Kelso Racecourse will host a seven-race National Hunt meeting on Saturday, October 24, 2026, featuring a programme of maiden hurdles, novice steeple chases, handicap hurdles and competitive staying contests. The meeting will begin at 1:37 PM and conclude at 4:55 PM, with horses aged four and above featuring in most of the races. Prize money ranges from £8,000 to £40,000, with the afternoon’s richest event scheduled over an extended distance that will place stamina and jumping ability at the forefront.
The feature race will be the Edinburgh Gin Steeple Chase, scheduled for 3:50 PM. The Class 2 limited handicap is open to horses aged four and above and will be run over three miles, two furlongs and 39 yards. Carrying £40,000 in prize money, the contest is the most valuable race on the card and will test the runners’ endurance, jumping technique and ability to maintain their rhythm over a demanding distance.
The meeting will open at 1:37 PM with The Stay for the After Party ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle Race. The Class 4 contest is open to horses aged four and above and will be run over two miles and 51 yards. With £10,000 in prize money, the race will provide an opportunity for inexperienced hurdlers to demonstrate their potential and adapt to the demands of National Hunt racing.
At 2:10 PM, the Clifford, Martin & Sarah Firth Memorial Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase will take place over two miles, seven furlongs and 96 yards. The Class 4 contest is open to horses aged four and above, rated up to 110, and carries £10,000 in prize money. The race is also a qualifier for the Go North Forgive ’n Forget Series and is designated as a GBB race. The extended trip will require the novice chasers to combine accurate jumping with sufficient stamina to sustain their efforts throughout the contest.
The third race, scheduled for 2:44 PM, is The Myles McNulty You’re Never Sixty Handicap Steeple Chase. This Class 5 event will be run over two miles, one furlong and 14 yards and is open to horses aged four and above, rated up to 105. With £8,000 in prize money, it is the lowest-valued contest on the card. The race also serves as a qualifier for the Go North One Man Series, placing the focus on consistency and effective jumping over the fences.
At 3:14 PM, the Handicap Hurdle Race will bring runners together over two miles and 51 yards. The Class 4 contest is open to horses aged three and above, rated up to 110, and offers £9,000 in prize money. As a qualifier for the Go North Sea Pigeon Series, the event will test the participants’ speed, balance and ability to negotiate the hurdles efficiently over the shorter distance.
The sixth race at 4:25 PM will be the Best Odds Guaranteed Nuts Well Handicap Steeple Chase. The Class 3 contest is open to horses aged four and above and will be run over two miles, one furlong and 14 yards. With £16,000 in prize money, the race is designated as a GBB contest and carries a maximum rating of 140. The relatively short trip for a steeple chase will place emphasis on pace, precise jumping and the ability to maintain momentum between fences.
The meeting will conclude at 4:55 PM with the RacingTV/Freetrial Conditional Jockeys’ Training Series Handicap Hurdle Race. The Class 4 contest is open to horses aged four and above, rated up to 110, and will cover two miles, six furlongs and 151 yards. The race carries £9,000 in prize money and is a qualifier for the Go North Brindisi Breeze Series, as well as part of the Racing Excellence Series. The longer distance will require patience, stamina and consistent hurdling from the participating runners.
Saturday’s Kelso programme offers a varied test across seven races, ranging from a maiden hurdle for developing horses to a valuable staying steeple chase. The Edinburgh Gin Steeple Chase will headline the afternoon, while the novice contests and series qualifiers will provide further opportunities for horses to progress through the National Hunt season.
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