Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has announced the introduction of three-year-old NH Academy Hurdle races.
The races will begin in October 2025 and will be open to three-year-old horses; who have not had any previous run on the flat or under national hunt rules other than in academy hurdle races.
The races are designed to enhance the development of jumps horses in Ireland. The NH Academy Hurdle races will have a focus on jumping, with racecourses and distances selected to maximise the optimum number of obstacles in each race.
This series of races, run for standard prize money, are viewed as the initial starting point for Irish National Hunt horses on the track.
Winners of these races will be qualified to run in bumpers and maiden hurdles in Ireland. The objective being to encourage young NH horses to enter training earlier but yet have access to a programme that does not require them to be rushed should they win a NH Academy Hurdle race.
Handicapper to assess all races
Other elements of the series to note are each NH Academy Hurdle run will be considered by the IHRB Handicapper in assessing a horse for a handicap rating; a number of these races will carry IRE style vouchers for eligible winning and placed horses; and non-winners will remain eligible to be registered for a Hunter Certificate to run in point-to-points.
“In recent years the advantages of starting young thoroughbred horses at an early stage have been identified in various studies and the data now available further supports this” said John Osborne, Director of Bloodstock at Horse Racing Ireland.
“Exposing horses to measured exercise at an early stage can have a positive impact on their performances and longevity in racing”.
“There are many people in the Irish breeding world who recognised early the potential of this series and committed to working towards it.
Horse Racing Ireland will stay agile in ensuring that we do everything we can to make this a success in 2025 and beyond.”
