Newbury

Left-handed, galloping and with few undulations, Newbury is widely regarded as one of the fairest jumps courses in Britain. Two long straights and sweeping bends give horses plenty of time to find their rhythm, with the spacious layout particularly well suited to big, long-striding types.

The chase course provides a fair jumping test and, while its fences have traditionally been considered fairly stiff, casualty rates are relatively low. Races are often steadily run and the generally high standard of horses competing here may also contribute to that record. Newbury is particularly suitable for novice chasers, with few especially tricky obstacles, although the cross-fence has caused problems in the past.

Track position becomes important late in a race, as leaders are rarely overhauled after reaching the elbow on the chase run-in. Ground conditions can differ between the two tracks, with the hurdles course sometimes riding more testing. Overall, Newbury rewards fluent jumping, smooth travelling and a strong, sustained gallop.