Is it possible to work out the name of the Epic for Futures.

[TwoStepsForwardOneStepBack]

Is it possible to work out the name of the Epic for an upcoming Futures market?

I'll use natural gas as an example.  In June 2023 I use the API companion and see the July and August futures (see below).  What will the epic be named that expires in SEP-23 ? Indirectly I guess I am also asking is the "Month1" part of the AUG-23 epic (for example) going to change ?

    {
        "delayTime": 0,
        "epic": "EN.D.NG.Month2.IP",
        "netChange": 23.0,
        "lotSize": 10,
        "expiry": "JUL-23",
        "instrumentType": "COMMODITIES",
        "instrumentName": "Natural Gas",
        "high": 2697.0,
        "low": 2628.0,
        "percentageChange": 0.86,
        "updateTime": "39340000",
        "updateTimeUTC": "10:55:40",
        "bid": 2680.0,
        "offer": 2690.0,
        "otcTradeable": true,
        "streamingPricesAvailable": true,
        "marketStatus": "TRADEABLE",
        "scalingFactor": 1
    }, {
        "delayTime": 0,
        "epic": "EN.D.NG.Month1.IP",
        "netChange": 21.0,
        "lotSize": 10,
        "expiry": "AUG-23",
        "instrumentType": "COMMODITIES",
        "instrumentName": "Natural Gas",
        "high": 2784.0,
        "low": 2718.0,
        "percentageChange": 0.76,
        "updateTime": "39340000",
        "updateTimeUTC": "10:55:40",
        "bid": 2767.0,
        "offer": 2777.0,
        "otcTradeable": true,
        "streamingPricesAvailable": true,
        "marketStatus": "TRADEABLE",
        "scalingFactor": 1
    }

 

 

[bug-or-feature]

Unfortunately, it is not possible. The way IG manage epics for their dated spread bets is extremely unhelpful; they recycle epics. Right now

EN.D.NG.Month2.IP represents the JUL-23 contract, and
EN.D.NG.Month1.IP represents the AUG-23 contract

Most likely, EN.D.NG.Month2.IP will be the SEP-23 contract. But, we cannot know for sure. They may skip a contract, ie skip September and go straight to October. Or, they could use another epic entirely, eg EN.D.NG.MONTH2.IP. Or anything else.

[TwoStepsForwardOneStepBack]

Thanks for the reply. Looks like I will need to retrieve the epic every time I need to open a new trade.