The curtain came down on the 2025/26 horse racing jumps season at Sandown on Saturday 26th April – with Willie Mullins winning the trainers’ title after a dramatic last week tussle with Dan Skelton – but just when does the new 2025/26 horse racing jump season start?
The NEW British Horse Racing 2025/26 Jump Season Started On Sunday 27th April 2025
If you are a jump jockey or trainer – there is no real rest as the official start of the NEW 2025/26 jump season begins just ONE DAY after it finished.
Yes, even though there were no British jumps fixtures on Sunday 27th April 2025 – this is the official start date of the new 2025/26 jump season.
On a plus, for the hedge-hopper stables and riders – there is NO British jumps racing until Friday May 2nd – but this is only a Hunters’ Chase card at Cheltenham.
With the first real National Hunt fixtures for the new 2025/26 jump season being on Saturday 3rd May, with cards at both Hexham and Uttoxeter.
Trainer Dan Skelton, who lost out on the 2024/25 trainers’ title in an epic battle with Willie Mullins, has entries at the Hunters’ Chase card at Cheltenham on Friday 2nd May.
When Does The 2025/26 British Horse Racing Jump Season End?
With the 2025/26 British jumps season starting on Sunday 27th April 2025, the National Hunt season will run till Saturday April 25th 2026 – with the traditional bet365 Jumps Finale card at Sandown the last meeting as always.
2025/26 Jump Season Key Dates
- 2025/26 British Jump Season Starts – Sunday 27th April 2025
- First NH 2025/26 Fixtures – Fri 2nd May (Cheltenham), Sat 3rd May (Hexham & Uttoxeter)
- 2025/26 British Jump Season Ends – Saturday 25th April 2026
- 2026 Cheltenham Festival Dates – Tues 10th-Fri 13th March 2026
- 2026 Aintree Grand National Festival Dates – Thurs 9th-Sat 11th April 2026
2024-25 British Jump Trainers’ Final Title: Willie Mullins Wins For A Second Time
The British jump trainers’ title is won by the total prize money won – not the number of winners.
With is why top Irish trainer Willie Mullins managed to see off Dan Skelton in an epic battle that went down the final day.
Mullins managed to amass a cool £3,570,991 in winnings with JUST 38 winners in Britain.
Which compares to Dan Skelton, who fired in a much bigger 179 winners and won a total of £3,371,484 in prize money.
Meaning Mullins, who won the Celebration Chase and had the second, third, fourth and fifth in the bet365 Gold Cup, ended up £199,507 clear after starting the final day at Sandown behind Skelton.
Willie Mullins was well behind Skelton heading into the 2025 Aintree Grand National Meeting, but a stack of winners that included a remarkable 1-2-3 in the Grand National saw the Closutton yard back in touch (watch below) – which led to them sending over many runners in the final few weeks of the season to land the title.
The 2024/25 British jump trainers’ title for Willie Mullins followed his win in 2023/24 – when he became the first Irish trainer since Vincent O’Brien in 1954 to win the title.
2024/25 British Jump Trainers’ Title Final Standings
- Willie Mullins – £3,570,991 (38 wins / 204 runners)
- Dan Skelton – £3,371,484 (179 wins / 996 runners)
2025/26 British Jump Trainers’ Title Betting Odds
Despite winning the last two trainers’ titles, Willie Mullins is still the clear second favourite behind Dan Skelton to win a third in 2025/26.
- Dan Skelton – 4/7
- Willie Mullins – 3/1
- Paul Nicholls – 5/1
- Nicky Henderson – 12/1
Note: Odds are subject to change
Champion Jump Trainers (Last 10)
- 2024/25 – Willie Mullins
- 2023/24 – Willie Mullins
- 2022/23 – Paul Nicholls
- 2021/22 – Paul Nicholls
- 2020/21 – Paul Nicholls
- 2019/20 – Nicky Henderson
- 2018/19 – Paul Nicholls
- 2017/18 – Nicky Henderson
- 2016/17 – Nicky Henderson
- 2015/16 – Paul Nicholls
Sean Bowen Won His First Jump Jockeys’ Title In 2025
Having fired in 180 winners during the 2024/25 jump season, jockey Sean Bowen was crowned champion jockey.
He was 38 clear of Harry Skelton in second with 142 winners, with Harry Cobden in third (116), Sam Twiston-Davies in fourth (109) and Gavin Sheehan in fifth (106).
Bowen ended the season with a cracking win in the bet365 Gold Cup on the final day of the campaign – when guiding home the Olly Murphy-trained Resplendent Grey (watch below).
2025/26 British Jump Jockeys’ Title Betting Odds
Sean Bowen is the big favourite to successfully defend his jockeys’ title again in 2025/26.
- Sean Bowen – 1/4
- Harry Cobden – 6/1
- Harry Skelton – 6/1
- Sam Twiston-Davies – 33/1
🏆RESPLENDENT GREY TAKES BET365 GOLD CUP🏆
A fairytale finish for Sean Bowen and Olly Murphy 💪 #ITVRacing | @Sean_Bowen_ | @o_j_murphy pic.twitter.com/8OX2nYMwNe
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 26, 2025
Champion Jump Jockey Winners (Last 10)
- 2024/25 – Sean Bowen (180)
- 2023/24 – Harry Cobden (164)
- 2022/23 – Brian Hughes (165)
- 2021/22 – Brian Hughes (204)
- 2020/21 – Harry Skelton (152)
- 2019/20 – Brian Hughes (141)
- 2018/19 – Richard Johnson (200)
- 2017/18 – Richard Johnson (176)
- 2016/17 – Richard Johnson (180)
- 2015/16 – Richard Johnson (235)
*Note: Number of winners are in brackets
