'Twas the month before Cheltenham' - February highlights in Ireland and the UK

It's the 'month before Cheltenham' but February still brings with it some top class racing action in its own right.

There remains lots to look forward to in the shortest month in the calendar and we're taking a look at what's in store throughout the rest of February.

Saturday 7th

Naas takes centre stage in Ireland on Saturday and their feature contest in the BBA Ireland Ltd Opera Hat Mares' Chase — won last year by Dinoblue en route to her Festival victory at Cheltenham in the Mares' Chase.

Saturday is officially Cheltenham Trials Day at Naas Racecourse, showcasing some of the finest National Hunt talent in the lead-up to the Cheltenham Festival.

At Newbury, meanwhile, they'll have the Denman Chase and the Game Spirit Chase, pre-Cheltenham trials and strong events in their own right, while Warwick stages the Kingmaker Novices' Chase.

Sunday 8th

Navan takes over on Sunday with the Meath venue boasting a brace of graded races via the William Hill Boyne Hurdle and the William Hill Ten Up Novice Chase.

The likes of War Of Attrition, Dunguib, Tiger Roll and Hiddenvalley Lake are all post winners of the Boyne Hurdle, a race Gordon Elliott has won in five of the last nine years.

Saturday 14th

Gowran Park comes to life for this weekend card that includes the Red Mills Chase and the Red Mills Trial Hurdle, both graded contests. Un De Sceaux, Teahupoo and Kitzbuhel are past winners of the latter event.

At Haydock they'll have their Grand National Trial, a £100k contest that features on a card alongside Grade 2s in the Rendlesham Hurdle and the Prestige Novices' Hurdle, while Wincanton has the Kingwell Hurdle, which often attracts a Champion Hurdle prospect.

Completing the set of major meetings is Ascot for their Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase card.

Sunday 15th

To Punchestown next as they host a card that in the middle of the month that includes the 1xbet.ie Grand National Trial, a key trial for Aintree in the spring, with €100,000 in the pot.

Also on the card is the Listed Irish EBF Sheila Bourke Novice Hurdle.

Wednesday 18th

Midweek action from Punchestown a few days later includes the Matchbook Betting Exchange Quevega Mares' Hurdle, a Grade 3 contest named after the six-time Cheltenham Festival scorer.

Established in 2017, Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have won eight of the nine runnings so far.

Saturday 21st

Fairyhouse is the stage for the BAR 1 Betting Bobbyjo Steeplechase, won in 2024 and 2025 by next-time-out Aintree Grand National winner I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett. Those wins took Mullins' record haul in the Bobbyjo Chase to 14 winners, with his first being Aintree National scorer Hedgehunter.

Staying is the name of the game, too, at Newcastle, where the Eider Chase is run over a four-mile plus trip.

It's also a big day at Kempton with Grade 2 action in the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle and the Dovecote Novices' Hurdle, supporting the £150,000 Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase.

Sunday 22nd

Fontwell Park stages one of its major meetings via the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle, with 2006 winner My Way De Solzen going on to land the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham the same season.

Saturday 28th

The final day of the month sees action from Navan, where the Boylesports Webster Cup and the Flyingbolt Novice Chase are the main attractions. Mullins and Ted Walsh have won the former race a record three times each, with stable star Any Second Now obliging for Walsh in 2021 and 2023.

In the UK, it's a big day for Kelso with the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle and the Premier Chase at the Borders venue, while the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury and the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster make for a stellar Saturday afternoon over jumps.