the programme.
At 4:55 PM, the Tynedale RFC Community Rugby Handicap Steeple Chase will feature a longer-distance challenge. The Class 4 contest will cover 3 miles and 41 yards, with £12,850 in prize money available. Open to horses aged four and above, the race is restricted to runners rated between 0 and 115 and will act as a qualifier for the Go North Red Rum Series. The extended trip will place stamina at the forefront, while consistent jumping and the ability to conserve energy throughout the race will be essential. The contest will provide one of the afternoon’s principal endurance tests.
The meeting will conclude at 5:30 PM with the Clubs of Northumberland Open National Hunt Flat Race. This Class 4 event will be run over 2 miles and 48 yards and offer £6,500 in prize money. The race is open to horses aged four and five and is registered as a GBB race. Unlike the hurdle and steeplechase contests earlier in the afternoon, the runners will compete without jumping obstacles. Instead, the race will provide an opportunity to assess their pace, balance and stamina over the two-mile distance. It will bring the seven-race programme to a close with a contest focused on developing young National Hunt horses.
Overall, Hexham’s October 10 meeting will feature a varied National Hunt programme, combining maiden and novice hurdles with handicap hurdles, steeplechases and a closing Flat Race. The Cast Novices’ Limited Handicap Steeple Chase will headline the card with £16,500 in prize money, while the Tackling Insights Handicap Hurdle Race and Tynedale RFC Community Rugby Handicap Steeple Chase will offer further tests over longer distances. With seven races scheduled between 1:43 PM and 5:30 PM, the meeting will provide a full afternoon of jumping action at the Northumberland venue.
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