Aintree November Meeting 2026: Haldon Gold Cup, Racecards and Betting Markets

National Hunt action comes thick and fast between now and March 2027, as the pecking order for the Championship races at the Cheltenham Festival begins to take shape.

In a change from tradition, the West Country Weekend has been cancelled, with the key races typically held at Wincanton and Exeter moved to Aintree because the ground at both courses is unraceable after a dry summer. You can find out everything that you need to know about the two-day November meeting at Aintree here.

Aintree November Meeting 2026: Dates, Venue and Why It Moved

Aintree will host the feature races from the cancelled West Country Weekend on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November. The Haldon Gold Cup and an adjusted version of the Badger Beers Chase, worth £35,000, are the key races on the programme. The fixture is traditionally split between Exeter and Wincanton, but dry summer conditions have left both courses unraceable, so the action moves to Merseyside.

A total purse of £480,000 will be up for grabs during the meeting, which could prove crucial in the battle for the Trainers’ Championship in 2026-27. A full breakdown of the races at Aintree over the two days is below.

Friday 6 November Races

Saturday 7 November Races

Aintree Racecard: Friday 6 November Highlights

A high-quality seven-race card opens the Aintree November meeting. You can find out more about the key races and likely contenders below.

Silver Bowl ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase (2:25 PM)

A small but high-quality group of three runners will go to post for the Silver Bowl ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase at 2:25 PM. No Drama This End had been an eye-catching pre-entry, but the highly touted Paul Nicholls runner wasn’t declared and is instead listed for Saturday’s Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase.

Royal Infantry is the runner from the dominant Dan Skelton yard, and there was plenty to like about his first win over fences at Hexham in October. Good ground appears to be the key to the seven-year-old. Intosomethinggood represents the Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies team, with the yard particularly efficient early in the season. The five-year-old was a winner on chase debut at Newton Abbot.

Klimt Madrik rounds off the field for Toby Lawes, having been narrowly touched off by Talk To The Man on his first attempt over the bigger obstacles at Worcester. Plenty of back class after finishing second in the Grade One Challow Hurdle and eighth in the Grade One Turners Novices’ Hurdle.

Grade Two Haldon Gold Cup Handicap Chase (3:00 PM)

The feature on Day One of the Aintree November meeting is the prestigious Grade Two Haldon Gold Cup Handicap Chase, worth £100,000. This race has been won by high-class chasers, including Cue Card (2012) and Best Mate (2001).

JPR One is a previous winner of this race, having won two years ago and finished third in 2025. The Joe Tizzard runner looked back to his best last time when jumping efficiently to win a Handicap Chase at Cheltenham by just under a length. Mirabad had a pipe-opening run at Carlisle at the end of last month and returns to Aintree after landing the Grade One Maghull Novices’ Chase at the Grand National meeting in April.

Stencil is another one of note for trainer Tom George, having won over two miles at Chepstow in January, before his spring efforts were disappointing at Cheltenham and Aintree.

Handicap Chase (3:35 PM)

The big handicap on Friday’s card at Aintree is an adjusted version of the Badger Beers Chase, worth £80,000, and is run over a marathon distance of three miles and a furlong. Recent Cheltenham winner Here Comes Georgie will be targeting a quick-fire double for the red-hot Dan Skelton yard. However, the 13-day break is a notable concern, and the eight-year-old has quickly been raised 8lb in the handicap.

Montregard should be primed for a big run on seasonal return, having run creditably when third in a 21-runner handicap at the Punchestown Festival in May. Goes well fresh, having won at Ascot last November after a lengthy break. King Turgeon also returns after a break, with wind surgery being completed in October. The eight-year-old typically goes well at Aintree, winning the Grand Sefton over the Grand National fences in November 2024.

Aintree Racecard: Saturday 7 November Highlights

Saturday’s card at Aintree features seven races, including the prestigious Grade Two Molyneux Hurdle and the Grade Two Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase. One of the season’s major handicaps also runs on Saturday, with a smaller purse of £35,000 than on Friday, in an adjusted version of the Badger Beers Chase.

Grade Two Molyneux Hurdle (1:45 PM)

A first look at horses that could be contenders in next year’s Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival is set for Aintree on Saturday, as the Grade Two Molyneux Hurdle is due off at 1:45 PM.

Mydaddypaddy was a standout novice last season, winning twice before finishing second and third in the Grade One Formby and Grade One Supreme, respectively. Alexei was progressive throughout last season, landing the Grade Two Kingwell, before a career-best effort when third at Aintree in the Grade One Aintree Hurdle.

Mange Tout is the Irish challenger for Gordon Elliott after winning the Grade One Juvenile Hurdle at the Grand National meeting.

Handicap Chase (3:35 PM)

The feature on Saturday’s card at Aintree is the Handicap Chase due off at 3:35 PM. A big field will go to post over two miles and four furlongs, with Boombawn a clear contender for the team of Dan and Harry Skelton.

The nine-year-old will likely come on from his return run at Chepstow, and boasts plenty of eye-catching form at Aintree, including an eighth in the Topham Handicap Chase and a fourth-place finish in the Grade Two Old Roan.

Imperial Saint and Knight Of Allen make their returns following lengthy breaks. Josh The Boss could be incredibly interesting for the Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies stable on his second start following wind surgery. Southoftheborder may be on a workable mark.

Aintree Irish Runners: Irish-Trained Entries to Look For

Despite the major prize money on offer, there are limited Irish entries in the weekend’s racing at Aintree.

Cormac Farrell is one of the few to send a runner to England, with King’s Jet an intended runner in Saturday’s 3:35 PM race (as of 4 November). The six-year-old recently won over fences at Clonmel, but was disappointingly pulled up in the Hunters’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Gordon Elliott looks set to take two runners to Aintree. Chanceawetmorning is entered in the Grade Two Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase, having won his last two starts over fences. Mange Tout runs in the Grade Two Molyneux Hurdle, with the four-year-old having won four of her five starts over hurdles, which includes a victory over course and distance in Grade One company at the Grand National meeting.

Aintree Betting Markets: Win, Each-Way and Place Terms

TonyBet will offer a wide selection of markets for the horse racing at Aintree this weekend. You can find out more about the markets below:

• Win: Place a bet on a horse to win a race, and the returns are paid if the selection is declared the winner.
• Each-Way: Bets can be placed on a selection to win or place in the each-way market. Depending on the field size, bets are paid out at ¼ (2 places) and ⅕ (3 places) odds for selections that place.
• Place Betting: Bets can be placed on a horse to finish in the first two, three, or four in the place betting market. Odds are typically shorter, but this market adds a layer of insurance.

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