The Aintree Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle competition in Great Britain accessible to horses aged four and up. It is run at Aintree over a distance of approximately 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 meters), with eleven hurdles to be jumped. The race is held each year in early April.
The event was founded in 1976, and it was originally run over 2 miles and 5½ furlongs. It was trimmed to its current length in 1988. The event is held during the three-day Grand National meeting and is generally held on the last day, Saturday. In 2013, it was relocated to the first day of the meeting, Thursday.
The Aintree Hurdle frequently contains horses that had previously run over a shorter distance in the Champion Hurdle, and the last horse to win both competitions in the same year was Buveur d’Air in 2017.
The 2010 race was named after Dick Francis (1920-2010), a former jockey who was strongly affiliated with Aintree. He notably rode Devon Loch in the Grand National, and he was leading the race on the run-in when the horse leapt and was overtaken. Betway has been the race’s sponsor since 2017.
Table of Contents
Aintree Hurdle Winner List 1976-2022
| 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 |
| 2021 | Abacadabras | 7 | Jack Kennedy | Denise Foster |
| 2022 | Epatante | 8 | Aidan Coleman | Nicky Henderson |
What is the total Distance to be covered in Aintree Hurdle?
2m 4f (4,023 meters)
What is the Surface of Aintree Hurdle?
Turf
What is the Minimum Age Requirement for Aintree Hurdle 2023?
Four years old and up.
What Channel is Aintree Hurdle 2023 on?
Aintree Hurdle 2023 will be broadcasted on iTV1 and Racing TV. Besides this you can approach various online streaming media services to watch the race live.
When is Aintree Hurdle 2023?
Aintree Hurdle 2023 is scheduled to happen on day 1 of Grand National 2023, 13th March 2023.
What Time will Aintree Hurdle 2023 Begin?
Aintree Hurdle 2023 will begin at 3:30 UK time.
Where will be Aintree Hurdle 2023?
Aintree Hurdle is to happen on the Aintree Racecourse.
What is the Purse for Aintree Hurdle 2023?
The purse for Aintree Hurdle 2023 is expected to be near £300,000. In 2022, the winner took £140,325 from the total prize pool of £250,000.
Who is the most successful Jockey in Aintree Hurdle History?
With 5 Wins Ruby Walsh – Ilnamar (2002), Sacundai (2003), Asian Maze (2006), Zarkandar (2013), Annie Power (2016)
Who is the leading trainer in Aintree Hurdle History?
- Toby Balding – Beech Road (1989), Morley Street (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993)
- Nicky Henderson – Oscar Whisky (2011,2012), Buveur d’Air (2017), L’Ami Serge (2018), Epatante (2022)