The Formby Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and a furlong (2 miles and 209 yards, or 3,410 metres), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in December. From 2011 to 2018 the race was sponsored by online casino 32Red and was run as the 32Red Hurdle between 2011 and 2013. Since 2023 it has been sponsored by William Hill
Its predecessor was first run in 1976 at Sandown Park and was originally named the Tolworth Novices' Hurdle then simply the Tolworth Hurdle. As part of changes to the National Hunt pattern, since December 2023 the race has been run on Boxing Day at Aintree as the Formby Novices' Hurdle, open to horses aged three years and older.
Records Leading jockey (3 wins): Norman Williamson – Silver Wedge (1995), Monsignor (2000), Miros (2002) Ruby Walsh - Silverburn (2007), Breedsbreeze (2008), Yorkhill (2016) Barry Geraghty - Minella Class (2011), Captain Conan (2012), L'ami Serge (2015)
Leading trainer (7 wins): Nicky Henderson – New York Rainbow (1992), Minella Class (2011), Captain Conan (2012), Royal Boy (2014), L'ami Serge (2015), Constitution Hill (2022), Jango Baie (2023)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer1976Grand Canyon6Peter HaynesDerek Kent1977Levaramoss4Anson GonsalvesStaff Ingham1978Western Rose6John BurkeFred Rimell1979Abandoned because of snow1980Esparto5Oliver SherwoodFred Winter1981Broadsword4Peter ScudamoreDavid Nicholson 1982Abandoned because of frost and snow1983Hawkbarrow5Paul BartonDavid Gandolfo 1984Desert Orchid5Colin BrownDavid Elsworth 1985Wing and a Prayer4John FrancomeJohn Jenkins1986Midnight Count6Richard RoweJosh Gifford 1987Mister Point5Graham McCourtColin Tinkler 1988 Away We Go 6 Steve Smith Eccles John Jenkins 1989 Wishlon 6 Ian Shoemark Ron Smyth 1990 Forest Sun 5 Jimmy Frost Toby Balding 1991 Change the Act 6 Jamie Osborne Oliver Sherwood 1992 New York Rainbow 7 John Kavanagh Nicky Henderson 1993 Sun Surfer 5 Carl Llewellyn Tim Forster 1994Abandoned due to waterlogging 1995 Silver Wedge 4 Norman Williamson David Nicholson 1996 Right Win 6 Graham McCourt Richard Hannon Sr. 1997 Abandoned due to frost 1998 French Holly 7 Andrew Thornton Ferdy Murphy 1999 Behrajan 4 Richard Dunwoody Henry Daly 2000 Monsignor 6 Norman Williamson Mark Pitman 2001 Iznogoud 5 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 2002 Miros 5 Norman Williamson Jonjo O'Neill 2003 Thisthatandtother 7 Timmy Murphy Paul Nicholls 2004 Lingo 5 Liam Cooper Jonjo O'Neill 2005 Marcel 5 Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe 2006 Noland 5 Christian Williams Paul Nicholls 2007 Silverburn 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2008 Breedsbreeze 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2009 no race 2009–10 2011 Minella Class 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2012 Captain Conan 5 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2013 Melodic Rendezvous 7 Nick Scholfield Jeremy Scott 2014 Royal Boy 7 Tony McCoy Nicky Henderson 2015 L'ami Serge 5 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson 2016 Yorkhill 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2017 Finian's Oscar 5 Tom O'Brien Colin Tizzard 2018 Summerville Boy 6 Noel Fehily Tom George 2019 Elixir Du Nutz 5 Tom O'Brien Colin Tizzard 2020 Fiddlerontheroof 6 Robbie Power Colin Tizzard 2021 Metier 5 Sean Bowen Harry Fry 2022 Constitution Hill 5 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson 2023 (Jan) Tahmuras 6 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls 2023 (Dec) Jango Baie 4 James Bowen Nicky Henderson 2024 Potters Charm 5 Sam Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies 2025 Idaho Sun 5 Bryan Carver Harry Fry
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
pedigreequery.com – Tolworth Hurdle – Sandown.
External links Race Recordings (1980, 1987–2013) youtube.com