April 11 / 15.30 Aintree

15.30

Soft

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

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

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 11-223 D

Last run: 67 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict
Ultra-impressive winner of Grade 1 novice hurdles at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft) and Punchestown (2m3f, yielding) last spring; second to subsequent Cheltenham Festival winners Teahupoo and State Man on first two runs this term; beaten 5l by runner-up Bob Olinger when third in Irish Champion Hurdle (2m, soft) in February and that rival should be suited by this step back up in trip, but it's also a positive for this fellow (who was maybe unsuited by the switch to front-running last time); has a chance of reversing the form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Impaire Et Passe

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Unproven at this trip and reportedly never travelling when pulled up in the Ryanair at Cheltenham last month; however, he's won at this meeting in each of the last two seasons, landing the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase last April (2m4f, good to soft; Jango Baie third), and he produced a top performance in the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park this February; could bounce back with big run for last year's winning trainer Willie Mullins.

7/2

5

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Impaire Et Passe

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

A fine hurdler whose three Grade 1 wins included the Ballymore at this meeting in 2023; has reached the same standard over fences, winning at the top level at Aintree (about 2m4f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) last April, and he was ultimately quite convincing in a tactical race at Gowran (about 2m3f, heavy) last month; his form doesn't yet match that of stablemate Fact To File but he is considered for a place.

7/1

OUR TIP

6/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 53-112 D

Last run: 67 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 161

Form & Verdict
He failed to fulfil the superstar potential shown when easily winning the 2m5f Grade 1 novice hurdle at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival but has been rejuvenated this season, winning two 2m4f Grade 2s; another big run when second to subsequent Champion Hurdle winner State Man over an inadequate 2m in the Irish Champion Hurdle in February (soft), beating third-placed Impaire Et Passe by 5l, and he's a leading candidate now back up in distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

18:05 Punchestown

Bob Olinger

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Ended a sequence of seconds when beating Teahupoo in the 2025 Stayers' Hurdle; no match for Teahupoo at Leopardstown on seasonal debut; had that below-par rival behind when a fine third behind Home By The Lee in the Stayers'; continues to prosper despite his veteran status; can go close.

3/1

3rd

2

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Bob Olinger

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Now 11 but he was as good as ever last March when winning this race by nearly 2l from Teahupoo (good to soft; also effective on soft); respectable second to that rival at Leopardstown in December on sole run this season and his excellent record at Cheltenham means he has to be in calculations.

7/1

9/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: -6P901 CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 151

Form & Verdict
Has peaked to win competitive handicaps at spring festivals in each of the last three seasons, scoring over C&D in 2022 (good to soft) and landing the last two Coral Cups at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft); has something to find with the pick of these now tackling a Grade 1 but he's an each-way possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Langer Dan

11st 4lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

held up in last, weakened after 3 out, detached when mistake 2 out

6/1

5th

5

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Langer Dan

11st 4lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

held up in last, weakened after 3 out, detached when mistake 2 out

6/1

Form: 3-2313

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Progressive 6yo who took another step forward with her third in last month's Champion Hurdle (2m, heavy), when nicely clear of the fourth; she's unraced beyond 2m1f but her pedigree provides hope she'll be okay at this trip; top trainer has an excellent record in this race and she's not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

2nd Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Wetherby

Luccia

11st 4lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Carries 4lb penalty and she was a beaten favourite in this race last year (soft), but still ran well in second; won a handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good) last December before fine third in the Champion Hurdle (2m, heavy) and she holds leading claims this afternoon.

8/13

1

2nd Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Wetherby

Luccia

11st 4lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Carries 4lb penalty and she was a beaten favourite in this race last year (soft), but still ran well in second; won a handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good) last December before fine third in the Champion Hurdle (2m, heavy) and she holds leading claims this afternoon.

8/13

4th

7

11th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

Luccia

11st 3lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Progressive 6yo who took another step forward with her third in last month's Champion Hurdle (2m, heavy), when nicely clear of the fourth; she's unraced beyond 2m1f but her pedigree provides hope she'll be okay at this trip; top trainer has an excellent record in this race and she's not ruled out.

10/1

Form: 2-421P D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 3lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
She hasn't found her peak form this season and, with the yard under a cloud, she was pulled up at Cheltenham last month; it remains to be seen if her stable is back on song but she did win a mares' Grade 2 at Doncaster in January and a good case can be made on last season's best efforts, including her second in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle here (3m, good to soft) last April; also effective on soft and over 2m4f; not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(6)

10th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:10 Bath

Maries Rock

9st 6lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Nicky Henderson

awkward start, in touch with leaders, headway and prominent over 3f out, led over 2f out, faced challenge over 1f out, headed inside final 110yds, just held

6/1

5th

4

(4)

25th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:20 York

Maries Rock

9st 2lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Nicky Henderson

dwelt start, towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong

12/1

5th

4

(4)

25th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:20 York

Maries Rock

9st 2lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Nicky Henderson

dwelt start, towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong

12/1

Form: -1P429 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Finished fourth in the 2021 Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham; he ran well for a long way when ninth to Langer Dan in last month's Coral Cup but this 10yo is not the force of old and would be a shock winner today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

16:00 Taunton

Beacon Edge

11st 12lb

J: Mr Joshua Newman

T: J Newman

Best known as a very talented hurdler, also landing a Grade 1 novice chase in 2021; had jumping issues over fences subsequently and this is his first chase start since 2022; returned from some time off with a point win last month (3m, soft); it remains to be seen how much ability this 12yo retains but he's entitled to considerable respect on his hunter chase debut.

13/8

1st

1

28th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 1f 0y

16:55 Wexford

Beacon Edge

12st 0lb

J: Mr J M Halford

T: Gordon Elliott

Winner of nine races; 7-34 record over hurdles, including a four-runner Grade 2 event over 3m at Wetherby last October; ran creditably when seventh in the 26-runner Coral Cup at Cheltenham; down the field at Aintree subsequently; trip is short of his best but he won a stronger race than this over 2m2f at Ballinrobe a year ago; amateur rider, 2-11 over hurdles.

11/8

1

28th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 1f 0y

16:55 Wexford

Beacon Edge

12st 0lb

J: Mr J M Halford

T: Gordon Elliott

Winner of nine races; 7-34 record over hurdles, including a four-runner Grade 2 event over 3m at Wetherby last October; ran creditably when seventh in the 26-runner Coral Cup at Cheltenham; down the field at Aintree subsequently; trip is short of his best but he won a stronger race than this over 2m2f at Ballinrobe a year ago; amateur rider, 2-11 over hurdles.

11/8

Form: -15216

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 151

Form & Verdict
He'll need others to underperform if he's to win this and he wasn't at his best when sixth of eight in the Champion Hurdle (2m, heavy); however, he went there following a fine handicap second at Kempton (2m5f, good to soft) and a Grade 2 win in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton (1m7f, heavy), and he's in with an each-way shout if rediscovering that sort of form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Nemean Lion

11st 10lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Seemed to run well in a dramatic Fighting Fifth but was only fourth of five, admittedly not entirely disgraced, last week when favourite for a Windsor contest he'd won 12 months earlier; triple Grade 2 scorer but faces a difficult task against two exciting types in this field.

33/1

4th

1

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Nemean Lion

11st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Middle leg of a hat-trick when winning this last year (soft); finished close-up when last of the three finishers on reappearance in Grade 1 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) in November, which was a positive performance; leading claims despite a 8lb penalty.

7/4

12

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Nemean Lion

11st 10lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Completed a hat-trick (2m3f/2m4f, good to soft/soft) when getting up close home in Grade 2 National Spirit at Fontwell last month; goes up in trip and back up in grade today, with something to find, but he stayed well on the Flat early in his career and has shaped this season as though today's extra distance could prompt further improvement; clearly thriving; interesting.

25/1

Form: 153-51 CD

Last run: 107 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Won C&D maiden (good to soft) in October 2022 and readily made all in handicap at Kempton (2m5f, good) this December on second run for new yard; showed promise on soft/heavy earlier in career; takes a leap in grade today but it was a career-best performance last time and it remains to be seen where the ceiling of his ability now lies; not ruled out each-way at big odds.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 6f 164y

Class 1

14:20 Sandown

Mahons Glory

11st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dylan Cunha

Broadly consistent in handicaps for current yard and ran respectably in the Topham at Aintree (2m5f) most recently; made all, despite jumping left, at Huntingdon (2m4f; also on good to soft) the time before; this is a harder task.

16/1

6th

19

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Mahons Glory

10st 7lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dylan Cunha

10yo who has a career-high mark following easy win in a small field at Huntingdon (2m4f, good to soft); however, he enjoyed himself in front in the Grand Sefton (2m5f, good to soft; fourth) and the Becher (3m2f, soft; fifth) over these fences earlier in the season and can make another bold bid.

16/1

1st

2

1st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 3

14:45 Huntingdon

Mahons Glory

11st 13lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dylan Cunha

Consistent form for current yard includes a couple of creditable efforts over the National fences at Aintree; beaten favourite in veterans' event at Market Rasen (2m5f) most recently but fared best of the rest behind the easy winner; solid claims.

11/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.80
Straight Forecast £3.37
Tricast £19.73
Trifecta £21.60

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Impaire Et Passe

SPOTLIGHT:

Bob Olinger

LAMBOURN:

Luccia

The Times:

Marie's Rock

POSTDATA:

Impaire Et Passe

Telegraph:

Impaire Et Passe

The Guardian:

Impaire Et Passe

Daily Mail:

Impaire Et Passe

D Express:

Impaire Et Passe

The Sun:

Impaire Et Passe

The Star:

Impaire Et Passe

Daily Record:

Impaire Et Passe

RP RATINGS:

Bob Olinger

Daily Mirror:

Bob Olinger