A BRAND new three day Welsh Racing Festival will take place at Chepstow this autumn, marking an exciting new chapter for the start of the jump season.

The Dragonbet sponsored festival runs from Friday, October 10 to Sunday, October 12 and brings together some of the most prestigious races in the calendar with more than £500,000 in prize money.

It expands on Chepstow’s traditional two day season opener, with officials hoping it will cement the track as the official home of the core jumps season.

Among the festival’s highlights is the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle on the opening day, a contest that has launched the careers of top class performers such as Silviniaco Conti, Reve de Sivola and Thyme Hill.

On Saturday, attention will turn to the Wasdell Group Silver Trophy and the Dragonbet Native River Handicap Chase, while Sunday hosts the biggest prize of the weekend, the Dragonbet Welsh Champion Hurdle. The Robert Mottram Novices’ Chase has also been moved to close the festival on the final day.

Chepstow’s general manager Luke Admans said: “This festival builds on everything that made the jump season opener such a highlight of the calendar. By transforming it into the Dragonbet Welsh Racing Festival, and bringing home the Welsh Champion Hurdle, we’re creating a sporting and cultural event that celebrates the very best of Wales.”

As part of the celebrations, organisers will also launch a Welsh Racing Hall of Fame and a Piercefield Cup Trainers’ Championship across the three days. Live music will follow racing each day, adding to the festival atmosphere.

We’ll be bringing you live coverage across all three days, with updates, reaction and results direct from the course as this exciting new event gets under way next month