Worcester Racecourse will host a seven-race National Hunt programme on Sunday, August 23, featuring an engaging mix of steeplechases, hurdle races and a National Hunt Flat contest. The action begins at 2:08pm and continues at 30-minute intervals before the final race at 5:08pm. Across the afternoon, horses of different ages, ratings and experience levels will take on distances ranging from two miles to nearly three miles, creating a varied test of speed, stamina and jumping ability.
Worcester Racecards 23 August 2026
The 2:08pm Neu-Servo Great Repairs Handicap Steeple Chase is the highest-prize race on the card, carrying a £10,000 prize fund. The Class 4 contest is staged over 2 miles, 7 furlongs and 81 yards for horses aged four and above rated from 0-115. Two other races also carry £10,000 prize funds: the 2:38pm Neu-Servo Rapid Response Handicap Steeple Chase and the 3:38pm Neu-Servo Phils Last Shift Maiden Hurdle Race. Together, they form the financial highlights of an afternoon packed with varied National Hunt action.
The afternoon begins with a demanding Class 4 handicap steeplechase over 2 miles, 7 furlongs and 81 yards. Open to horses aged four and above with ratings from 0-115, the contest is one of the principal events of the Worcester programme.
The extended distance should place a strong emphasis on stamina, jumping rhythm and concentration. With numerous obstacles to negotiate, the runners will need to maintain their composure throughout the race. The contest is also part of the ARC Summer Chase Series Qualifier and carries a £10,000 prize fund.
The second race keeps the focus on steeplechasing, with another Class 4 contest scheduled over 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 81 yards. It is open to horses aged five and above rated from 0-120 and also carries a £10,000 prize fund.
The shorter distance compared with the opening event could produce a sharper contest, while the runners will still need to demonstrate reliable jumping and enough stamina to maintain their performance through the closing stages. This race is another ARC Summer Chase Series Qualifier.
At 3:08pm, the programme switches to a National Hunt Flat contest. The Class 5 race covers 2 miles and 54 yards and is open to four- and five-year-olds.
Carrying a £4,500 prize fund, the Category 1 Elimination contest provides an opportunity for younger horses to gain valuable experience. With no obstacles involved, attention will centre on pace, balance, positioning and finishing strength. The race could offer an interesting glimpse at developing National Hunt prospects.
The fourth contest returns to hurdles with a Class 4 maiden race over 2 miles and 54 yards. Open to horses aged four and above, it carries a £10,000 prize fund.
The race is also an ARC Summer Novices’ Brush Hurdle Series Qualifier. The relatively short distance should make rhythm and jumping efficiency particularly important. As a maiden contest, it provides an opportunity for runners to make an impression and establish themselves over hurdles.
The fifth race is a Class 5 handicap hurdle covering 2 miles and 54 yards. Horses aged three and above rated from 0-105 are eligible, with a £7,000 prize fund on offer.
The two-mile trip provides a relatively sharp test, meaning the runners will need to maintain their momentum while negotiating the hurdles. Consistency, jumping technique and the ability to finish strongly could all prove important as the field approaches the final stages.
The penultimate race of the afternoon is another Class 4 handicap hurdle. The contest covers 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 81 yards and is open to horses aged four and above rated from 0-115.
With a £8,700 prize fund, the race represents another competitive opportunity for experienced hurdle performers. The additional distance compared with the earlier hurdle contest introduces a greater stamina requirement, while clean jumping will remain essential around the Worcester circuit.
The final race brings the afternoon to a close with a Class 5 mares’ handicap hurdle over 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 81 yards. The contest is open to mares aged four and above rated from 0-100 and carries a £7,000 prize fund.
The longer trip should provide a fitting conclusion to the seven-race programme, with stamina and concentration likely to become increasingly important as the race progresses. The runners will need to combine accurate jumping with the ability to sustain their effort over the distance.
Worcester’s Sunday card offers a well-balanced afternoon of National Hunt racing, with seven contests covering a broad range of disciplines and distances. The three £10,000 races provide the day’s biggest prize opportunities, while the National Hunt Flat race adds variety between the jumping contests.
From the stamina test of the opening steeplechase to the concluding mares’ hurdle race, each event brings a different challenge. The programme also features two ARC Summer Chase Series Qualifiers and an ARC Summer Novices’ Brush Hurdle Series Qualifier, adding further significance to several of the afternoon’s contests. With racing beginning at 2:08pm and continuing until 5:08pm, Worcester is set for an engaging Sunday afternoon of National Hunt action.
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