Our Haldon Gold Cup preview, with trends, a runner-by-runner guide and a tip for Friday's race at Aintree.
The BetMGM Haldon Gold Cup leaves Devon for one year only. Exeter's West Country Weekend was called off on 27 October because the ground there was still predominantly firm, and Aintree took on the feature races at their original prize money. That makes this a Grade 2 limited handicap chase over two miles (1m 7f 176y) on the Mildmay course, with 12 fences, £100,000 guaranteed and £59,440 to the winner. It is due off at 3pm GMT on Friday 6 November, live on ITV4.
Nine were entered, but only six have been declared, with Vanderpoel, Sans Bruit and Petit Tonnerre all taken out. Mirabad, who won the Maghull Novices' Chase over this course and distance in April, is a short-priced favourite for the Haldon Gold Cup, and 2024 winner JPR One is next in the betting with Jonjo O'Neill Jr deputising for the injured Brendan Powell. The ground has eased slightly with daily watering and is now good to soft, good in places. The forecast stays mostly dry, with only the chance of a light shower on Saturday morning.
Haldon Gold Cup Winners, Trends & Stats
- Every previous Haldon Gold Cup was run at Exeter, a stiff right-handed track over two miles and a furlong and a half. Aintree's Mildmay course is flat, left-handed and slightly shorter, so take the course trends with a pinch of salt.
- Paul Nicholls has won the race five times in the last 20 years from 27 runners, with Tchico Polos (2010), Vibrato Valtat (2015), Politologue (2017) and Greaneteen (2020 and 2022). Rubaud is his only runner this time.
- Tom George has won it three times from nine runners in the same period, with Gods Own twice and Sir Valentino. He runs Stencil.
- Joe Tizzard won two of the last three runnings, with Elixir De Nutz (2023) and JPR One (2024).
- Dan Skelton won last year with Thistle Ask, his only winner from eight runners in the race in the last 20 years.
- All 20 winners in that period started at 10/1 or shorter, and six were favourites. Favourites won three of the last ten.
- Nineteen of the last 20 winners were rated 142 or higher last time out. Only Mirabad, JPR One and Rubaud qualify on their most recent marks.
- All of the last ten winners were aged between six and ten, so Stencil would be the first five-year-old winner in that time.
- Top weight has not been a barrier. Greaneteen (2022) and JPR One (2024) both won carrying 11st 12lb.
Haldon Gold Cup Odds
See the full Haldon Gold Cup odds on Oddschecker.
Haldon Gold Cup Runners Guide
MIRABAD
Trainer: Dan Skelton. Jockey: Harry Skelton. Age 7. Official rating 155, 11st 6lb. Wears a tongue strap. Form: U221U2.
Mirabad is the classiest horse in the field and has already won over this track and trip. He went off at 50/1 for the Maghull in April, made smooth progress from two out and beat the odds-on Salvator Mundi by six lengths. He has had a run already this season, a sharp second over hurdles in the Listed Panoramic at Carlisle, beaten three-quarters of a length by Wilful and finishing ahead of Rubaud. Timeform's adjusted ratings have him top on 170. The worry is his jumping over fences. He unseated at Windsor in January, was hampered and unseated in the Celebration Chase, and was beaten at 1/4 in a three-runner novice chase at Bangor. The Maghull also put him up 17lb, from 138 to 155. He is the likeliest winner, but at 5/4 he has no room for the sort of mistake he has already made twice.
JPR ONE
Trainer: Joe Tizzard. Jockey: Jonjo O'Neill Jr. Age 9. Official rating 161, top weight 11st 12lb. Wears cheekpieces and a tongue strap. Form: 214421.
JPR One gets a new jockey, because Brendan Powell, who won this race on him in 2024, broke a forearm in a fall at Plumpton on Monday. That aside, little has changed. He returned with a narrow but determined win at Cheltenham on 23 October, leading three out and holding Traprain Law by three-quarters of a length. Last spring he finished second in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase, rallying after he was headed on the run-in. He is a bold jumper who handles quick ground, which counts for plenty over these fences. Timeform's adjusted ratings, which allow for the weights, have him on 168, only 2lb behind Mirabad. Top weight and a jockey switch are the negatives, but he is the most dependable horse in the race.
RUBAUD
Trainer: Paul Nicholls. Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies. Age 8. Official rating 144, 10st 9lb. Form: 132P44.
Rubaud is the only horse running off his correct mark below the top two, which makes his 10st 9lb look attractive at first glance. He has won 12 of his 34 races, but his best recent form has come over hurdles. He won the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton last November and was placed in the Christmas Hurdle and the Kingwell. His last chase run was disappointing, as he weakened and was pulled up in the Grand Annual. He made the running at Carlisle on his return and was fourth, a length and a quarter behind Mirabad, which suggests he is fit. At 13/2 he needs his jumping to hold up for the full two miles, and that is not certain.
BROOKIE
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball. Jockey: Ben Godfrey. Age 9. Official rating 137, 10st 6lb (4lb out of the handicap). First-time cheekpieces and a tongue strap. Form: 3P80F4.
Brookie has been the big mover since the entries came out, cut from 25/1 on Monday to as short as 13/2. He ran on Saturday at Ascot, where he was outpaced three out but stayed on to take fourth, seven lengths behind Vanderpoel, with the same rider. Before that his form was poor for the best part of a year. He was pulled up at Ascot last November and fell in the Celebration Chase in April. However, his mark has dropped 12lb in a year and Timeform rate him 164 with a plus. First-time cheekpieces could help, but he is running from 4lb out of the handicap just six days after his last race. Most of the value went with the move in the market.
STENCIL
Trainer: Tom George. Jockey: Harry Cobden. Age 5. Official rating 138, 10st 6lb (3lb out of the handicap). Wears a hood. Form: 0/5210P.
Booking Harry Cobden catches the eye, and Timeform think Stencil has more ability than his rating, putting him on 167. His best run was a smooth novice chase win at Chepstow in January. He went off keen and was beaten a long way at the Cheltenham Festival, then was pulled up after reminders in the Red Rum here in April. He has not run since April, and is a five-year-old running from out of the handicap. He is the most interesting outsider, but he needs to bounce back from two poor runs.
DAYTIME DREAMING
Trainer: Tom Ellis. Jockey: Jack Andrews. Age 6. Official rating 130, 10st 6lb (11lb out of the handicap). Form: 41/4112.
Daytime Dreaming has won three of his six starts and finished second on his last run at Uttoxeter in March. On paper he is the least likely winner, because he would be racing 11lb above his rating. He also faces Grade 2 company for the first time after seven months off. It would be a big surprise if he won.
Haldon Gold Cup Trainer To Watch
Joe Tizzard is the trainer to watch. He has won two of the last three Haldon Gold Cups, including this horse's 2024 win, and JPR One showed at Cheltenham a fortnight ago that he is ready. The yard has had to replace Brendan Powell, but Jonjo O'Neill Jr is a strong replacement. Paul Nicholls still has the best long-term record in the race with five wins. However, his only runner, Rubaud, has more questions to answer over fences than the Tizzard horse.
Haldon Gold Cup Tips
This has become a two-horse race in the betting, so both favourites need a close look. Mirabad has the highest ceiling and the course and distance form, but 5/4 is short for a horse who has unseated twice in his short chasing career and is now 17lb higher than when he won the Maghull. Rubaud, Brookie, Stencil and Daytime Dreaming all have something to prove, and the market has already taken the value out of Brookie.
That leaves JPR One at 3/1. He is a reliable jumper on a sound surface, he is race-fit, and he already has a Haldon Gold Cup on his record. Timeform's adjusted ratings put him only 2lb behind Mirabad once the weights are taken into account. He has a different jockey this time, but at 3/1 against a favourite with question marks he is fair value. With only two places paid at a quarter, the each-way part does little, so it is a win bet.
Recommended Bet: JPR One 3/1 (1pt)
