William Hill Handicap Hurdle

William Hill Handicap Hurdle Overview

The William Hill Handicap Hurdle is run at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. It is usually the second race on the second day of the three-day Aintree Festival. There are eleven flights of hurdles to be taken in the race run over two-and-a-half miles, which is often run at a frantic pace.

Horses that tend to win this generally have gone under the radar in previous years. Four previous winners in recent years came here straight after the Cheltenham Festival, where they only ran mediocre races. Last year’s winner, Kateira, skipped the Cheltenham Festival, having finished only fourth in a handicap hurdle at Kempton Races on her previous start. There is a first prize on offer to winning connections of just over £42,000.

William Hill Handicap Hurdle Betting Trends and Statistics

• The leading trainer in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle in recent renewals is Nicky Henderson, who has won the race three times.
• Henderson’s three winners came from Minella Forfitness (2013), Theinval (2015) and Rather Be (2017).
• Other trainers who have recorded multiple wins in the William Hill National Festival Handicap Hurdle are Jonjo O’Neill (2), Dan Skelton (2) and Gordon Elliott (2).
• Multiple trainers have not had the best of times in recent years in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle. Paul Nicholls (0 from 26 attempts), Philip Hobbs (0 from 17 attempts), David Pipe (0 from 15 attempts), Nigel Twiston-Davies (0 from 12 attempts) and Venetia Williams (0 from 10 attempts) have all failed to produce a single winner despite sending multiple runners to the race. It is hard to believe so many big yards have tried and failed to win this race, yet others such as Nicky Henderson and more recently Dan Skelton can ready one for it without hesitation.
• There are multiple leading jockeys in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle in recent years with Harry Skelton, Jeremiah McGrath and Jack Kennedy having all won the race twice.
• Harry Skelton’s winners have been with Langer Dan (2022) and Kateira (2024). Jeremiah McGrath’s winners have been with Theinval (2015) and Rather Be (2017), whilst Jack Kennedy’s winners have been with Three Musketeers (2019) and Tronador (2021).
• There is one jockey who has not had the best of times in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle and that is Brian Hughes. The former champion jockey has ridden 10 runners in the race without recording any wins.
• Only one horse that has been sent off as a favourite for this competitive race has obliged in the last ten renewals.
• Irish-bred horses have won seven of the last ten renewals of this race.

William Hill Handicap Hurdle History

The William Hill Handicap Hurdle was established in 1989 and was previously run as a Grade 3 race. Following a review of racing, the British Horseracing Authority decided to feature this race as a Premier Handicap from 2023. The race was famously sponsored by Oddbins between 1991 and 2002 but has held different sponsors ever since.