Grand National Festival 2026: Katie Midwinter's runner-by-runner guide to the Aintree Hurdle

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Aintree Day 1 Superboost

Selma De Vary ran an excellent race in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, finishing a narrow fourth after being short of room up the home straight. He looks sure to improve on that in today's Boodles 4yo Juvenile Hurdle at 13:45, which is why he's 9/43.25 favourite to win the race.

He's also 2/51.40 to finish in the top three today but you can back him at the super-boosted price of 1/12.00 to finish in the placings, and with only 10 runners in the race, five of which are priced at 40/141.00 or higher, that looks an excellent price.

To take advantage of today's Superboost just click on the odds below to go directly to the Horse Racing section on the Betfair Sportsbook where you will ee the Selma De Vary Superboost towards the top of the page.

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One of the feature events on the first day of the Grand National Festival, the Grade One Aintree Hurdle has attracted a strong field of seven this year, making for an intriguing contest on the back of the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Whilst it's a lesser renewal without reigning champion Lossiemouth, as well as former winner Constitution Hill, it features the second, third, fourth and fifth from Cheltenham, where there was only three-and-a-half-lengths between the quartet.

It makes for an unpredictable contest with the extra half-a-mile on a different track adding to the intrigue. The New Lion may be the one to benefit most from the step back up, having failed to fire as expected last month, whilst Brighterdaysahead is likely to be a formidable rival once again, capable of posing a threat.

Alexei was unlucky in fourth when last seen and should be in the mix if able to prove his stamina, and Golden Ace has already proven her credentials at this level on multiple occasions and is sure to take advantage should others falter.

The addition of El Fabiolo, once a world beater who returns over hurdles after failing to prove himself as a nature chaser, is fascinating, whilst Potters Charm and Lucky Place are both lively outsiders, far from forlorn hopes having shown top class form on occasions during their respective careers to date.

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The New Lion

7/42.75 favourite to win the Aintree Hurdle

Current favourite for the Aintree Hurdle is The New Lion, the highest-rated in the field on a mark of 60. He could only manage third to Lossiemouth when sent off at 3/14.00 for the Champion Hurdle in his latest start, coming wide to mount his challenge, giving first run to the pair of mares ahead of him.

No match for the eventual winner at Cheltenham, he may have finished second with a more favourable trip, and this step up in distance should suit which could allow him to reverse form with Brighterdaysahead.

The seven-year-old is still capable of showing further improvement having made only seven starts over obstacles to date, and is already a dual Grade One winner from his novice hurdling campaign. He hasn't fully convinced over the minimum distance yet, but has proven form over an intermediate trip, unbeaten over a distance of around two-and-a-half-miles.

This assignment should see him in a better light and he holds leading claims for Dan and Harry Skelton.

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Brighterdaysahead

15/82.88 to win the Aintree Hurdle

Brighterdaysahead performed well in defeat to finish second in the Champion Hurdle, narrowly denying The New Lion the second-place position.

She has never quite been at her best at Cheltenham, beaten in all three starts there despite performing with credit, but she's a course-and-distance winner at Aintree, having landed the Mersey Novices' Hurdle here a couple of years ago.

This could likely suit better than her latest assignment, and, with the lack of a Lossiemouth in the race, this could be her chance to claim another top level victory. She does face stiff opposition, but is a formidable mare on her day having beaten Lossiemouth at the Dublin Racing Festival in her penultimate start, as well as beating State Man in the past, too, and warrants the utmost respect.

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El Fabiolo

5/16.00 to win the Aintree Hurdle

A top class performer on his day, El Fabiolo was only narrowly denied in the Top Novices' Hurdle here by Jonbon four years ago, before going on to reverse that form over fences in the Arkle. He won three consecutive top level prizes as a novice chaser, but failed to kick on in open company, struggling to jump fluently in his races, eventually reverting back over hurdles earlier this season. 

The Closutton representative made a winning return at Punchestown on New Year's Eve, before failing to fire in the Irish Champion Hurdle won by Brighterdaysahead. When last seen, however, the nine-year-old returned to form in dominating style, winning by 21-lengths as the 2/71.29 favourite. 

Whilst he'll need to prove he still retains the ability required to pose a serious threat at Grade One level, but is a horse with a huge amount of talent and class on his day, representing a master trainer in Willie Mullins.

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Alexei

8/19.00 to win the Aintree Hurdle

A progressive six-year-old who remains open to showing further improvement, Joe Tizzard-trained Alexei was able to outrun odds of 22/123.00 to finish fourth in the Champion Hurdle when last seen, unlucky to lose out on a placed finish having lost momentum at the last flight. 

The mistake may have cost him second or third considering he was in the same position as both Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion at the time, possessing enough speed over the minimum trip to pose a threat to the aforementioned pair, but he'll need to prove himself again over this extra distance against the same opposition.

Alexei is now on a mark of 158 having been rated only 127 at the beginning of the season. He has little to find on ratings with the leading contenders and remains on an upward trajectory, making him an interesting contender if he can prove his stamina credentials.

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Golden Ace

12/113.00 to win the Aintree Hurdle

Last year's Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace finished fifth when attempting to retain her crown at Cheltenham last month, but wasn't too far behind her reopposing rivals and has proven Grade One form. She is a solid hurdler and usually runs her race, often emerging with great credit from her races against tough opposition.

The dual Grade One winner will be bidding to go one better than when second to Dysart Enos in a Grade Two bumper at the track in her only previous visit to Aintree. She'll need to improve on her Cheltenham performance stepping back up in distance, but has previously won over a similar trip as a novice, unexposed over the intermediate distance in open company.

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Potters Charm

16/117.00 to win the Aintree Hurdle

Seven-year-old gelding Potters Charm is bidding for a third successive on the back of a Grade Two success at Fontwell when last seen. He is unexposed at Grade One level in open company, but landed a top level success as a novice hurdler at Aintree in the Formby last season, beating Miami Magic.

The Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies-trained contender shaped with great promise as a novice last term but was no match for The New Lion at the Cheltenham Festival, and will have to find plenty to reverse that form. He is an interesting contender with course form in his favour, however, and could be able to find the improvement required to outrun his odds and continue his good run of form.

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Lucky Place

25/126.00 to win the Aintree Hurdle

Outsider of the field Lucky Place has plenty to find on current form but won twice at Grade Two level last season, and has form with Golden Ace, as well as Gidleigh Park, from his novice hurdling campaign.

The Nicky Henderson-trained contender is proven over the distance and could be able to give a good account of himself, but needs to find significant improvement if he is to pose a threat to the main protagonists in this field.

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Katie Midwinter's Aintree Hurdle Prediction

1. Alexei

2. The New Lion

3. El Fabiolo

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