Sandown’s Jump Season Finale 2026: Everything You Need to Know
The British National Hunt season reaches its dramatic conclusion this weekend at Sandown Park Racecourse, with the Jump Finale bringing the curtain down on months of top-class jumps racing.
When is the Sandown Jump Finale 2026?
The 2026 Jump Finale takes place on Saturday, April 25th, marking the final day of the UK jumps season. The first of eight races is due off at 1.13pm.
The meeting serves as the official end point of the National Hunt campaign before the sport transitions fully into the flat season.
What is the Sandown Jump Finale?
The Sandown Jump Finale is more than just another race meeting, it’s the grand finale of the entire jumps season in Britain.
- Champions are crowned (jockey, trainer, owner)
- A high-quality racecard features graded contests & lucrative handicaps
It is widely regarded as the last major meeting of the National Hunt calendar, ensuring the season finishes on a high rather than fading out quietly.
Key Races on the Card
The standout race on the day is the Gold Cup, a fiercely competitive handicap chase run over a stamina sapping 3m4½f.
Other highlights include:
- Celebration Chase (Grade 1) – elite two-mile chasers
- Select Hurdle (Grade 2) – a strong staying hurdle contest
- Oaksey Chase (Grade 2)
- Supporting handicaps featuring competitive fields
The meeting features multiple graded races, giving it a festival-like feel despite being a one-day event.
Jonbon the Sandown Headline Act
Despite failing to break his Cheltenham Festival hoodoo when finishing second in the Ryanair Chase last month, Jonbon remains a huge fans favourite in British racing. The 10-year-old has never finished outside the first two places in 28 career starts, winning 20 times, including in 12 Grade Ones.
Having finished second to the Willie Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps in the Celebration Chase last year, Jonbon will bid to return to winning ways in the contest he won in both 2023 & 2024 for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville.
Jonbon will face an Irish challenge again this year with the Joseph O’Brien-trained Solness running a belter behind Grey Dawning in the Melling Chase at Aintree last time.
Sandown’s Irish Raiders
Gaelic Warrior, Il Etait Temps, and Jump Allen gave Willie Mullins a treble on last years Sandown card and helped the Closutton handler to secure back-to-back British trainers championship titles.
Dan Skelton has already secured this season’s crown and with the Punchestown Festival fast approaching, there are just two Irish runners at the British jumps finale this time around.
- Solness – 2.55 Grade One Celebration Chase (Joseph O’Brien)
- Road To Home – 3.30 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Willie Mullins)
Why Sandown Matters
There’s a symbolic weight to Sandown hosting the finale:
- It’s one of Britain’s most historic racecourses, dating back to 1875
- The stiff uphill finish often produces fair, attritional racing
- It provides a definitive end to championship battles
The Champion Trainer and Champion Jockey titles are often decided here, adding an extra layer of drama to the card.
Atmosphere & Occasion
Unlike earlier spring festivals like Cheltenham Festival or Grand National Festival, Sandown has a unique end-of-term feel:
- Celebratory mood as the season wraps up
- Trophy presentations
- Post-racing entertainment and fan engagement
It’s both a sporting climax and a social send-off before the summer flat season begins.
A Bridge to the Flat Season
Interestingly, the Sandown weekend also overlaps with the start of the flat campaign at the track, underlining the seasonal shift in racing.
That makes it a transitional moment in the racing calendar, one season ends, another begins. The flat card is held on Friday and precedes the Saturday jumps finale.
Where Can I Watch the Sandown Jumps Finale?
Saturday’s jumps finale at Sandown will be live on both ITV & Racing TV. You can also stream every British and Irish Horse Racing, plus greyhound racing, on the BAR 1 Betting website & app.
Final Word
The Sandown Jump Finale isn’t just the last meeting of the season, it’s the final chapter in the National Hunt story, where titles are settled and top-class horses take one last bow before the summer break.
For punters, fans, and connections alike, it’s a must-watch fixture that delivers drama, quality, and closure in equal measure.
