Aintree Racecourse today announces a refreshed autumn programme, with the William Hill Grand Sefton Chase returning to its traditional place on William Hill Becher Chase Day on Saturday 5th December, while the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle moves from Wincanton to Aintree as the newly named Grade 2 Molyneux Hurdle.
Moving the William Hill Grand Sefton Chase to Becher Chase Day sees the return of Aintree's popular Grand National fences double-header, with two races over the famous obstacles taking place on the same afternoon. The race will also return to a prize fund of £100,000 from £85,000 for the first time since 2023.
The Grand Sefton was moved to an early November slot in 2021 following a review of the racing programme. After five seasons in its current position, the race will now return to its original place in the calendar, strengthening the William Hill Becher Chase Day card.
As part of the revised programme, Aintree's November meeting will now feature the Grade 2 Molyneux Hurdle, formerly the Elite Hurdle, which moves from Wincanton following recommendations from the Jump Pattern Committee. The race becomes the feature contest on Saturday 7th November, adding a prestigious Grade 2 feature to Aintree's autumn programme.
Sulekha Varma, Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Aintree Racecourse, said: "The Grand National fences are at the heart of what makes Aintree so special and we're delighted to increase the prize fund back up to £100,000 for the William Hill Grand Sefton Chase as it returns to the same card as the William Hill Becher Chase, creating a unique afternoon of racing over the world's most famous fences.
"Building the Grand National fences is a significant operation that takes just over three weeks to complete each time. By bringing the Grand Sefton and Becher Chase back onto the same card, we can make the very best use of our pre-season preparation time and our resources to ensure the Grand National course is presented and maintained in the best possible condition throughout the season, as well as the Mildmay course.
"We're pleased to welcome the Grade 2 Molyneux Hurdle to Aintree. It is a race with a rich history and its addition to our programme reflects our ambition to strengthen the quality and competitiveness of autumn jumping. We look forward to seeing it become an important feature of our November fixture."
