Cheltenham Racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) have announced that the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at The November Meeting has been abandoned due to firm and currently unraceable ground on the Cross Country course.

With resources focused on the Old Course to provide safe ground for racing in October, the Cross Country course was unable to be irrigated during what was an exceptionally dry summer. While the weather is expected to turn more unsettled over the coming fortnight, current forecasts indicate insufficient rainfall to achieve safe conditions on the Cross Country track in time for The November Meeting.

Since The Showcase Meeting, watering efforts have been concentrated on the 2m 5f chute to ensure it is ready for The November Meeting and to maintain optimal conditions on the Old Course.

The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase will now be rescheduled for Festival Trials Day (Saturday 24th January) creating an eight-race card. There will also be a Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at The Christmas Meeting as planned.

In place of the Cross Country Chase at The November Meeting, the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Series Handicap (Qualifier) (2m 4f) will now be run. This race was originally scheduled to take place at Wincanton Racecourse on Sunday 26th October, but that fixture was abandoned.

Jon Pullin, Clerk of the Course at Cheltenham Racecourse, said:

“It is always disappointing to lose any race or fixture, and the team have worked incredibly hard in very challenging conditions to get the Old Course in the excellent condition it is currently in.

“Given the exceptionally dry summer, our priority had to be ensuring the Old Course was ready for October’s meeting. We had hoped to turn our attention to the Cross Country course once rainfall arrived, but with limited rain to date our focus must remain on maintaining safe, consistent ground on the Old Course ahead of The November Meeting.

“The forecast suggests we will not receive the volume of rain required to bring the Cross Country course to a safe standard so we have taken the decision early to allow participants to adjust their plans and allow us to confirm an appropriate replacement race.

“We are very grateful to the BHA for their support in facilitating this change, and to Unibet for their continued backing of the Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Series.”