When living in the UK, it is easy to think that National Hunt racing takes place in Britain, Ireland, and nowhere else. That focus on the domestic is a result of the stacked, high-class fixture list. The twin titans of the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree Grand National Meeting dominate the spring, while Punchestown and Kempton provide traditional festive highlights, to name just a few examples. From the moment it kicks off in October, the British and Irish jumps season provides more than enough to keep fans entertained.
However, fans who limit their view to just two racing nations are missing out. Far from being an exclusively Anglo-Irish affair, jumps racing takes place all around the world. Those seeking national hunt racing with an international twist won’t want to miss the following five events.
France – The Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris
- Where – Auteuil Hippodrome, Paris
- When – May
Making its debut in 1874 under the Grand National de France moniker, Auteuil made no effort to hide the inspiration behind its new jumps race. Renamed the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris in 1876, the event was initially run as a handicap affair, much like its Aintree counterpart.
Now a weight for age contest, the 3m6f trip isn’t as demanding as the 4m2½f of the Grand National. However, some of the fences give the likes of The Chair and Becher’s Brook a run for their money. Those tackling the May highlight face 23 obstacles, including the Bullfinch and the Riviere des Tribunes. Most formidable of all is the notorious Rail Ditch and Fence, which has earned the nickname “Justice of the Peace”.
With prize money regularly exceeding €850,000, the highlight of the French jumping year often lures British and Irish raiders across the Channel. Jerry M (1910) and Troytown (1919) both won this race as well as the Grand National. However, British and Irish raiders most often return with little to show for their efforts. As of 2025, the most recent British winner was the Fulke Walwyn-trained Mandarin in 1962. However, English trainer Louisa Carberry, who is based in France, has won this race three times between 2020 and 2024.
With three wins apiece, Mid Dancer, Hyeres III, and Katko are the most successful horses in the history of the race.
The United States – The American Grand National
- Where – Far Hills, New Jersey
- When – October
In comparison with its flat counterpart, jumps racing is a niche pursuit in the USA. However, the sport remains popular across the East Coast, particularly in Maryland, Virginia, and New York.
The biggest race of the jumps year takes place in the natural amphitheatre of Far Hills Racecourse, New Jersey. Despite its title, the American Grand National bears little resemblance to its Merseyside inspiration. The 2m5f trip and softer “fences” – more like British or Irish hurdles – put the emphasis on speed rather than bottomless stamina.
The USA is a long way to travel for a jumps race. However, the $250,000 purse is often hard to resist for the leading British and Irish trainers. Those making the trans-Atlantic trip enjoyed a golden period between 2018 and 2025, thanks to the wins of Jury Duty and Zanahiyr (Gordon Elliott), Brain Power (Nicky Henderson), and Hewick (Shark Hanlon).
Japan – The Nakayama Grand Jump
- Where – Nakayama Racecourse, Tokyo
- When – April
Alongside the Nakayama Daishogai, the Nakayama Grand Jump is one of two Grade 1 jump races to take place in the Land of the Rising Sun. Making its debut in 1999, the 2m5f contest is relatively new to the Japanese racing scene. However, it has wasted little time becoming one of the most coveted staying chases in the world. The ¥142,660,000 in prize money on offer goes some way to explaining the appeal. Equating to around £750,000, that’s less than the Grand National, but more than the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and almost three times the amount available in the King George VI Chase.
The Grand Jump unfolds around the twists and turns of Nakayama’s figure-of-eight jumps course, which criss-crosses the dirt track. With its steep rises and falls, large brush fences, and a tricky water jump, the layout demands jumping accuracy, balance, stamina, and tactical pace.
Considering the huge prize money on offer, it is surprising that more British and Irish trainers don’t target the Nakayama Grand Jump. As of 2025, the Willie Mullins-trained Blackstairmountain (2013) is the only British or Irish runner to land the prize. Meanwhile, the record of the most successful horse in the race is unlikely ever to be broken. Shinichi Ishigami’s superstar, Oju Chosan, won five successive editions between 2016 and 2020.
The Czech Republic – The Velká Pardubická
- Where – Pardubice Racecourse, Pardubice
- When – October
The second Sunday in October sees the annual edition of the biggest race on the Czech racing calendar. In many ways, the Velká Pardubická is the most traditional of all the contests on our international list, recalling the church steeple-to-church steeple events that gave rise to the term steeplechasing.
Sitting somewhere between a cross-country event and the Aintree Grand National, the 4m2½f marathon takes place over a mix of racecourse turf and ploughed fields. Natural ditches and banks feature among the 31 obstacles, alongside hedges, troughs, stone walls, moats, brooks, and more. The track’s most famous fences are the formidable Taxis Ditch and Popler’s Ditch – named in honour of Grand Captain Rudolph Popler, who lost his life at the obstacle in 1932. It is with good reason that many recognise the Velká Pardubická as the most gruelling jumps race in the world.
Remounted after falling at Popler’s Ditch, Železník went on to register a record-setting fourth Velká Pardubická win in 1991. Among the riders, Countess Lata Brandisova became the first female winner when partnering Norma to victory in 1937. Josef Vana, meanwhile, enjoys national hero status in the Czech Republic thanks to his eight wins in the race. In 2025, Gavin Cromwell became the first Irish trainer to win this race when Keith Donoghue rode Stumptown to victory.
What a horse! 🤩
Stumptown wins the Velka Pardubicka for @gavincromwell1 and @donoghue_keith! pic.twitter.com/QANtUXRPOq
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 12, 2025
Italy – The Gran Premio di Merano
- Where – Pferderennplatz Merano, Merano
- When – September
Italy’s premier jumps race takes place near the relaxing spa town of Merano in the north of the country. First run in 1935 to mark the opening of the Pferderennplatz Merano, the Gran Premio di Merano became known as the “Million Race” thanks to the 1 million lire prize pool. Though equivalent to only around €480 in today’s money, the Gran Premio di Merano enjoyed a brief period as the richest race in Europe.
The twisting figure-of-eight layout is similar to that of the Nakayama Grand Jump, while the 24 obstacles most closely resemble those in Cross Country events such as the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham.
The race enjoys ties to the Velká Pardubická, thanks to the four-time winner L’Estran. While L’Estran never competed in the Czech Republic, his trainer Josef Vana Jnr is the son of the eight-time Velká Pardubická winning jockey. When scanning the list of previous winning riders, UK fans will be drawn to the names of Jim Crowley, who won the 2004 edition in his jumps racing days, and James Reveley, who won back-to-back editions in 2010 and 2011.
With the Alps towering in the background, the Gran Premio Merano is among the sport’s most visually stunning races.