Cheltenham’s Jewson Novices’ Chase is one of four races to be upgraded to Grade One status in the 2013-14 jumps season.
The two-and-a-half-mile heat is one of three novice events to be reclassified in the top division along with the Mildmay Novices’ Chase and Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, both run at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.
The two-mile Celebration Chase, staged at Sandown on the final day of the season, will also be a Grade One event next year.
Aintree’s two-and-a-half-mile Listed hurdle at the National meeting will now be a Grade Three affair along with November’s Becher Chase at the Merseyside venue.
The Imperial Cup at Sandown and the Ladbroke at Ascot are also lifted to Grade Three status from Listed class.
A further five races have been augmented to Listed level, topped by the four-mile John Oaksey National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Shloer Chase at Cheltenham in November , Carlisle’s Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase in October, the William Hill Hurdle Race at Kempton in October and the John Smith’s Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial at Musselburgh in February will also now carry Listed status.
