Leopardstown Hurdles Upgraded National Hunt racing is to have two new Grade 1 races this season with Leopardstown`s December Hurdle and the Deloitte & Touche Novice Hurdle both being upgraded. Those two races are among a significant number of changes announced by Horse Racing Ireland for the rest of this season and the first half of next year's campaign. A total of 15 new Grade 3 events and five new Listed races have been created to fill gaps in the existing jumps programme, increasing the number of so-called `black type' races from 93 to 113. In addition, nine races have been promoted from Grade 3 to Grade 2 level while nine graded handicaps have also had their status enhanced. Jason Morris, the HRI`s director of racing, said, 'We have undertaken a thorough review of the National Hunt Pattern and we believe the end result has produced an improved and better balanced programme of races to reflect the increasing number of high quality jumpers now being trained in Ireland.' Prize-money levels for the upgraded and new races will be finalised when the HRI meets next month to decide on overall prize money distribution for 2003, according to Morris. Those races upgraded to Grade 2 level in the immediate future include the Dial A Bet Chase and the William Neville & Sons Novice Chase at Leopardstown on December 27 and 28. Among the new races on the schedule for early in the New Year are a two-mile Listed chase at Naas on January 19 and a Grade 3 chase, over the same trip, at Punchestown on February 2.Prize-money levels for the upgraded and new races will be finalised when the HRI meets next month to decide on overall prize money distribution for 2003, according to Morris. Those races upgraded to Grade 2 level in the immediate future include the Dial A Bet Chase and the William Neville & Sons Novice Chase at Leopardstown on December 27 and 28. Among the new races on the schedule for early in the New Year are a two-mile Listed chase at Naas on January 19 and a Grade 3 chase, over the same trip, at Punchestown on February 2.National Hunt racing is to have two new Grade 1 races this season with Leopardstown`s December Hurdle and the Deloitte & Touche Novice Hurdle both being upgraded. Those two races are among a significant number of changes announced by Horse Racing Ireland for the rest of this season and the first half of next year's campaign. A total of 15 new Grade 3 events and five new Listed races have been created to fill gaps in the existing jumps programme, increasing the number of so-called `black type' races from 93 to 113. In addition, nine races have been promoted from Grade 3 to Grade 2 level while nine graded handicaps have also had their status enhanced. Jason Morris, the HRI`s director of racing, said, 'We have undertaken a thorough review of the National Hunt Pattern and we believe the end result has produced an improved and better balanced programme of races to reflect the increasing number of high quality jumpers now being trained in Ireland.' Prize-money levels for the upgraded and new races will be finalised when the HRI meets next month to decide on overall prize money distribution for 2003, according to Morris. Those races upgraded to Grade 2 level in the immediate future include the Dial A Bet Chase and the William Neville & Sons Novice Chase at Leopardstown on December 27 and 28. Among the new races on the schedule for early in the New Year are a two-mile Listed chase at Naas on January 19 and a Grade 3 chase, over the same trip, at Punchestown on February 2.
