Unibet Jump Season Opener this October has received a significant prize money boost.
The two-day meeting on October 8th and 9th traditionally launches the winter national hunt programme in the UK. Prize money for the fixture rises to £400,000 – an increase of £163,600.
The Grade 2 Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle, won in previous years by Silviniaco Conti, Secret Investor, Blaklion and McFabulous, will be worth £60,000 (up from £30,000).
Don’t Push It and Ballyoptic are two high profile previous winners of the Wasdell Group Silver Trophy, the feature on the Saturday, which will be run for £75,000 (from £40,000).
In addition, the Robert Mottram Listed Novices Chase, a race chosen for Cue Card’s debut over fences in 2011, will be increased to £40,000 (from £20,000) and the 2m 3f Open Handicap Chase on Saturday will be run for £50,000 (from £25,000).
Other races receiving a boost are the 3m Novices’ Chase on Friday which increases from £10,800 to £20,000 and the 3m Open Handicap Chase on Saturday will be worth £35,000 (from £25,000). Also, the four-year-old only 2m hurdle on the Saturday rises to £25,000 from £16,000.
The 3m Veterans’ Handicap Chase, won last year by the Paul Nicholls trained Present Man, rises to £30,000 from £25,000.
Chepstow’s Executive Director, Phil Bell, said: “The Jump Season Opener has really thrived since moving to a two-day fixture.
“We hope that by further strengthening some of the key races at the meeting, we can really help establish it amongst the premier fixtures in the British jumping calendar and offer owners, trainers and fans of National Hunt racing a real highlight at the beginning of the season.”
| 2021 | 2020 | Difference | ||||||||
| DAY | CLASS | TYPE | RACE TYPE | RATING | AGE | DISTANCE | RACE | PM | PM | PM |
| Fri | H: 4 | WFA | Mares' Novices' | 4+ | 2m 3f 100y | EBF Hurdle | £9,000 | £5,800 | £3,200 | |
| Fri | H: 1-Gr2N | WFA | Novices' | 4+ | 2m 3f 100y | Persian War Hurdle | £60,000 | £30,000 | £30,000 | |
| Fri | SC: 4 | Hcap | Handicap | 0-110 | 4+ | 2m 7f 131y | Steeplechase | £8,000 | £6,200 | £1,800 |
| Fri | H: 2-other | Hcap | Limited Hcap | Open | 4 | 2m 11y | Hurdle | £25,000 | £16,000 | £9,000 |
| Fri | H: 4 | WFA | Novice | 4+ | 2m 11y | Hurdle | £9,000 | £5,800 | £3,200 | |
| Fri | SC: 2-other | Hcap | Handicap | 0-150 | 10+ | 2m 7f 131y | Steeplechase (Vets 3m) | £30,000 | £25,000 | £5,000 |
| Fri | SC: 2 | WFA | Novices' | 4+ | 2m 7f 131y | Steeplechase | £20,000 | £10,800 | £9,200 | |
| Sat | H: 1-Gr3 | Hcap | Handicap | Open | 4+ | 2m 3f 100y | Silver Trophy Hurdle | £75,000 | £40,000 | £35,000 |
| Sat | SC: 1-LN | WFA | Novices' | Open | 4+ | 2m 3f 98y | Steeplechase | £35,000 | £20,000 | £15,000 |
| Sat | H: 4-F | NHF | 4,5,6 | 2m 11y | National Hunt Flat Div I | £5,000 | £5,000 | £0 | ||
| Sat | H: 4 | WFA | Juvenile | 3 | 2m 11y | Hurdle | £9,000 | £5,800 | £3,200 | |
| Sat | H: 2-other | Hcap | Handicap | 0-150 | 5+ | 2m 11y | Hurdle | £25,000 | £16,000 | £9,000 |
| Sat | SC: 2-OH | Hcap | Hcap | Open | 4+ | 2m 7f 131y | Steeplechase | £50,000 | £25,000 | £25,000 |
| Sat | SC: 2-OH | Hcap | Hcap | Open | 4+ | 2m 3f 110y | Steeplechase | £40,000 | £25,000 | £15,000 |
| £400,000 | £236,400 | + £163,600 |
