16.05
Good To SoftWilliam Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £140325
- 2m 4f 0y
- Class 1
- 6 runners
Runners: 6 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
2/1 (Won)
- Win: £2.63
- Place: £1.40
Form: 4-3212 CD
Last run: 30 days
W: 11st 3lb
7 yo Filly
OR: 159
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 6 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 3lb |
Has form on most types of ground; took her Cheltenham Festival record to 0-3 with a defeat in the latest Champion Hurdle but that was a respectable effort without managing to confirm placings with Lossiemouth, who had played second fiddle in the Irish equivalent; record of 2-3 at about 2m4f includes an easy success in the Mersey at this meeting two years ago; very smart mare who holds leading claims at the weights. |
2/1 |
|
2nd 7 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 87y Class 1 |
11st 3lb |
Has form on most types of ground; hasn't lived up to expectations at this meeting for the last two years, beaten by Golden Ace in the Grade 2 novice hurdle in 2024 and only fourth (weakening when hampered) in this contest in 2025; otherwise a very smart mare and produced one of her best performances in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown (2m, heavy) most recently, reversing December placings with Lossiemouth and registering a fourth Grade 1 success; leading contender, provided she transfers the form to this venue. |
9/2 |
|
1st 5 |
1st Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 0f 0y |
11st 5lb |
Beat State Man in last season's Morgiana and gave a stunning performance to win the December Hurdle here by a huge margin; nowhere near that level when a remote fourth in an incident-packed Champion Hurdle; failed to regain her best when raised in trip at Punchestown, well held in third behind two of Lossiemouth's stablemates; outpointed by Lossiemouth here at Christnas but finished close enough to suggest she can provide a powerful challenge. |
13/8 |
15/8
- Place: £1.70
Form: 11-F13 D
Last run: 30 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 160
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 5 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Broadly progressive; has gone down the Champion Hurdle route this season and ran well in that race most recently, while leaving the impression he's ready for a return to further than 2m; leading novice hurdler at about 2m4f last term, winning the Challow and the Turners (both on good to soft ground); still unbeaten over this sort of distance and commands respect. |
15/8 |
|
3rd 4 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 87y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Bids to emulate Istabraq, Hardy Eustace and Faugheen by winning the Champion Hurdle a year after landing the 2m5f Grade 1 novice hurdle at this meeting; held a 1l lead, still not under maximum pressure, when falling two out in the Fighting Fifth on reappearance; unbeaten otherwise and is better than the bare form he showed in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham (2m1f, soft) last time when the steady pace wasn't conducive to an ideal test; still has plenty of potential in open company and commands respect, especially with a stronger gallop seemingly on the cards. |
11/4 |
|
1st 3 |
24th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 0f 179y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Has raced only on soft/good to soft; one of two notable fallers in the Fighting Fifth in sole start this term, holding a 1l lead and still not under maximum pressure when coming down two out; unbeaten (5-5) previously and was impressive in the Challow prior to following up at the Cheltenham Festival last season for a Grade 1 novice double (2m4f/2m5f); remains a very promising hurdler and still one with serious Champion Hurdle claims. |
15/8 |
8/1
Form: 211314 D
Last run: 30 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 158
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 1 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Acts on any ground; good strike-rate includes wins in the Greatwood and Kingwell this season; ties in with Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion on Champion Hurdle running where a late blunder cost him ground when challenging for the places; has form at up to 2m3f; remains a progressive sort. |
8/1 |
|
4th 1 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 87y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Acts on any ground; impressive in major handicap over C&D in November; made harder work of justifying favouritism in the Kingwell (1m7f Grade 2) at Wincanton most recently, wandering under pressure to boot, and this is a stiffer assignment, but he's a broadly progressive contender who is 5-9 over hurdles and may rate higher still; possibilities in a year where some big names have dropped out. |
16/1 |
|
1st 2 |
14th Feb 2026 Heavy 1m 7f 50y Class 1 |
11st 8lb |
Upwardly mobile 6yo who completed a double in the Greatwood at Cheltenham (2m, soft) in November and was creditable third under topweight in another valuable handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good to soft) in December; now steps up into a Grade 2 event but he sets the standard on his latest form and is open to more progress; leading contender. |
4/6 |
12/1
Form: -22125 D
Last run: 30 days
W: 11st 3lb
8 yo Filly
OR: 150
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 6 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 45y |
11st 5lb |
Fortuitous winner of the 2025 Champion Hurdle (same story in this season's Fighting Fifth); could only manage fifth when attempting to retain her crown (9.75l behind Lossiemouth); posted another solid effort in the Aintree Hurdle last time when fourth (2m4f, good to soft); return to 2m should suit, cheekpieces go on and she was second in this contest last year (good) but may need further luck to increase Grade 1 haul. |
8/1 |
|
4th 7 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 3lb |
Fortuitous winner of the 2025 Champion Hurdle (same story in the Fighting Fifth) and finished only fifth, behind some of today's rivals, when attempting to retain her crown; largely consistent and has won over 2m4f but increasing her Grade 1 tally may require further luck. |
12/1 |
|
5th 8 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 87y Class 1 |
11st 3lb |
Record of 3-4 at Cheltenham features two Festival wins, beating Brighterdaysahead in the Grade 2 novice hurdle in 2024 then admittedly fortuitous (left in lead when State Man took a late fall; odds-on Constitution Hill exited earlier) when 25-1 in this race last year; also had fortune on her side in this season's Fighting Fifth as the front two in the market, including The New Lion, failed to complete; ran creditably on Boxing Day when last seen; largely consistent and should go well but may require further luck to retain her crown. |
8/1 |
14/1
Form: -F3411 C
Last run: 46 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 154
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 4 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Acts on any ground; the freshest contender in this race, having bypassed the Cheltenham Festival and been absent since landing the National Spirit at Fontwell (2m3f) over six weeks ago when taking hurdles record to 7-11; sole attempt at Aintree resulted in a Grade 1 novice success on Boxing Day 2024; likely to go well. |
14/1 |
|
1st 1 |
22nd Feb 2026 Soft 2m 3f 29y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Smart novice (Grade 1 winner on soft) at up to 2m5f last season; early faller on reappearance in November before 8l third in Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle (2m3f, good to soft); outstayed when fourth in Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot (3m, good to soft) the following month but got back on the scoresheet when taking a classy Windsor conditions hurdle (2m4f, soft; career-best form) last month; key player despite a half penalty for the Grade 1 win. |
8/13 |
5/1
Form: F-F151 D
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 10lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 155
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 2 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Probably acts on any going; high class over fences until jumping issues developed; has proved suited by the return to hurdles and an easy win at Leopardstown (2m2f) last time took his record in this sphere to 4-7; the best horse in this field if viewed on his peak chase form. |
5/1 |
|
1st 2 |
2nd Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 2f 72y |
11st 7lb |
Outstanding 2m novice chaser at his peak; became plagued by jumping frailties; fell in a number of Grade 1 contests; reverted to hurdles with a smooth 8.5l success at Punchestown on New Year's Day on seasonal return (2m3f, yielding), second won Gr.3 next time; this is much easier than the Irish Champion Hurdle (2m, heavy) last time, in which he finished last of five; huge chance. |
10/11 |
|
5th 3 |
1st Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 0f 0y |
11st 12lb |
An outstanding 2m novice chaser at his peak; became plagued by jumping frailties; fell last season in Grade 1 races here, at Aintree and at Punchestown; return to hurdling did the trick at Punchestown a month ago, beating subsequent Grade 3 hurdle winner Glen Kiln and Cotswold Chase winner Spillane's Tower. |
10/1 |
Non-runners
Lucky Place
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £4.90 |
| Straight Forecast | £5.47 |
| Trifecta | £26.00 |
Selections
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