Class 1
All 'Pattern' (i.e. major) races carry Class 1 status which represents the highest class of race-type. In order to be entered for Class 1 races your horse needs to be of a high enough handicap rating.
Class 1 races are sub-divided further into Grades:
Grade 1 - Championship races where the weight carried by each horses is determined by age and sex with no penalties for previous wins. (Weight-for-Age). They are generally the top races and attract the best horses and biggest prizes.
There are 30 Grade 1 races in the Jumps season, which are listed below.
Grade 2 - Either Weight-for-Age races (like Grade 1), but with penalties for previous wins, or Limited Handicaps which feature narrow weight ranges.
Grade 3 - Valuable Open Handicaps where the weight carried is determined by a horse's Handicap rating.
Listed races - Just below Graded races but are still recognised as high quality competition because of the standard of the horses involved.
Classes 2 - 7
All other races below Class 1 are divided simply into the class of the race, again based on the horse's rating. Class 2 races are worth more prize money than Class 4 races, but your horse needs to be of a higher rating to be allowed to race at this level, and so on.
