The Jockey Club have announced further rescheduling plans for Cheltenham's cancelled April meeting, with all races which were due to be staged over the two days now taking place at alternative venues.
Having engaged with the National Trainers Federation (NTF) and British Horseracing Authority (BHA), The Jockey Club explored options to extend the number of races being rescheduled from the April meeting, having announced on Monday that a major upgrade of Cheltenham’s drainage systems is to take place immediately to give the racing surface time to recover for the start of the 2026/27 season.
The card that was scheduled to take place at Cheltenham on Wednesday April 15 will now be run at Haydock Park on the same date, with the Mares’ Listed Novices’ Hurdle (traditionally run on the second day of the April meeting) also added, making it an eight-race card with the same prize money values.
In addition, the two races that were due to take place on day two of the April meeting and had not been rescheduled at the time of Monday’s announcement, will be run at Wincanton on Sunday April 12, also for the same prize money as originally listed. These races are as follows:
- 2m Mares’ Handicap Chase
- Fillies’ National Hunt Flat race
On Monday, Cheltenham announced its decision to upgrade drainage systems with immediate effect, following consultation between the grounds team, drainage contractors and agronomists, all of whom agreed the track would benefit from work being carried out while there was still moisture in the ground to aid recovery and to minimise any potential impact on the start of next season at the Home of Jump Racing.
Speaking after the further rescheduling plans were confirmed, Richard Norris, Director of Racing at The Jockey Club, said: “We have been engaging with the National Trainers Federation and the BHA over the past 48 hours and having also listened to the views of a number of trainers, we are pleased to have developed plans to now reschedule all races from The April Meeting at alternative venues and for their original prize money values.
“Cheltenham’s Wednesday card will now shift in its entirety to Haydock Park on the same date, with the addition of the Mares’ Listed Novices’ Hurdle. Wincanton’s season finale will now become an eight-race card with the additional two mares’ races taking place.
“We would like to thank the NTF for their constructive input around rescheduling these additional races, and the BHA for their support and co-operation throughout this process.”
Paul Johnson, Chief Executive of the National Trainers Federation, said: “Whilst we expressed our disappointment at the timing and lack of consultation, we have subsequently had constructive conversations with The Jockey Club over the last couple of days.
“We are pleased that they have listened to and understood our concerns and have now extended their plans to reschedule all races from the April meeting. The nature of the conversations over recent days and the extended steps taken to reschedule are a reflection of a positive relationship between the NTF and The Jockey Club.”
The Jockey Club announced on Monday that the following races had already been rescheduled:
- Mares Novices Handicap Chase (Class 1, Premier Handicap) will take place at Market Rasen on April 14.
- Challenger Mares’ Chase Series Final Handicap Chase (Class 2) (GBB Race) and the Challenger Mares’ Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 2) (GBB Race) will be rescheduled to take place at Warwick on April 23.
- Fillies' Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Class 1, Premier Handicap) will be run as part of the Jump Finale card at Sandown Park on April 25.
Cheltenham’s Race Night fixture will be staged at Warwick Racecourse on the same date - Friday May 1 2026 - with all seven races being transferred. Cheltenham Racecourse Annual Members will be able to attend all race meetings staging rescheduled races from Cheltenham’s meetings free of charge with their annual members’ badge.
Tickets for Haydock's additional fixture will go on sale at www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/haydock.
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