From Final Furlong to First Fences: Flat Season Meets Jump Season

October is one of the most exciting months in the British horse racing calendar. The Flat season prepares for its glittering finale, while anticipation builds for the official start of the Jump (National Hunt) season on 1 November 2025. For racegoers, it’s a time of celebration and expectation, when two styles of racing sit side by side.

The Curtain Falls On The Flat

The Flat season is all about speed, style and spectacle, and it bows out in fitting fashion with QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on 18 October 2025. As the richest race day in Britain, it brings together the very best horses, trainers and jockeys for one last showdown. Championships are decided, careers are defined, and some of the sport’s brightest stars take to the track for the final time.
For fans, Champions Day is a celebration - the perfect opportunity to enjoy one more taste of summer glamour before the colder months set in. For hospitality guests, it offers a premium day of racing coupled with exceptional dining and atmosphere, marking the end of the Flat season in style.

The Leap Into Jumps

As the Flat comes to an end, our attention turns to the Jump season, which officially begins on 1 November 2025. This marks the start of a new kind of racing, one defined by stamina, bravery and the spectacle of horses tackling fences and hurdles.

The opening fixture at Ascot Racecourse, the Fireworks Spectacular Family Raceday, blends top-class racing with seasonal entertainment, making it an ideal way to welcome the winter calendar. From here, the pace quickens, with storylines beginning that will ultimately lead all the way to the Cheltenham Festival in March. Jump racing feels completely different from the Flat: the distances are longer, the conditions often more testing, and the drama more unpredictable. Horses must not only be fast but also courageous, agile and resilient. It’s a true test of both skill and spirit.

 

Two Seasons, Two Styles

What makes this time of year so compelling is the sharp contrast between the codes. The Flat season closes with elegance and polish, crowned by the glamour of Champions Day. Just weeks later, the Jumps take over with raw energy and heart-stopping drama. The atmosphere on-course transforms too: sunny afternoons give way to crisp winter air, and the pace of the day shifts from champagne receptions to hearty seasonal menus and cosy hospitality spaces. For those lucky enough to enjoy both, it’s like experiencing two different sports in one season.

A Season To Savour With Hospitality

Whether you’re drawn to the speed of the Flat finale or the thrill of the first fences, this transition offers unforgettable moments. At Ascot, premium hospitality provides the ultimate way to enjoy it all, from exclusive suites and private tables to outstanding dining and service.

And as the Jumps get underway, all eyes begin to turn towards the most iconic fixture of them all: the Cheltenham Festival in March, where the season’s biggest stars will battle for glory. Experiencing these storylines from start to finish is what makes autumn racing so special.

Explore our horse racing hospitality packages and celebrate the transition from final furlongs to first fences in style.