Aintree Hurdle

Aintree Hurdle Overview

The William Hill Aintree Hurdle, as its name suggests, is run at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. It is usually the fourth race on the opening day of the three-day Aintree festival. The Grade 1 race is run over two-and-a-half miles on what is a flat turning track.

The field jumps eleven hurdles in total and the prize money on offer is usually in and around £140,000 to the winner. The race is for those horses aged four and older.

Horses that win this race tend to be established Grade 1 performers. Before winning this last year, Impaire Et Passe was a fine third to State Man at the Dublin Racing Festival, and in the years before that, Constitution Hill romped home in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2023 prior to winning this. A small but select field is likely to be competing here, but it is always a fascinating race for the betting public.

Aintree Hurdle Betting Trends and Statistics

• The leading trainer in the Aintree Hurdle in recent renewals is Nicky Henderson, who has won the race six times. His six winners came from Oscar Whisky (2011 & 2012), Buveur D’Air (2017), L’Ami Serge (2018), Epatante (2022) and Constitution Hill (2023).
• Other trainers who have recorded multiple wins in the Aintree Hurdle are John Queally (3), Willie Mullins (2), Nigel Twiston-Davies (2) and Jessica Harrington (2).
• The jockey with the best record in this race most recently is Paul Townend. He won the race last year on Impaire Et Passe but has been placed in it on four other occasions. Nico De Boinville and Sam Twiston-Davies are also looking to add to their recent wins in this race.
• A few jockeys have had multiple attempts to win this race without success to date, including the likes of Harry Skelton, Adam Wedge and Harry Cobden.
• Nicky Henderson has won four out of the last six renewals of this race.

Aintree Hurdle History

The race was originally established back in 1976 when it was run over a distance of 2 miles and 5-and-a-half furlongs. It was shortened to its current distance in 1988. The race was initially scheduled to take place on the last day of the Aintree Grand National Festival but was moved to the opening day in 2013.

Morley Street is the most successful horse in the history of the race with four wins to their name (1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993). Ruby Walsh is the most successful jockey in the race’s history, having won the race on five occasions.

In 2010, the race title was changed to honour Dick Francis, who was a former jockey with close links to Aintree Racecourse. He was renowned for riding Devon Loch in the Grand National. In 2017, the race sponsor was Betway, but it is now sponsored by William Hill.