Market Rasen Racecourse is set to stage a seven-race National Hunt meeting on Sunday, 25 October 2026, featuring a varied programme of hurdle races, steeple chases and a National Hunt Flat Race. The card begins at 1:00 PM and concludes at 4:23 PM, with contests for horses aged three and above. The programme includes a juvenile hurdle, a veterans’ steeple chase and a demanding staying chase, offering a mixture of tests for experienced runners and younger participants.
The longest race on the card is the Christmas Jumper & Student Raceday 3rd December Handicap Steeple Chase, scheduled for 2:41 PM. This Class 3 contest will cover 3 miles, 5 furlongs and 28 yards and carries £25,000 in prize money. Open to horses aged four and above rated between 0 and 140, the race will test stamina, jumping accuracy and consistency over an extended distance.
The meeting opens at 1:00 PM with The Market Rasen Racecourse Caravan & Touring Site Maiden Hurdle Race, a Class 4 contest over 2 miles, 1 furlong and 103 yards. Open to horses aged four and above, the race offers £10,000 in prize money. As a maiden hurdle, it provides an opportunity for runners seeking their first victory in this discipline. The participants will need to negotiate the hurdles efficiently while maintaining a suitable pace throughout the contest.
At 1:35 PM, The Book Boxing Day at Market Rasen Juvenile Hurdle Race will bring three-year-old runners into focus. This Class 4 event will be contested over 2 miles, 1 furlong and 103 yards, with £10,000 in prize money available. The juvenile contest will provide a test of speed, balance and jumping technique as the young participants continue to develop their skills over hurdles.
The third race, scheduled for 2:10 PM, is The Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Steeple Chase. This Class 2 event will cover 2 miles, 6 furlongs and 151 yards and carries £30,000 in prize money. Restricted to horses aged nine and above and rated between 0 and 150, the contest forms part of the Middle Distance Chase Series for veterans. Experience and tactical awareness could be important over this intermediate staying distance, where accurate jumping and the ability to maintain momentum will be essential.
At 2:41 PM, attention will turn to The Christmas Jumper & Student Raceday 3rd December Handicap Steeple Chase. The Class 3 race is open to horses aged four and above, with runners competing over 3 miles, 5 furlongs and 28 yards. Offering £25,000 in prize money, it is one of the principal events of the afternoon. The extended trip will demand considerable stamina, and participants will need to conserve energy while negotiating the fences before producing a sustained effort towards the finish.
The fifth race, The Summer Plate Ladies Day on Sale Now Handicap Steeple Chase, is scheduled for 3:13 PM. This Class 5 contest will be run over 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 18 yards and offers £7,250 in prize money. Open to horses aged four and above rated between 0 and 100, the race will provide a competitive test over a shorter chasing distance. Efficient jumping and maintaining a consistent rhythm are likely to be important throughout the contest.
At 3:48 PM, The £27 Race & Roast Package Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Race will take place over 2 miles, 1 furlong and 103 yards. This Class 5 event is open to horses aged three and above rated between 0 and 105, with £6,750 in prize money on offer. The race gives conditional jockeys an opportunity to compete in a handicap hurdle, where effective pace management and accurate jumping will be important. The relatively short distance should also place emphasis on positioning and a strong finish.
The meeting concludes at 4:23 PM with The Tractor Drivers Go Free on Agriculture Raceday ‘Newcomers’ National Hunt Flat Race. This Class 5 contest will cover 2 miles, 1 furlong and 103 yards and is open to horses aged four and five. The race carries £4,000 in prize money and offers a platform for newcomers to demonstrate their potential under race conditions. Without hurdles or fences, the contest will focus on pace, balance and stamina over the distance.
Overall, Market Rasen’s meeting on Sunday, 25 October, features seven races with a blend of maiden and juvenile hurdles, veterans’ and handicap steeple chases, a conditional jockeys’ hurdle and a newcomers’ National Hunt Flat Race. The extended-distance handicap chase at 2:41 PM stands out as a major attraction, while the veterans’ contest adds further interest to a programme combining stamina, jumping ability and developing talent.
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