Aintree results today: Rubaud lands Haldon Gold Cup for Paul Nicholls as Royal Infantry jumps to victory

Rubaud put his fencing questions to bed in the Grade 2 BetMGM Haldon Gold Cup at Aintree on Friday, making almost all the running under Sam Twiston-Davies to beat JPR One and the favourite Mirabad. The win moves Paul Nicholls within one of Martin Pipe’s record, while Dan Skelton had earlier taken the “Chasing Excellnce” novice chase with Royal Infantry, whose jumping proved the difference.

Here are the Aintree results from the first day of the relocated West Country weekend.

Rubaud comes good over fences in the Haldon Gold Cup

Rubaud has never lacked ability, as proven by a haul of five Grade 2s prior to today, including three Elite Hurdles at Wincanton, but there has always been a question about how much he wanted to do it over fences. A Pendil Novices’ Chase winner at Kempton in 2025, he spent most of last season back over hurdles, and his only chase start of the campaign ended with him being pulled up in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival.

There was no hint of those doubts here. Twiston-Davies sent the eight-year-old straight to the front, and while a mistake at the sixth allowed JPR One to join him, he was back in front before three out and had the race in safe keeping after a spring-heeled leap at the last. The 4/1 shot came home six-and-a-half lengths clear of top-weight JPR One, with Mirabad two-and-a-quarter lengths away in third.

Rubaud won the Elite Hurdle last year, the race that takes place at Aintree tomorrow as the Molyneux Hurdle. He has never been short of speed, and if he keeps jumping like this, the two-mile handicap chase division has a new player for the winter.

It was the result Nicholls needed after Below The Radar and Paso Doble fell short earlier in the afternoon. He started the day three winners short of breaking Pipe’s record of 3,930 British jumps winners, so he now needs one to draw level and two to pass it. He has four runners back at Aintree on Saturday, including Challow winner No Drama This End in the Rising Stars Novices’ Chase.

Royal Infantry jumps his way to victory

The BetMGM Future Stars Novices’ Chase over 3m1f was only a three-runner race, but it was a proper one on paper. Skelton’s Royal Infantry, the 11/8 shot, made all under Harry Skelton and outjumped the 6/5 favourite Klimt Madrik to win by two-and-a-half lengths.

Toby Lawes‘ runner could not get to grips with his jumping, nor at times his own size. As such, Royal Infantry, for all he went out to his right on occasions, was far quicker and slicker in the air, and was clear before the last. Intosomethinggood was another two-and-a-half lengths back in third.

Royal Infantry failed to win in six starts last season, including when a well-beaten third on his only chase start at Cheltenham, but he made all to win a beginners’ chase at Hexham at 4/11 last month, and he has now done it again in better company. A front-running novice who jumps like that will be dangerous wherever he goes this winter.

Commercial notice: This article on GG.co.uk contains affiliate links. The offers we promote come from operators that we trust and our experts have first-hand experience dealing with. If you open an account through one of these affiliate links then GG will earn revenue. However, we ensure that the money earned goes back into improving and enhancing our coverage of horse racing and other sports, as we look to provide an excellent service to our growing audience.