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 (4,023 metres), and during its running there are eleven hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in early April.

Aintree Hurdle
Grade 1 race
LocationAintree Racecourse
Merseyside, England
Inaugurated1976
Race typeHurdle race
SponsorBetway
WebsiteAintree
Race information
Distance2m 4f (4,023 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and up
Weight11 st 0 lb (4yo);
11 st 7 lb (5yo+)
Allowances
7 lb for fillies and mares
Purse£250,000 (2022)
1st: £140,325
Aintree Hurdle
2024
Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green cap, emerald green spots Pink and white (halved), black sleeves, black cap, pink star Royal blue and yellow (quartered), royal blue sleeves, yellow spots, royal blue cap
Impaire Et Passe Bob Olinger Langer Dan
Previous years
2023
White, black cap Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap White, emerald green chevrons, red cap
Constitution Hill Sharjah Zanahiyr
2022
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Yellow, red star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, red star Black, beige and black striped sleeves
Epatante Monmiral McFabulous
2021
Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap Emerald green, yellow stripe, yellow cap Light blue, yellow cross belts, light blue sleeves, yellow stars and cap
Abacadabras Buzz Millers Bank
2020-2011
2019
Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Black, black and pink check sleeves and cap
Supasundae Buveur D'Air Ch'tibello
2018
Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap Light blue, pink star, white cap
L'Ami Serge Supasundae Clyne
2017
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, Emerald Green cap, White star Red, white star, red sleeves, black stars, white cap, red star
Buveur D'air My Tent Or Yours The New One
2016
Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Black and beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap
Annie Power My Tent Or Yours Nichols Canyon
2015
Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Dark green, white cross belts, light green sleeves, dark green and white hooped cap Dark blue, emerald green hoop, quartered cap
Jezki Rock on Ruby Volnay De Thaix
2014
Red, white star, red sleeves, black stars, white cap, red star Dark green, white cross belts, light green sleeves, dark green and white hooped cap Purple, orange seams, purple cap, orange star
The New One Rock on Ruby Diakali
2013
Pink, large purple spots, hooped sleeves Red, white star, red sleeves, black stars, white cap, red star Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star
Zarkandar The New One Thousand Stars
2012
Dark blue and white diabolo, hooped sleeves and cap Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star Dark green, white cross belts, light green sleeves, dark green and white hooped cap
Oscar Whisky Thousand Stars Rock on Ruby
2011
Dark blue and white diabolo, hooped sleeves and cap Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star Emerald green, red sleeves, dark green cap
Oscar Whisky Thousand Stars Salden Licht
2010-2001
2010
Red, royal blue chevrons, armlets and star on cap Dark blue, yellow diamond and sleeves, yellow cap, red diamond Orange, black epaulets
Khyber Kim Muirhead Zaynar
2009
Mauve, white disc, white cap, mauve spots Red and white hoops, red sleeves, black cap Pink, light blue epaulets and sleeves
Solwhit Fiveforthree United
2008
Dark Blue, Emerald Green hoops, quartered cap Light Blue, Royal Blue hoop, armlets and cap Emerald green, orange hoops, white cap
Al Eile Osana Straw Bear
2007
Dark blue and emerald green hoops, quartered cap White, Black diamond, Dark Blue and White hooped sleeves, Black cap Emerald green and yellow quartered, white sleeves and cap
Al Eile Gaspara Afsoun
2006
BLACK and RED STRIPES, white cap Light blue, yellow hoop, white sleeves, light blue and white striped cap Black and yellow quartered, yellow sleeves, black cap, yellow hoop
Asian Maze Hardy Eustace Sky's The Limit
2005
Dark blue and emerald green hoops, quartered cap Beige and black halved, black chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap
Al Eile Inglis Drever Exotic Dancer
2004
Dark blue Yellow, black chevron, check cap Light blue, maroon chevron, halved sleeves, light blue and maroon quartered cap
Rhinestone Cowboy Rooster Booster Westender
2003
ROYAL BLUE, yellow inverted triangle and chevrons on slvs, blue cap, yellow diamond Yellow, black chevron, check cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap
Sacundai Rooster Booster Like-A-Butterfly
2002
Purple, yellow chevron, diabolo on sleeves, purple cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots
Ilnamar Grimes It Takes Time
2001
Green and white stripes, black and white striped sleeves Light blue and maroon stripes, light blue sleeves, hooped cap White, black button on cap
Barton Best Mate Mr Cool
2000-1991
2000
Emerald green, white stars, emerald green cap, white star Green, purple sash, purple sleeves, green seams, quartered cap Emerald green, black hoops, halved sleeves, emerald green cap
Mister Morose Mantles Prince Effectual
1999
Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Navy blue, red armlets Black and white stripes, emerald green and white striped sleeves
Istabraq French Holly Midnight Legend
1998
Yellow, black inverted triangle, black sleeves, green diamonds, black cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Light blue, maroon chevron, halved sleeves, light blue and maroon quartered cap
Pridwell Istabraq Kerawi
1997
BLACK and YELLOW CHEVRONS, yellow sleeves, black armlet, black and yellow striped cap Yellow, black inverted triangle, black sleeves, green diamonds, black cap Dark Blue, Yellow cross belts, collar and cuffs, striped cap
Bimsey Pridwell Make A Stand
1996
Pink and yellow diamonds, yellow sleeves and cap Emerald green, white sleeves, emerald green and white check cap ROYAL BLUE and WHITE DIABOLO, white sleeves, white star on cap
Urubande Strong Promise Danoli
1995
ROYAL BLUE and WHITE DIABOLO, white sleeves, white star on cap Blue, white sash, red and blue quartered cap Royal Blue, Pink epaulets, Pink cap
Danoli Boro Eight Large Action
1994
ROYAL BLUE and WHITE DIABOLO, white sleeves, white star on cap Dark blue and white check, dark blue sleeves, white cap, dark blue star YELLOW, royal blue epaulettes, yellow cap, royal blue star
Danoli Mole Board Fortune And Fame
1993
Brown, white hoop and sleeves, quartered cap Royal blue, white seams, armlets and cap Red, blue stripe, white sleeves, black cap
Morley Street Granville Again Flown
1992
Brown, white hoop and sleeves, quartered cap YELLOW, royal blue chevron, royal blue cap, red star Brown, white hoop and sleeves, quartered cap
Morley Street Minorettes Girl Forest Sun
1991
Brown, white hoop and sleeves, quartered cap Emerald green, royal blue sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Maroon, yellow epaulets, armlets and star on cap
Morley Street Nomadic Way Run For Free
1990-1988
1990
Brown, white hoop and sleeves, quartered cap Royal blue and emerald green stripes, blue sleeves, green cap Blue and white (quartered), hooped sleeves, quartered cap
Morley Street Joyful Noise Ikdam
1989
Brown, fawn cross belts, orange sleeves and cap LIGHT GREEN, yellow sash and armlet, check cap Pink, silver sleeves, mauve and pink hooped cap
Beech Road Cloughtaney Celtic Shot
1988
Grey and pink (halved), reversed sleeves, striped cap Emerald green, scarlet hooped sleeves and cap LIGHT GREEN, yellow sash and armlet, check cap
Celtic Chief Sabin Du Loir Cloughtaney
 

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.[1] Since 2017 the race has been sponsored by Betway.

Records

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Most successful horse (4 wins):

  • Morley Street – 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993

Leading jockey (5 wins):

  • Ruby WalshIlnamar (2002), Sacundai (2003), Asian Maze (2006), Zarkandar (2013), Annie Power (2016)

Leading trainer (6 wins):

Winners

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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[a] Peter McCreery
1982 Daring Run 7 Ted Walsh[a] 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[a] 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 [b]
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
  1. ^ a b c amateur jockey
  2. ^ The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Walker, Tim (17 February 2010). "Aintree finally gives Dick Francis his due". London: telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  2. ^ "Coronavirus: Horse racing in Great Britain suspended until end of April". BBC Sport. 17 March 2020.

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