Aintree Hurdle

The highlight of the opening day of the Grand National Festival is the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle which is the only open Grade 1 hurdle staged in Britain over this intermediate trip.

There are six runners left in contention with Salver a non-runner. Market leader Consitution Hill was super boosted to 7/4 by bet365 - click here for other Grand National festival offers through oddschecker. 

Prior to the introduction of the Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1 over 3 miles on Saturday), it was a race where horses from the Champion Hurdle and the Stayers’ Hurdle would clash over the intermediate distance. More recently though it has been dominated by “two milers” stepping up in trip. 

Aintree Hurdle Winners, Trends & Stats

The Aintree Hurdle (3:30) has been won on multiple occasions by seven different horses so it is a race that horses target specifically for the whole season. 

Al Eile won it a record three times (2005, 2007 and 2008) and Oscar Whisky won it most recently back-to-back in 2011 and 2012.

With last year’s winner Impaire Et Passe instead going novice chasing, Constitution Hill could become the eighth multiple winner of the race following his victory in this in 2023. 

  • All of the previous 12 winners had already won a Grade 1 
  • 32 of the previous 47 winners had run in the Champion Hurdle
  • 26 of the previous 30 winners were aged between six and eight
  • 15 of the previous 30 winners were trained in Ireland
  • Six of the previous 13 winners were trained by Nicky Henderson
  • Mares are 2-5 in the previous 15 renewals

 

 

Aintree Hurdle Key Runners & Contenders

Constitution Hill

Had previously won all 10 of his starts under rules prior to falling in the Champion Hurdle last time when sent off a 1/2 favourite. 

The Nicky Henderson trained eight-year-old had won this race previously in 2023 when beating Sharjah by three lengths but a question mark still remains on whether he is better over this trip of 2m4f rather than 2 miles. 

His trainer has said to have schooled him extensively since his fall and it will be interesting to see how quickly he has recovered from that blemish. 

Lossiemouth

Won 10 of her 13 career starts and is unbeaten in her four starts over this intermediate distance. Won the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace on her reappearance before finishing 2nd to Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. 

She fell at the Dublin Racing Festival when sent off odds-on to beat stablemate State Man before retaining her Mares’ Hurdle crown at the Cheltenham Festival with an emphatic 7½ length success. 

Wodhooh

Unbeaten in her seven starts for Gordon Elliott over hurdles and won the competitive Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival by 4 ¼ lengths last time off a mark of 141. 

She is now rated 152 which means she only has 8lbs to find on ratings with Lossiemouth and this will be her first start at Grade 1 level. Her trainer has decided to run her in this race rather than Brighterdaysahead who heads to Punchestown instead. 

Take No Chances

Beat subsequent County Hurdle winner Kargese at Ascot in a Grade 2 in January before finishing 3rd beaten 9 ¼ lengths by Lossiemouth in the Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Will likely be ridden to pick up the pieces late on. 

Tellherthename

Lightly raced and highly touted last season when trained by Ben Pauling and ran with credit when 4th in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle on his reappearance at Newcastle behind Sir Gino. Last seen when pulling up in a the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso in March. 

Break My Soul

Ran well to finish 2nd behind Kitzbuhel in a Grade 3 at Gowran Park on her stable debut for Ian Donoghue having left Nicky Henderson after Christmas. Looks up against it with an official rating of 137. 

Aintree Hurdle Trainers & Jockeys to Watch

Nicky Henderson currently holds the record with six wins in the race including with Epatante in 2022 and Constitution Hill in 2023. 

Both Nico De Boinville and Paul Townend have won the race for the previous two years between them and they are on the two main contenders this season. 

Aintree Hurdle Ground Conditions & Weather 

Good to soft ground is expected on the opening day of the Grand National meeting and none of Constitution Hill, Lossiemouth or Wodhooh will be affected by that. Salver is the one who would probably appreciate a softer surface. 

Aintree Hurdle Pace & Tactics 

Constitution Hill in 2023 proved that horses can make all in this contest but generally, in contrast to the chase course where positive tactics are often rewarded, the hurdles track does suit horses ridden off the pace. 

Aintree Hurdle Tips 

LOSSIEMOUTH (best priced at 13/8) was an emphatic winner of the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and she is unbeaten over this intermediate trip. 

She bounced back from a heavy fall at the Dublin Racing festival to win that day but the fall of Constitution Hill has to be a concern for his backers. Wodhooh is respected on her first attempt at this level but I expect Lossiemouth to prove too good late on in this race contest. 

Advised selection: Lossiemouth 13/8 (1pt)