Sedgefield Racecourse will host a seven-race National Hunt meeting on Sunday, October 18, 2026, featuring a varied programme of hurdle races, steeple chases and a National Hunt Flat Race. The meeting will begin at 1:50 PM and conclude at 4:50 PM, bringing together horses aged four and above, along with younger runners in selected contests. The programme includes novice events, handicap races and a major staying challenge over an extended distance.
The feature event of the afternoon will be the Vickers Durham National Handicap Steeple Chase at 3:20 PM. This Class 2 contest will cover 3 miles, 5 furlongs and 48 yards and is open to horses aged four and above with ratings between 0 and 145. With total prize money of £27,500, it is the most valuable race on the card and will test the stamina, jumping ability and consistency of the participating horses over a demanding distance.
The meeting will open at 1:50 PM with the Michael and Olivia Watson Novices’ Hurdle Race, a Class 4 contest carrying £10,000 in prize money. The race will cover 2 miles, 3 furlongs and 188 yards and is open to horses aged four and above. The event will provide an opportunity for developing hurdlers to demonstrate their ability, jumping technique and potential over the distance.
At 2:20 PM, the programme will continue with the Celebrating 40 Years of Vickers Bookmakers Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Steeple Chase. This Class 5 contest will cover 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 28 yards and is open to horses aged four and above with ratings between 0 and 100. With £7,000 in prize money, the race will place emphasis on jumping accuracy, stamina and the ability of conditional jockeys to guide their mounts effectively around the course.
The third race, scheduled for 2:50 PM, will be the Roflow Specialist Ventilation & Dehumidification ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle Race. This Class 4 event will cover 2 miles and 178 yards, with £10,000 in prize money available. Open to horses aged four and above, the race will give runners without a previous hurdle-race victory an opportunity to demonstrate their progress and ability over obstacles.
The afternoon’s principal staying contest, the Vickers Durham National Handicap Steeple Chase, will take place at 3:20 PM. Covering 3 miles, 5 furlongs and 48 yards, the Class 2 race will require participants to maintain their stamina and concentration over an extended trip. The race’s £27,500 prize fund makes it the standout event of the meeting, with jumping consistency and the ability to sustain a strong effort likely to be important factors.
At 3:50 PM, the Vickers Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle Race will bring together horses aged three and above. The Class 5 contest will be run over 2 miles, 3 furlongs and 188 yards and carries £7,000 in prize money. With ratings restricted to 0–100, the race will provide a competitive test for developing and experienced hurdlers over a middle-distance trip.
The sixth race, the Download the App Handicap Hurdle Race, is scheduled for 4:20 PM. This Class 3 event will cover 2 miles and 178 yards and offers £12,000 in prize money. Open to horses aged three and above with ratings between 0 and 140, the contest will place emphasis on speed, agility and accurate jumping over the shorter hurdle distance.
The meeting will conclude at 4:50 PM with the MW Civils & Groundworks Open National Hunt Flat Race. This Class 5 contest will cover 2 miles and 178 yards and is open to horses aged four and five. With £4,500 in prize money, the race will provide a platform for young horses to gain experience on the racecourse and demonstrate their potential before progressing to hurdle or steeple chase events.
Overall, Sedgefield’s October 18 meeting will offer a balanced programme of seven races, ranging from novice hurdles to an extended-distance steeple chase and a concluding National Hunt Flat Race. The Vickers Durham National Handicap Steeple Chase will be the main attraction, while the remaining contests will showcase horses at different stages of their National Hunt careers.
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