The Aintree Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (), and during its running there are eleven hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in early April.
The event was established in 1976, and it was originally run over 2 miles and 5½ furlongs. It was shortened to its present length in 1988. The race is staged during the three-day Grand National meeting, and was traditionally contested on the final day, Saturday. In 2013 it was moved to the opening day of the meeting, Thursday.
The Aintree Hurdle often features horses which ran previously over a shorter distance in the Champion Hurdle, and the last to win both events in the same year was Constitution Hill in 2023.
The 2010 running was named in memory of Dick Francis (1920–2010), a former jockey who was closely associated with Aintree. He famously rode Devon Loch in the Grand National, and he was leading the race on the run-in when the horse jumped and was overtaken. Since 2017 the race has been sponsored by Betway.
Records Most successful horse (4 wins): Morley Street – 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
Leading jockey (5 wins): Ruby Walsh – Ilnamar (2002), Sacundai (2003), Asian Maze (2006), Zarkandar (2013), Annie Power (2016)
Leading trainer (6 wins): Nicky Henderson - Oscar Whisky (2011, 2012), Buveur d'Air (2017), L'Ami Serge (2018), Epatante (2022), Constitution Hill (2023)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1976 Comedy of Errors 9 Ken White Fred Rimell 1977 Night Nurse (DH) 6 Paddy Broderick Peter Easterby 1977 Monksfield (DH) 5 Dessie Hughes Des McDonogh 1978 Monksfield 6 Dessie Hughes Des McDonogh 1979 Monksfield 7 Dessie Hughes Des McDonogh 1980 Pollardstown 5 Philip Blacker Stan Mellor 1981 Daring Run 6 Ted Walsh Peter McCreery 1982 Daring Run 7 Ted Walsh Peter McCreery 1983 Gaye Brief 6 Richard Linley Mercy Rimell 1984 Dawn Run 6 Tony Mullins Paddy Mullins 1985 Bajan Sunshine 6 Peter Scudamore Martin Tate 1986 Aonoch 7 Jimmy Duggan Sally Oliver 1987 Aonoch 8 Jacqui Oliver Sally Oliver 1988 Celtic Chief 5 Richard Dunwoody Mercy Rimell 1989 Beech Road 7 Richard Guest Toby Balding 1990 Morley Street 6 Jimmy Frost Toby Balding 1991 Morley Street 7 Jimmy Frost Toby Balding 1992 Morley Street 8 Richard Dunwoody Toby Balding 1993 Morley Street 9 Graham Bradley Toby Balding 1994 Danoli 6 Charlie Swan Tom Foley 1995 Danoli 7 Charlie Swan Tom Foley 1996 Urubande 6 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien 1997 Bimsey 7 Mick Fitzgerald Reg Akehurst 1998 Pridwell 8 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 1999 Istabraq 7 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien 2000 Mister Morose 10 Carl Llewellyn Nigel Twiston-Davies 2001 Barton 8 Tony Dobbin Tim Easterby 2002 Ilnamar 6 Ruby Walsh Martin Pipe 2003 Sacundai 6 Ruby Walsh Edward O'Grady 2004 Rhinestone Cowboy 8 J. P. Magnier Jonjo O'Neill 2005 Al Eile 5 Timmy Murphy John Queally 2006 Asian Maze 7 Ruby Walsh Tom Mullins 2007 Al Eile 7 Timmy Murphy John Queally 2008 Al Eile 8 Timmy Murphy John Queally 2009 Solwhit 5 Davy Russell Charles Byrnes 2010 Khyber Kim 8 Paddy Brennan Nigel Twiston-Davies 2011 Oscar Whisky 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2012 Oscar Whisky 7 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2013 Zarkandar 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2014 The New One 6 Sam Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies 2015 Jezki 7 Tony McCoy Jessica Harrington 2016 Annie Power 8 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2017 Buveur d'Air 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2018 L'Ami Serge 8 Daryl Jacob Nicky Henderson 2019 Supasundae 9 Robbie Power Jessica Harrington no race 2020 2021 Abacadabras 7 Jack Kennedy Denise Foster 2022 Epatante 8 Aidan Coleman Nicky Henderson 2023 Constitution Hill 6 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2024 Impaire Et Passe 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2025 Lossiemouth 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2026 Brighterdaysahead 7 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , aintree.co.uk – 2010 John Smith's Grand National Media Guide. pedigreequery.com – Aintree Hurdle – Aintree.
External links Race Recordings (1977–2004) youtube.com