Major Horse Racing Events 2021:

January – Horse Racing Calendar 2021

National Hunt - January Grade 1 Races:

• Challow Novices’ Hurdle – Newbury
• Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle – Sandown
• Clarence House Chase – Ascot

National Hunt - January Grade 2 Races:

• Dipper Novices’ Chase – Cheltenham
• Relkeel Hurdle – Cheltenham
• Hampton Novices’ Chase – Warwick
• Leamington Novices’ Hurdle – Warwick
• Silviniaco Conti Chase – Kempton
• Warfield Mares’ Hurdle – Ascot
• Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle – Haydock
• Altcar Novices’ Chase – Haydock
• Champion Hurdle Trial – Haydock
• Peter Marsh Chase - Haydock
• Finesse Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle – Cheltenham
• Cotswold Chase – Cheltenham
• Classic Novices’ Hurdle – Cheltenham
• Cleeve Hurdle – Cheltenham
• River Don Novices’ Hurdle – Doncaster
• Lightning Novices’ Chase – Doncaster
• Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle – Doncaster
• Towton Novices’ Chase – Wetherby

National Hunt - January Grade 3 Races:

• Paddy Power Handicap Chase – Cheltenham
• Classic Chase – Warwick
• Holloway’s Hurdle – Ascot
• Spectra Cyber Security Solutions Trophy Handicap Chase – Cheltenham
• Heroes Handicap Hurdle - Sandown

February – Horse Racing Events 2021

National Hunt - February Grade 1 Races:

• Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase – Sandown
• Ascot Chase – Ascot

National Hunt - February Grade 2 Races:

• Kingmaker Novices’ Chase – Warwick
• Denman Chase – Newbury
• Game Spirit Chase – Newbury
• Winter Bumper – Newbury
• Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices Hurdle – Sandown
• Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase – Ascot
• Rendlesham Hurdle – Haydock Park
• Prestige Novices’ Hurdle – Haydock Park
• Kingwell Hurdle – Wincanton
• Adonis Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle – Kempton
• Pendil Novices’ Chase - Kempton
• Dovecote Novices’ Chase – Kempton
• National Spirit Hurdle – Fontwell
• Premier Kelso Hurdle – Kelso

National Hunt - February Grade 3 Races:

• Betfair Hurdle – Newbury
• Grand National – Haydock Park
• Betway Handicap Chase – Kempton
• Greatwood Gold Cup – Newbury

Flat - February Group 3 Races:

• Winter Derby – Lingfield Park

March – Big Horse Meetings 2021

National Hunt - March Grade 1 Races:

• Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Cheltenham Festival
• Arkle Challenge Trophy – Cheltenham Festival
• Champion Hurdle – Cheltenham Festival
• Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle – Cheltenham Festival
• Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle – Cheltenham Festival
• RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase – Cheltenham Festival
• Queen Mother Champion Chase – Cheltenham Festival
• Champion Bumper – Cheltenham Festival
• Marsh Novices’ Chase – Cheltenham Festival
• Ryanair Chase – Cheltenham Festival
• Stayers’ Hurdle – Cheltenham Festival
• Triumph Hurdle – Cheltenham Festival
• Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – Cheltenham Festival
• Cheltenham Gold Cup – Cheltenham Festival

National Hunt - March Grade 2 Races:

• National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup – Cheltenham Festival
• Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – Cheltenham Festival
• Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Finale - Newbury

National Hunt - March Grade 3 Races:

• EBF Novices’ Handicap Hurdle – Sandown
• Imperial Cup – Sandown
• Ultima Handicap Chase – Cheltenham Festival
• Pertemps Final – Cheltenham Festival
• Coral Cup – Cheltenham Festival
• Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle – Cheltenham Festival
• Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate – Cheltenham Festival
• County Handicap Hurdle – Cheltenham Festival
• Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase – Cheltenham Festival

April – Horse Racing Schedule 2021

National Hunt - February Grade 1 Races:

• Manifesto Novices’ Chase – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Betway Bowl – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Aintree Hurdle - Aintree Grand National Festival
• Top Novices’ Hurdle – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Mildmay Novices’ Chase – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Melling Chase – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Sefton Novices’ Hurdle – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Mersey Novices’ Hurdle – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Maghull Novices’ Chase – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Celebration Chase – Sandown

National Hunt - April Grade 2 Races:

• Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Future Champion Novices’ Chase – Ayr
• Scottish Champion Hurdle – Ayr
• Silver Trophy Chase – Cheltenham
• Oaksey Chase – Sandown
• Bet365 Select Hurdle - Sandown

National Hunt - April Grade 3 Races:

• Red Rum Handicap Chase – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Merseyrail Handicap Hurdle – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Topham Chase – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Gaskells Handicap Hurdle – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Betway Handicap Chase – Aintree Grand National Festival
• The Grand National – Aintree Grand National Festival
• Scottish Grand National – Ayr
• Junior Jumpers Fillies’ Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – Cheltenham
• Bet365 Gold Cup – Sandown

Flat - April Group 1 Races:

• 2000 Guineas Stakes – Newmarket
• 1000 Guineas Stakes - Newmarket

Flat - April Group 2 Races:

• Sandown Mile - Sandown

Flat - April Group 3 Races:

• John Porter Stakes – Newbury
• Fred Darling Stakes – Newbury
• Greenham Stakes – Newbury
• Nell Gwyn Stakes – Newmarket
• Abernant Stakes – Newmarket
• Craven Stakes – Newmarket
• Earl of Sefton Stakes – Newmarket
• Gordon Richards Stakes – Sandown
• Sandown Classic Trial – Sandown

May – Biggest Horse Fixtures 2021

National Hunt - May Grade 3 Races:

• Swinton Handicap Hurdle – Haydock Park

Flat - May Group 1 Races:

• Lockinge Stakes – Newbury
• Coronation Cup – Epsom
• Oaks Stakes - Epsom

Flat - May Group 2 Races:

• Jockey Club Stakes – Newmarket
• Dahlia Stakes – Newmarket
• Huxley Stakes – Chester
• Duke of York Stakes – York
• Middleton Stakes – York
• Dante Stakes – York
• Yorkshire Cup – York
• Sandy Lane Stakes – Haydock
• Temple Stakes – Haydock

Flat - May Group 3 Races:

• Sagaro Stakes – Ascot
• Pavilion Stakes – Ascot
• Palace House Stakes – Newmarket
• Chester Vase – Chester
• Ormonde Stakes – Chester
• Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes – Lingfield
• Musidora Stakes – York
• Aston Park Stakes – Newbury
• Henry II Stakes – Sandown
• Brigadier Gerard Stakes – Sandown
• Bronte Cup – York
• Princess Elizabeth Stakes – Epsom
• Diomed Stakes – Epsom
• Pinnacle Stakes – Haydock Park
• John of Gaunt Stakes – Haydock Park

June – Horse Race Calendar 2021

Flat - June Group 1 Races:

• The Derby – Epsom
• Queen Anne Stakes – Royal Ascot
• King’s Stand Stakes – Royal Ascot
• St James’s Palace Stakes – Royal Ascot
• Prince of Wales’s Stakes – Royal Ascot
• Gold Cup – Royal Ascot
• Commonwealth Cup – Royal Ascot
• Coronation Stakes – Royal Ascot
• Diamond Jubilee Stakes – Royal Ascot

Flat - June Group 2 Races:

• Coventry Stakes – Royal Ascot
• Queen Mary Stakes – Royal Ascot
• Queen’s Vase – Royal Ascot
• Duke of Cambridge Stakes – Royal Ascot
• Norfolk Stakes – Royal Ascot
• Ribblesdale Stakes – Royal Ascot
• King Edward VII Stakes – Royal Ascot
• Hardwicke Stakes – Royal Ascot

Flat - June Group 3 Races:

• Hampton Court Stakes – Royal Ascot
• Albany Stakes – Royal Ascot
• Jersey Stakes – Royal Ascot
• Hoppings Stakes – Newcastle
• Chipchase Stakes – Newcastle
• Criterion Stakes - Newmarket

July – Major Racing Meetings 2021

Flat - July Group 1 Races:

• Eclipse Stakes – Sandown
• Falmouth Stakes – Newmarket Stakes
• July Cup – Newmarket
• King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – Ascot
• Goodwood Cup – Glorious Goodwood
• Sussex Stakes – Glorious Goodwood
• Nassau Stakes – Glorious Goodwood

Flat - July Group 2 Races:

• Lancashire Oaks – Haydock
• July Stakes – Newmarket
• Princess of Wales’s Stakes – Newmarket
• Duchess of Cambridge Stakes – Newmarket
• Superlative Stakes – Newmarket
• Summer Mile Stakes – Ascot
• York Stakes – York
• Vintage Stakes – Glorious Goodwood
• Lennox Stakes – Glorious Goodwood

Flat - July Group 3 Races:

• Sprint Stakes – Sandown
• Bahrain Trophy – Newmarket
• Summer Stakes – York
• John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes – York
• Hackwood Stakes – Newbury
• Princess Margaret Stakes – Ascot
• Valiant Stakes – Ascot
• Molecomb Stokes – Glorious Goodwood
• Gordon Stakes – Glorious Goodwood
• Oak Tree Stakes – Glorious Goodwood
• Thoroughbred Stakes – Glorious Goodwood
• Glorious Stakes – Glorious Goodwood

August – Major Horse Races 2021

Flat - August Group 1 Races:

• International Stakes – York
• Yorkshire Oaks – York
• Nunthorpe Stakes - York

Flat - August Group 2 Races:

• Richmond Stakes – Glorious Goodwood
• King George Stakes – Glorious Goodwood
• Lillie Langtry Stakes – Glorious Goodwood
• Hungerford Stakes – Newbury
• Great Voltigeur Stakes – York
• Lowther Stakes – York
• Lonsdale Cup – York
• Gimcrack Stakes – York
• City of York Stakes – York
• Celebration Mike – Goodwood

Flat - August Group 3 Races:

• Rose of Lancaster Stakes – Haydock Park
• Sweet Solera Stakes – Newmarket
• Sovereign Stakes – Salisbury
• Geoffrey Freer Stakes – Newbury
• Acomb Stakes – York
• Strensall Stakes – York
• Prestige Stakes – Goodwood
• March Stakes – Goodwood
• Winter Hill Stakes – Windsor
• Supreme Stakes – Goodwood

September – Racing Fixtures 2021

Flat - September Group 1 Races:

• Sprint Cup – Haydock Park
• St Leger Stakes – Doncaster
• Cheveley Park Stakes – Newmarket
• Middle Park Stakes - Newmarket

Flat - September Group 2 Races:

• Park Hill Stakes – Doncaster
• May Hill Stakes – Doncaster
• Flying Childers Stakes – Doncaster
• Doncaster Cup – Doncaster
• Champagne Stakes – Doncaster
• Park Stakes – Doncaster
• Mill Reef Stakes – Newbury
• Rockfel Stakes – Newmarket
• Joel Stakes – Newmarket
• Royal Lodge Stakes - Newmarket

Flat - September Group 3 Races:

• Solario Stakes – Sandown
• Atalanta Stakes – Sandown
• Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes – Salisbury
• September Stakes – Kempton
• Superior Mile – Haydock Park
• Sirenia Stakes – Kempton
• Sceptre Stakes – Doncaster
• Legacy Cup – Newbury
• Firth of Clyde Stakes – Ayr
• World Trophy – Newbury
• Somerville Tattersall Stakes – Newmarket
• Princess Royal Stakes – Newmarket

October – Big Horse Events 2021

National Hunt - October Grade 2 Races:

• Persian War Novices’ Hurdle – Chepstow
• Old Roan Chase – Aintree
• West Yorkshire Hurdle – Wetherby
• Charlie Hall Chase – Wetherby
• Haldon Gold Cup – Exeter

National Hunt - October Grade 3 Races:

• Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle – Chepstow
• Sodexo Gold Cup – Ascot

Flat - October Group 1 Races:

• Sun Chariot Stakes – Newmarket
• Fillies’ Mile – Newmarket
• Dewhurst Stakes – Newmarket
• British Champions Spring Stakes – Ascot
• British Champions Fillies’ And Mares’ Stakes – Ascot
• Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Ascot
• Champion Stakes – Ascot
• Vertem Futurity Trophy – Doncaster

Flat - October Group 2 Races:

• Challenge Stakes – Newmarket
• British Champions Long Distance Cup – Ascot

Flat - October Group 3 Races:

• Cumberland Lodge Stakes – Ascot
• Bengough Stakes – Ascot
• Cornwallis Stakes – Newmarket
• Oh So Sharp Stakes – Newmarket
• Pride Stakes – Newmarket
• Autumn Stakes – Newmarket
• Zetland Stakes – Newmarket
• Darley Stakes – Newmarket
• Horris Hill Stakes – Newbury
• St. Simon Stakes – Newbury

November – Horse Calendar 2021

National Hunt - November Grade 1 Races:

• Betfair Chase – Haydock Park

National Hunt - November Grade 2 Races:

• Rising Stars Novices’ Chase – Wincanton
• Elite Hurdle – Wincanton
• Hyde Novices’ Hurdle – Cheltenham
• Prestbury Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle – Cheltenham
• November Novices’ Chase – Cheltenham
• Shloer Chase – Cheltenham
• Sharp Novices’ Hurdle – Cheltenham
• 1965 Chase – Ascot
• Ascot Hurdle – Ascot
• Berkshire Novices’ Chase – Newbury
• Long Distance Hurdle - Newbury

National Hunt - November Grade 3 Races:

• BetVictor Handicap Chase – Cheltenham
• BetVictor Gold Cup – Cheltenham
• Greatwood Hurdle – Cheltenham
• Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle – Haydock Park

December: Horse Racing Events 2021

National Hunt - December Grade 1 Races:

• Fighting Fifth Hurdle – Newcastle
• Henry VIII Novices’ Chase – Sandown
• Long Walk Hurdle – Ascot
• Kauto Star Novices’ Chase – Kempton
• Christmas Hurdle – Kempton
• King George VI Chase – Kempton
• Finale Juvenile Hurdle – Chepstow

National Hunt - December Grade 2 Races:

• John Francome Novices’ Chase – Newbury
• Winter Novices’ Hurdle – Sandown
• Many Clouds Chase – Aintree
• Peterborough Chase – Huntingdon
• Bristol Novices’ Hurdle – Cheltenham
• December Novices’ Chase – Doncaster
• Summit Juvenile Hurdle – Doncaster
• International Hurdle – Cheltenham
• Noel Novices’ Chase – Ascot
• Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle – Ascot
• Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase – Kempton
• Desert Orchid Chase – Kempton

National Hunt - December Grade 3 Races:

• Ladbrokes Trophy – Newbury
• Becher Chase – Aintree
• BetVictor Handicap Chase – Cheltenham
• Caspian Caviar Gold Cup – Cheltenham
• Betfair Exchange Trophy Handicap Hurdle – Ascot
• Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase – Wetherby
• Welsh Grand National - Chepstow

QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes

The big sprint race is always a thrilling affair featuring the season’s leading speedsters doing battle over six furlongs. Sadly no longer with us, the globetrotting star that was Gordon Lord Byron won the race in 2014.

Tom Hogan’s gusty performer recorded one of the most remarkable careers of the modern era, earning over €2.1 million in prize-money. He recorded three Group One’s of which this was one.

Muhaarar was a notable winner a year later in 2015 when landing his fourth successive Group 1 victory, the first time a sprinter had done so since Dayjur in 1990.

2020 Champions Sprint Stakes Tip: Currently trading at odds of 20/1 in the online betting, the Tin Man must be worth an each-way bet at this stage. Winner of this race in 2016, the eight-year-old should be right in the mix.

QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes

The very first QIPCO British Champions Day in 2011 saw the Oaks heroine Dancing Rain leave her rivals trailing in her wake in the Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, under what was an enterprising front-running ride from Johnny Murtagh.

Four years later, Qatar Racing’s Simple Verse landed this prize one month on from tasting Classic glory in the 2015 St Leger.

Last year, John Gosden’s Star Catcher took in victory in the Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp before coming here to score by the shortest of short heads.

2020 Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes Tip: Dame Malliot (10/1), who runs in the same colours as Star Catcher, can give Anthony Oppenheimer further success in this race.

QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup

Staying races and those who race in them tend to hold a special place in the affections of Flat racing enthusiasts, and this marathon trip tends to attract some of the best long distance competitors around.

In recent times none have been quite as popular as Stradivarius, the best stayer in the division for many a season, and in 2018 he completed a perfect racing campaign by adding this race to his resume.

2020 Champions Long Distance Cup Tip: St Leger winner Kew Gardens took top honours last year, beating Stradivarius by a nose. John Gosden’s six-year-old is a 6/4 shot to recapture this staying prize.

QIPCO British Champions Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

This Group 1 race regularly attracts the elite milers and has been won by some distinguished names over the years.

Frankel, the 2011 victor, stands out like a beacon from all the others, but the 2016 winner Minding has to be right up there too as she was the first filly to win the race in 29 years.

The Guineas and Oaks heroine of that season achieved her seventh Group 1 success when she accounted for the formidable milers, Ribchester and Lightning Spear. Understandably she ended the season picking up the top accolade of Cartier’s Horse of the Year.

In 2018 Roaring Lion deservedly played his part in the end of season headlines. The Qatar Racing-owned colt had already enjoyed a triple salvo of Group 1 wins in the Eclipse, Juddmonte International and Irish Champion Stakes making him the top middle-distance performer around.

On rain softened ground and running back over a mile, the popular grey showed his true grit to prevail by a neck. At the Cartier Racing Awards that year he was rightly crowned Horse of the Year for 2018.

2020 Champions Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Tip: Qatar Racing could well land the spoils again in 2020 with their star colt Kameko.

His trainer Andrew Balding confirmed the 2000 Guineas hero, who was back to winning ways in Newmarket’s Joel Stakes last time, will take his chance if the going is no worse than good. Odds of 5/1 about the three-year-old look good at this stage.

QIPCO British Champions Champion Stakes

The Group 1 Champion Stakes is steeped in history and of course is the feature race of the day. Originally run at Newmarket, its roll of honour includes such greats as Brigadier Gerard and Pebbles.

Since the contest was switched to Ascot, the Champion Stakes has continued to attract the best middle distance horses in training and is one of the most anticipated season finales.

In 2012 the legendary Frankel bowed out in style in the Champion Stakes, notching up his 14th consecutive victory.

2018 saw Cracksman defend his Champion Stakes crown with a six-length demolition of Crystal Ocean. The son of Frankel was just as classy as his father that day, pulling clear of a stellar field, then sowing the race up with two furlongs still to go.

2020 Champions Champion Stakes Tip: Last year’s winner Magical must hold a solid chance of emulating Cracksman herself this time around.

The five-year-old mare was last seen taking top honours in the Irish Champion Stakes and at 3/1 in the horse racing betting, she can add this English equivalent to her illustrious C.V.

Different Applications

The Bundesliga is the smoothest comparison to the Premier League for this purpose.

This wouldn’t address the top six issues, but the German top flight uses a playoff for its final relegation spot. In the Premier League, this would mean the 18th-placed side facing a potential promoted team.

The Championship’s profile, and the playoff structure in place, makes this messier in England than it is in Germany. An alternative could be to throw the 18th-placed Premier League team into the playoffs.

The same rules would apply to them as everyone else: Win the playoffs to play in the Premier League the following season.

Of course, this has knock-on implications for the Championship. Does this mean only three playoff spots in the Championship? Could the playoffs be extended further, giving byes to third and fourth-placed teams?

The relegation playoff is an interesting idea, but it’s not really an area of concern for the Premier League. Relegation battles are often close. Outright winner odds are a greater issue.

It’s the other end of the table where the Premier League can be bland. Obviously, the most extreme way to address this is to scrap the league winner altogether and go straight into a playoff format, like the NFL, MLB and NBA do.

Or, perhaps, a trophy is handed out for the best regular season record (as is done in MLS) before a postseason to crown a champion.

Neither of these are in-keeping with how European football works, nor would they be popular. Top four betting could be a better place to focus on.

There tends to be a degree of competitiveness around Champions League qualification. It went down to the final day in 2019/20, with Leicester blowing an opportunity to return to Europe’s biggest competition.

Perhaps a playoff scenario would be solving a problem that doesn’t really exist.

For the circumstances when a team runs away with the title, or it has firmly become a two-horse race, however, having a playoff for the remaining Champions League places would liven up the end of the season.

Could a four-team round-robin decide the European places? Maybe the teams who finished third and fourth get home advantage.

There are lots of different options when it comes to using a playoff in the Premier League. A few have been touched on here, but there are hundreds of variations that could be discussed.

Introduces Randomness

The application is complex. The theory for introducing playoffs is less so. It simply introduces randomness, opening up opportunities to teams that would otherwise be out of such contention.

It isn’t the fairest way to decide a competition. If we were only in the pursuit of sporting fairness, cup competitions would be near-irrelevant. The large sample size of league football would be all that matters.

The drama of one or two-match knockouts is an added bonus of playoff football. The primary benefit must be the creation of competitiveness, expanding the playing field in a way that the Premier League has failed to do.

Less wealthy teams are at a brutal disadvantage to overcome the top six through 38 matches. They can, as last season showed, remain close to them. Close enough to be in a potential playoff for a European spot, for instance.

It might be alien to English football betting, and an unusual thing to see in European soccer at all, but playoffs are an, albeit artificial, means of counteracting the factors that make the same teams succeed.

Perhaps Wolves and Sheffield United would have still fallen in the playoffs for a Europa or Champions League spot last season, but wouldn’t it have been fun to see them given the chance?

Sure, finishing third or fourth and not qualifying for the Champions League may seem unjust.

It could be argued, though, that getting results in the 38-game season is only part of the job, and navigating a playoff match or two against supposedly inferior teams is just another challenge.

Unlikely To Happen Soon

Such is the balance of power in English football, a move like this is never going to happen.

It makes life harder for the big teams, and that’s not something the Premier League or FA will propose when the notion of a European Super League lingers, an unnerving threat to the very essence of European football.

Football betting is not getting an overhaul any time soon. The Premier League has no reason to change as long as the millions keep rolling in, and maintaining the happiness of the richest clubs, those supported all over the world, is integral to that.

Don’t expect to see playoff options in 888sport’s online betting for the Premier League.

Playoffs at either end of the table would be labelled revolutionary. It’s the sort of look-at-us change that leagues make when they are searching for an audience, not when they are the most-watched and richest in their field.

The Premier League has no motivation for change. Playoffs might make the on-field product more interesting, and provide some drama, but for now, it’s no more than a debating point.