William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Aintree

16:05

Date 2026-04-09

Distance 2m4f

Class Class 1

Going Good To Soft

Type Hurdle

Surface Turf

Age Band 4yo+

Prize £140,325

Weather Overcast

Temp 10.5°C

Wind 4mph SE

Rain 0%

Winning Time 4m 55.14s (slow by 9.14s)

Result

Pos	Horse	SP	Btn
1st	Brighterdaysahead (FR) Jack Kennedy · Gordon Elliott	13/8F	Won
2nd	The New Lion (GB) Harry Skelton · Dan Skelton	9/4	2.25
3rd	Alexei (GER) Brendan Powell · Joe Tizzard	12/1	1.5
4th	Golden Ace (GB) Lorcan Williams · Jeremy Scott	11/1	.75
5th	Potters Charm (IRE) Sam Twiston-Davies · Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies	18/1	12
6th	El Fabiolo (FR) Paul Townend · W P Mullins	4/1	2.25

Runners (7)

EW Terms: 2 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
6	Brighterdaysahead Bay J:Jack Kennedy T:Gordon Elliott	J:Jack Kennedy T:Gordon Elliott	157	—	4-3212	159	172	166	30d	1W/1P 1 run	1W/1P 1 run	+6	36.6	0.44/1	7/4 36%
Very smart mare; easy winner at this meeting in 2024; has leading claims at the weights
5	The New Lion Bay J:Harry Skelton T:Dan Skelton	J:Harry Skelton T:Dan Skelton	164	—	11-F13	160	166	131	30d	0W/1P 1 run	0W/1P 1 run	+8	36.4	0.50/1	2/1 33%
Ran well in the Champion Hurdle; leading novice at about 2m4f last term; commands respect
2	El Fabiolo Bay J:Paul Townend T:W P Mullins	J:Paul Townend T:W P Mullins	164	—	F-F151	155	164	139	38d	0W/0P 1 run	0W/0P 1 run	+15	30.7	1.00/1	4/1 20%
Latest win took hurdles record to 4-7; the best horse in this if viewed on peak chase form
7	Golden Ace Bay J:Lorcan Williams T:Jeremy Scott	J:Lorcan Williams T:Jeremy Scott	157	—	-22125	150	164	150	30d	0W/0P 1 run	0W/0P 1 run	+29	38.7	3.00/1	12/1 8%
Registered her Grade 1 wins in fortuitous fashion and is going to need further luck
1	Alexei Bay J:Brendan Powell T:Joe Tizzard	J:Brendan Powell T:Joe Tizzard	164	t	211314	158	164	145	30d	0W/1P 1 run	0W/1P 1 run	+35	42.7	3.00/1	12/1 8%
Good strike-rate; ran well in the Champion Hurdle and remains a progressive sort
4	Potters Charm Bay J:Sam Twiston-Davies T:Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies	J:Sam Twiston-Davies T:Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies	164	—	-F3411	154	157	141	46d	0W/0P 1 run	0W/0P 1 run	+39	45.2	4.00/1	16/1 6%
Record of 7-11 over hurdles; 1-1 at Aintree (Gr 1 novice) and he's the freshest contender
NR	Lucky Place Bay J:Nico de Boinville T:Nicky Henderson	J:Nico de Boinville T:Nicky Henderson	164	—	4-3230	151	158	132	29d	—	—	—	25.3	—	—
Still needs to prove he's a Grade 1 hurdler and has the worst chance at the weights

Horse	bet365	Coral	Virgin Bet
Brighterdaysahead	7/4	7/4	7/4
The New Lion	2/1	15/8	2/1
El Fabiolo	4/1	4/1	4/1
Golden Ace	12/1	12/1	12/1
Alexei	12/1	12/1	11/1
Potters Charm	16/1	16/1	16/1
Lucky Place	-	-	-

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Potters Charm

45.2

OR: 26 Form: 17.6 Odds: 1.6

16/1

2nd

Alexei

42.7

OR: 27 Form: 13.5 Odds: 2.2

12/1

3rd

Golden Ace

38.7

OR: 25 Form: 11 Odds: 2.7

12/1

Brighterdaysahead

36.6

OR: 27.3 Form: 0 Odds: 9.4

7/4

The New Lion

36.4

OR: 27.5 Form: 0 Odds: 8.9

2/1

El Fabiolo

30.7

OR: 26.3 Form: 0 Odds: 4.4

4/1

Lucky Place

25.3

OR: 25.3 Form: 0 Odds: 0

—

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
The New Lion	160	166	131
Brighterdaysahead	159	172	166
Alexei	158	164	145
El Fabiolo	155	164	139
Potters Charm	154	157	141
Lucky Place	151	158	132
Golden Ace	150	164	150

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Lucky Place	29d ago	Fit
Brighterdaysahead	30d ago	Fit
The New Lion	30d ago	Fit
Golden Ace	30d ago	Fit
Alexei	30d ago	Fit
El Fabiolo	38d ago	Fit
Potters Charm	46d ago	Fresh