The BetMGM Haldon Gold Cup and the Badger Beers Handicap Chase will be run at Aintree next month after the ground at Exeter and Wincanton was declared unraceable. The two West Country Weekend fixtures have been moved in their entirety to Merseyside and will keep their original dates of Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November.
The Jockey Club, which runs all three courses, announced the decision on Tuesday 27 October. A summer of high temperatures and limited rainfall has left the ground at both West Country tracks predominantly firm. Exeter and Wincanton have had some rain in the last fortnight and more is forecast, but officials do not expect it to be enough to produce safe ground in time.
What moves to Aintree
The British Horseracing Authority has allowed the feature races to be rescheduled at their original prize money, with £555,000 on offer across the two days. As well as the two big handicaps, Aintree will stage the Grade 2 Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase and the BetMGM ‘Future Stars’ Silver Bowl Novices’ Chase.
Wincanton’s Elite Hurdle had already been moved to Aintree. It now runs as the Grade 2 William Hill Molyneux Hurdle and becomes part of the revised Saturday card, which Aintree says has been strengthened by the extra races. ITV Racing will show both days.
Andrew Morris, the Jockey Club’s director of racing and industry relations, said it was disappointing for the teams at Exeter and Wincanton to lose two of the highlights of their seasons, but that the priority would always be safe ground for the horses and riders. He thanked the BHA for its flexibility over prize money. Aintree’s head of racing, Sulekha Varma, said the course was pleased to give the races a home, while acknowledging the disappointment in the West Country.
Last year’s winners
Dan Skelton’s Thistle Ask made all to win last year’s Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter by seven lengths at 3/1, with Saint Segal second. The next day at Wincanton, Anthony Honeyball’s Gustavian made all in the Badger Beers Chase and won by nine and a half lengths at 11/2.
Both winners made all on right-handed tracks. Aintree races left-handed, so this year’s renewals will be a different test for horses with right-handed course form.
Major races at Aintree on 6 & 7 November
Here are the key major races that will be moved to Aintree between 6 & 7 November.
| Date | Race | Type | Originally due at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 6 November | BetMGM Haldon Gold Cup | Grade 2 Limited Handicap Chase | Exeter |
| Friday 6 November | BetMGM ‘Future Stars’ Silver Bowl Novices’ Chase | Novices’ Chase | Exeter |
| Saturday 7 November | Badger Beers Handicap Chase | Premier Handicap Chase | Wincanton |
| Saturday 7 November | Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase | Grade 2 Novices’ Chase | Wincanton |
| Saturday 7 November | William Hill Molyneux Hurdle (formerly the Elite Hurdle) | Grade 2 Hurdle | Wincanton (already moved to Aintree) |