Ascot is not just about Flat racing though. The Berkshire track stages eight quality jumps fixtures from October to March each year, including three Grade One races; the BGC Long Walk Hurdle (December), Victor Chandler Chase (January) and Betfair Ascot Chase (February).
The Long Walk Hurdle is second only to the World Hurdle in prestige for staying hurdlers and often proves a reliable guide to the end of season climax at the Cheltenham Festival. It is the highest quality event staged at the BGC Christmas Meeting, supported by the £150,000 Ladbroke Hurdle, the most valuable handicap hurdle run in Europe and often the scene of exciting competition between Great Britain and Ireland.
In early January the top speed chasers take centre stage in the Victor Chandler Chase over two miles. One of only two Grade One races over that distance before Cheltenham (the other being the Tingle Creek at Sandown), the very best prospects for the Festival are likely to be on show at Ascot in the new year.
February's highlight is the Ascot Chase, run over the intermediate distance of 2 ½ miles and as such often used by trainers to prepare horses for either the Champion Chase or Gold Cup at Cheltenham, but also in more recent times for the Ryanair Chase, run over the same trip as the Ascot contest.