National Hunt racing is the official name given to horse racing in the UK and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called Hurdle and Chase races. As an introduction to National Hunt inexperienced horses compete in Bumper races to gain racing experience on flat conditions before beginning a career hurdling or chasing.

National Hunt races are graded with Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3 the most prestigious.  The more highly graded races attract more prize money and better horses and because of this the punter should expect more competitive and truer run races.

Grade 3 and lesser type races are generally Handicap Races where horses carry different weights, allocated by the handicapper. A better horse will carry a heavier weight, to attempt to give weaker horses an equal opportunity in winning. The handicapper's goal in assigning handicap weights is to enable all the horses to finish together (in a dead heat). The skill in betting on a handicap race, therefore, lies in determining which horse can overcome his or her handicap. 

This is not a betting or tipping site as such and is intended to be an informative platform for those interested in following National Hunt racing as a hobby and having a bet with minimal risk.

The Whiteflagman focuses on Grade 1 and Grade 2 (Bumper, Hurdle and Chase) races and hence avoids the more difficult and unpredicable Handicap events 

 We are not necessarily here to make a profit but to provide a FREE service to help you the follow the sport we love without the risk of loosing too much of your hard earned money,

Don't forget to keep a regular watch on our Horses to Follow over the course of the season

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