April 13 / 15.30 Aintree

15.30

Good To Soft

William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £140325
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
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William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

1/8 (Won)

  • Win: £1.14
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 11-111

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 175

Form & Verdict
Dominant on all six rules starts (2m, heavy-good to soft) and won his fifth Grade 1 when powering clear in the Champion Hurdle last month; runner-up in a 3m point and the way he shapes in his races suggests he'll have zero issue with the step up in trip; it will be a shock if he doesn't win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(4)

25th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Constitution Hill

9st 12lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Nicky Henderson

Superstar hurdler on his day and one of the best-known horses in training; having developed serious jumping issues, he was switched to the Flat in Southwell contest (1m4f) last month and showed his class by producing an impressive performance that is backed up by the figures; sets a tall standard en route to Group targets.

1/6

1st

3

(12)

20th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 2

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Constitution Hill

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Nicky Henderson

Last jumps campaign started well but ended badly, as he took back-to-back falls at Cheltenham/Aintree and then laboured when he did complete at Punchestown; suffered another tumble on his reappearance in the Fighting Fifth in November, which has prompted this switch to the Flat in the hope of restoring confidence levels ahead of a possible bid to regain the Champion Hurdle crown he won in 2023.

7/4

5th

2

2nd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

18:40 Punchestown

Constitution Hill

11st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

towards rear, overjumped 1st, soon went fourth, headway after 4 out, went third going okay 3 out, nudged along when jumped left and lost ground 2 out, soon no extra

11/10

20/1

  • Place: £3.60

Form: 1-2324

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Multiple 2m Grade 1 winner (good-soft) who was a highly creditable fourth off top weight in last month's County Hurdle (2m1f) at Cheltenham; this 10yo hasn't been quite at his very best this season, and he's untested at today's distance, but he's an each-way possible if seeing out the trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

30th Apr 2024

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

18:00 Punchestown

Sharjah

11st 10lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

High-class hurdler had been mixing it at the top level over fences this season at shorter trips before third chase win when dropped in grade at Ayr 10 days ago, patiently ridden and seeing the 3m out well when giving away lumps of weight in novice handicap; drying ground should help his cause and not one to rule out.

10/1

6th

6

30th Apr 2024

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

18:00 Punchestown

Sharjah

11st 10lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

High-class hurdler had been mixing it at the top level over fences this season at shorter trips before third chase win when dropped in grade at Ayr 10 days ago, patiently ridden and seeing the 3m out well when giving away lumps of weight in novice handicap; drying ground should help his cause and not one to rule out.

10/1

1st

1

20th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:50 Ayr

Sharjah

12st 0lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Top-class hurdler who has shown a good level of form over fences, banging his head against a wall in Grade 1s in his last four appearances; finished fourth in last season's County Hurdle in his last handicap assignment and that was off an 8lb higher mark; may run well, though stamina could be an issue on this belated first run beyond 2m4f.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: F-7P53

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 159

Form & Verdict
Bang there in this race last year (good to soft) when a final-flight faller, albeit Epatante was travelling better; kept on for 13l third in the Champion Hurdle (2m, soft) last month and, although it's hard to envisage him beating the winner Constitution Hill, he's a major player for the forecast.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(3)

8th Apr 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 5f 180y

17:25 Gowran Park

Zanahiyr

10st 1lb

J: Sam Coen

T: Gordon Elliott

Fine dual-purpose sort has 10 wins under all codes including a Bellewstown Flat handicap last August beating a below par Light Up The Dark; won the American Grand National when last seen; handles all ground; a big player.

5/2

7

(7)

26th Aug 2025

Yielding

2m 1f 110y

19:55 Bellewstown

Zanahiyr

11st 9lb

J: Mr J H Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Useful dual-purpose sort ran a solid fourth on the Flat at Killarney in May; won over fences at Galway last time after being unplaced in the Plate earlier in the week; should run well.

2/1

3

3rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 111y

14:55 Galway

Zanahiyr

11st 3lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

High-class hurdler; has won only one of his nine starts over fences, a Thurles beginners' event the season before last; fell at the fourth in the Ultima at Cheltenham on his final start last season; had a Flat run in May; third to Pinkerton in last year's Galway Plate; beaten almost 20l in seventh behind stablemate Western Fold in Wednesday's 2025 edition.

11/8

Form: -32218 CD

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 3lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Didn't have to be at her best for Grade 2 mares' win at Doncaster in January and disappointing in the mares' hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival; however, she won this race last year (good to soft) and there's every chance she'll be best of the rest behind stablemate Constitution Hill, which was the case in the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle this season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

29th Apr 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 30y

15:50 Punchestown

Epatante

11st 7lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Nicky Henderson

in rear but in touch with leaders, some headway on inner 2 out, pushed along when bit short of room home turn, soon outpaced and lost position when ridden, went fourth before last, no extra run-in

11/2

4th

6

13th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

Epatante

11st 3lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Nicky Henderson

Didn't have to be at her best for Grade 2 mares' win at Doncaster in January and disappointing in the mares' hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival; however, she won this race last year (good to soft) and there's every chance she'll be best of the rest behind stablemate Constitution Hill, which was the case in the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle this season.

12/1

8th

3

14th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

16:10 Cheltenham

Epatante

11st 5lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Nicky Henderson

Six-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles, including the 2020 Champion Hurdle; no match for superstar stablemate Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth or Christmas Hurdle at the end of 2022 but underlined what a class act she is among her own sex when hacking up in a 2m Grade 2 at Doncaster in January; has won a Grade 1 over this trip; major player.

6/1

Form: 0-1616 C

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Well-beaten sixth of seven in last month's Champion Hurdle and he weakened on his sole previous attempt at this sort of trip; however, the ground was soft for both of those runs and perhaps he's better served by a sounder surface; has won the Greatwood Handicap and the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle and he's an each-way contender if able to produce his best form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

2

8th Oct 2023

Soft

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

14:45 Uttoxeter

I Like To Move It

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Very smart hurdler with good-ground wins in the Greatwood Handicap at Cheltenham and the Grade 2 Kingwell at Wincanton, easily the best of his five runs last season; his two heaviest defeats last term were on soft but best run the previous campaign was on good to soft; has much the best form in this small but select field; the one to beat if the ground is okay.

1/2

5th

2

13th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

I Like To Move It

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Well-beaten sixth of seven in last month's Champion Hurdle and he weakened on his sole previous attempt at this sort of trip; however, the ground was soft for both of those runs and perhaps he's better served by a sounder surface; has won the Greatwood Handicap and the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle and he's an each-way contender if able to produce his best form.

25/1

6th

2

14th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

15:30 Cheltenham

I Like To Move It

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Progressive hurdler who powered clear for a 17l success in the Kingwell at Wincanton (1m7f) last month, bouncing back from his Relkeel flop over 2m4f; rated by trainer as being as good as the yard's best hurdlers in the past, including two horses who were placed in the Champion Hurdle; 3-3 over C&D, the most recent in this season's Greatwood (defied top weight in emphatic style); has raced mostly on good/good to soft; should go well.

20/1

Form: -12432

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
Highly admirable 11yo who ran his usual solid race when second of five in the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle over 2m3f at Fontwell in February; however, he tends to find a few too good nowadays when tackling Grade 1s and that's likely to be the same story here; wears first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

26th Dec 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Kempton

Sceau Royal

11st 10lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Multiple winner down the years; turns 12 imminently and his two results this season, including behind Rubaud when bidding for a third success in Kempton Listed event in October, suggest he's perhaps finally on the wane; well held in this contest in 2022.

100/1

5th

2

25th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 58y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Sceau Royal

11st 4lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

prominent, disputing third before 2 out, weakened approaching last

11/2

4th

3

22nd Oct 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Kempton

Sceau Royal

11st 6lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Alan King

High-class hurdler/chaser who has been an excellent servant to connections over the years and is bidding to win this race for the third season running; seemed to race too freely in first-time cheekpieces (now removed) in Aintree Hurdle in April but faced a tough assignment there anyway and ought to be very hard to beat here.

10/11

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.30
Straight Forecast £5.65
Trifecta £9.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Constitution Hill

WEST COUNTRY:

I Like To Move It

RP Ratings:

Constitution Hill

TOPSPEED:

Constitution Hill

POSTDATA:

Constitution Hill

LAMBOURN:

Constitution Hill

The Times:

Constitution Hill

Telegraph:

Constitution Hill

The Guardian:

Constitution Hill

Daily Mail:

Constitution Hill

D Express:

Constitution Hill

Daily Mirror:

Constitution Hill

The Star:

Constitution Hill

Daily Record:

Constitution Hill