The Welsh Racing Festival at Chepstow, traditionally the curtain‑raiser for the jumps calendar, will go ahead this year without any chase contests, as the venue continues to grapple with the lingering effects of an unusually arid summer. The three‑day programme, scheduled for 9‑11 October and broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing, sits at the heart of a broader reshuffling of fixtures prompted by a sustained period of low rainfall that has left the course surface markedly dry and firm.
In place of the usual mix of hurdle and chase events, the meeting will feature nineteen hurdle races and two National Hunt flat races, commonly referred to as bumpers. This adjustment mirrors a similar decision at Hereford, where the 13 October card has also been trimmed to an all‑hurdle format.
The high‑profile chase contests that would normally be staged at Chepstow have been reassigned to other venues: Ffos Las will host an all‑chase card on 14 October, while Worcester will stage its own all‑chase meeting on 12 October. Ben Cook, Director of Racing for the ARC, explained the rationale behind the changes: "We are obviously disappointed to have to make these alterations to the DragonBet Welsh Racing Festival at Chepstow, but we wanted to make and announce the decision as early as possible. The racecourse team have been working incredibly hard over the course of the summer, and into the autumn, to get both of Chepstow's jumps tracks ready for this meeting. We have simply been beaten by the weather, as far as the chase course is concerned." Cook went on to detail the specific weather data that forced the decision.
In late August, Chepstow received a relatively generous 63 millimetres of rain, which, combined with the intensive irrigation programme undertaken by the ground staff, gave the surface a much‑needed boost. However, September proved far less forgiving, delivering only 43 millimetres of rainfall and none at all in the ten days leading up to the festival.
"This has stalled that progress and meant that the chase course will simply not have sufficient give in the ground," Cook said. The implications of a hard, compacted chase track are significant for both horse welfare and competitive fairness. Chase races involve larger fences and higher speeds than hurdle events, meaning that a firm surface can increase the risk of injury to the horses' legs and joints.
By limiting the programme to hurdles and flat races, which place less stress on the limbs, the organisers aim to protect the participants while still delivering a full slate of quality racing for fans. The decision also reflects a growing trend within British and Irish racing to adapt quickly to climatic variability. Over the past decade, racecourses have increasingly invested in sophisticated water‑management systems, including underground reservoirs, sprinkler networks, and even temporary synthetic covers, to mitigate the impact of droughts and heavy rain alike.
Chepstow's irrigation efforts this summer are a case in point: crews worked around the clock to pump water onto the track, hoping to soften the surface enough for safe jumping. While those measures succeeded in August, the lack of natural precipitation in September overwhelmed the system's capacity.
For trainers and owners, the revised card presents both challenges and opportunities. Horses that excel over hurdles will now have a prime platform to showcase their form ahead of the main spring festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree.
Conversely, those whose programmes were built around chase events will need to adjust their schedules, perhaps targeting the newly arranged all‑chase meetings at Ffos Las and Worcester. Many connections have already expressed appreciation for the early notice, allowing them to re‑plan travel, training regimes, and entry strategies without the disruption of a last‑minute cancellation.
Spectators, too, will experience a slightly different festival atmosphere. While the roar of a chase crowd is often louder and more dramatic, the excitement of tightly contested hurdle races can be equally compelling.
The inclusion of two National Hunt flat races adds another layer of intrigue, offering a glimpse of young, inexperienced horses transitioning from point‑to‑point or pony racing into the professional ranks. These bumpers are frequently used by trainers to gauge a horse's stamina and jumping aptitude before committing to hurdle or chase campaigns. Local businesses in Chepstow are also preparing for the altered itinerary.
Hotels, restaurants, and transport providers anticipate a steady flow of visitors drawn by the televised coverage and the festival's reputation as a social highlight of the autumn calendar. The decision to retain a full programme, even if limited to hurdles, helps maintain the economic boost that race‑day crowds traditionally bring to the town. Looking ahead, the racing industry continues to monitor weather patterns closely, employing advanced forecasting tools and collaborating with meteorological services to anticipate future disruptions.
The experience at Chepstow underscores the importance of flexibility: by reallocating chase fixtures to venues with more favourable ground conditions, the ARC demonstrates a commitment to preserving the integrity of the sport while safeguarding animal welfare. In summary, Chepstow's Welsh Racing Festival will proceed from 9 to 11 October with a schedule comprised solely of hurdle and flat contests, a direct response to an extended dry spell that left the chase course too firm for safe competition. The move has been communicated promptly by ARC Racing Director Ben Cook, who highlighted both the diligent efforts of the ground staff and the unavoidable limitations imposed by the weather.
While some fans and participants may miss the traditional chase action at Chepstow, the adjusted card ensures that high‑quality racing continues, supports the local economy, and upholds the sport's standards of safety and fairness.