As the 2017/2018 NH season begins to kick into gear so, too, does the 2017/18 edition of the Challenger Series which gets underway with the Mares’ Series at Worcester Racecourse today.
A field of eight have been declared for the opening heat of the Challenger Series and they will have their sights set on a big prize at Haydock Park come next March.
Two of last years finalists, Twenty Eight Guns and Song Saa, are in the line-up and will be hoping to secure qualification this season at the first possible opportunity.
Michael Scudamore, trainer of Twenty Eight Guns, said: "The Challenger Series is a great initiative with really good prize money that you can aim for towards the end of the season.
"It provides a real incentive for trainers with that kind of mid-tier level horse and you’d be crazy not to look at it and aim horses for it.
"The Mares’ Chase Series especially really is fantastic and we had three in the final last year. We've some nice mares set to go chasing this season as well and we’ll look to set aside a couple to aim at the final this season which is great."
Paul Johnson, Head of Racing at the BHA, said: "We continue to be pleased with the performance of the Challenger Series and are looking forward to it kicking off for a third year.
"As well as offering a hugely competitive feature meeting for the racing public on Easter Saturday, the series provides meaningful, high value targets to connections of talented horses that operate just below the top class, something that can only be beneficial in supporting ownership at that level.
"Although all of the finals were competitive heats it was particularly encouraging to see 12 runners assembled for the Mares' Chase final, which was run for the first time. It's great that this series kicks of the 2017/18 edition of the Challenger Series and we look forward to seeing this, alongside all of the series, continue to develop in the coming years."
The Challenger Series, launched in 2015 as a result of the Jump racing review conducted by the BHA, has been well received by the racing public and is now a vital part of the racing calendar amongst trainers and owners.
Aimed at horses who operate at class three and four level, it comprises six separate series that allow horses rated up to 135 to qualify for a finals day at the Jockey Club’s Haydock Park Racecourse on Easter Saturday, 31 March 2017.
Each of the six finals carries £50,000 in prize money, resulting in a £300,000 raceday, which provides a substantial incentive and boost not only for mid-tier owners and trainers, but also for jump racing in the north.
34 racecourses will host Challenger Series qualifiers across the jumps season, including racecourses operated by Jockey Club Racecourses (JCR), Arena Racing Company (ARC) and independent tracks.
