The Jilly Cooper Veterans' Handicap Chase replaces the cancelled Cross Country Chase on 13 November. The cross country race moves to 30 January after a dry summer.

The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase will not be run at Cheltenham’s November Meeting. The racecourse cancelled it today because the cross country course is too firm to race on.

It was due on Countryside Day, Friday 13 November. It now moves to Festival Trials Day on Saturday 30 January, which becomes an eight-race card (Cheltenham Racecourse, 16 October).

Updated 10 November: the replacement is named. The 2.55pm race on Countryside Day is now The Jilly Cooper Veterans’ Handicap Chase, over 2 miles 4 furlongs on the Old Course, for horses aged 10 and over. It carries her name for this year only, so the card is back to six races (Cheltenham Racecourse, 6 November).

Why the race is off

The racecourse says the cross country course has not been watered. After “an exceptionally dry summer and unseasonably warm temperatures”, its resources have gone on getting the Old Course ready for The Showcase on 23 and 24 October. The forecast, it says, points to dry weather continuing, with not enough rain expected to make the cross country course safe by 13 November.

Jon Pullin, Clerk of the Course, said: “Given the exceptionally dry summer, which has continued into the early autumn, our priority has had to be ensuring the Old Course is ready.”

He added: “We wanted to take the decision to cancel the Cross Country Chase as early as possible to allow participants time to adjust their plans.”

What replaces it

The racecourse said on 16 October it would decide with the British Horseracing Authority and the National Trainers Federation, because other fixtures were being lost to the dry ground and their races might need a new home.

The answer came on 6 November. The slot goes to a 2 mile 4 furlong Veterans’ Handicap Chase on the Old Course, open to horses aged 10 and over. It is run as The Jilly Cooper Veterans’ Handicap Chase, in honour of the late novelist, and carries her name for this year only (Cheltenham Racecourse, 6 November).

The Countryside Day page now lists six races again, from 1.10pm to 4pm, with the Jilly Cooper race at 2.55pm. Gates open at 10.30am.

What it means for you

  • If you have tickets for Friday 13 November, the day goes ahead with six races. Only the cross country race has moved. The statement says nothing about refunds, so ask the racecourse if the race was your reason for going.
  • The rest of Countryside Day is unchanged, including the memorial bench to Dame Jilly Cooper on the Crescent Walkway. Our report: the Jilly Cooper tribute on Countryside Day.
  • To see the cross country race this winter, there are now two dates. The Christmas Meeting card still lists the Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase at 3pm on Friday 11 December (Jockey Club, Christmas Meeting Friday). The October statement did not mention that race. Then there is Festival Trials Day on 30 January.

Every meeting, gate time and ticket price to New Year is on our Cheltenham Racecourse winter fixtures page.