Aintree Hurdle
Encyclopedia
The Aintree Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...

 hurdle race
Hurdling (horse race)
A Hurdle race in England is a National Hunt horse race where the horses jump over obstacles called hurdles that are over three and a half feet high. They are typically made of brush, that has some flexability. Hurdle races always have a minimum of eight hurdles and a minimum distance of two miles ....

 in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...

 which is open to horses
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...

 aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....

 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.

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
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...

 meeting, and it is traditionally contested on the final day, Saturday.

The Aintree Hurdle often features horses which ran previously over a shorter distance in the Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...

, and the last to win both events in the same year was Istabraq
Istabraq
Istabraq is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who was most famous for his hurdling. He had an exceptional pedigree, being the produce of Sadler's Wells, a son of Northern Dancer, and a Secretariat mare making him a three-quarter brother to Epsom Derby winner Secreto. He won the Champion...

 in 1999.

The 2010 running was named in memory of Dick Francis
Dick Francis
Richard Stanley "Dick" Francis CBE was an English jockey and crime writer, many of whose novels centre around horse racing.- Personal life :...

 (1920–2010), a former jockey who was closely associated with Aintree. He famously rode Devon Loch
Devon Loch
Devon Loch was a famous racehorse that is probably best remembered for its involvement in the 1956 Grand National steeplechase, when owned by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother....

 in the Grand National, and he was leading the race on the run-in when the horse jumped and was overtaken.

Records


Most successful horse (4 wins):
  • Morley Street – 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993

----
Leading jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...

 (4 wins):
  • Charlie Swan – Danoli (1994, 1995), Urubande (1996), Istabraq (1999)

----
Leading trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...

 (5 wins):
  • Toby Balding
    Toby Balding
    Gerald Barnard Balding, Jr. OBE , known as Toby Balding, is a retired British racehorse trainer.-Biography:He was born in the United States where his father, Gerald Barnard Balding, Sr., ran a polo team and is part of a famous racing family. His brother, Ian Balding, also a retired trainer, trained...

     – Beech Road (1989), Morley Street (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993)


Winners

  • Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".
    Year
    Winner
    Age
    Jockey
    Trainer
    1976 Comedy of Errors
    Comedy of Errors (horse)
    Comedy of Errors was a champion British racehorse of the 1970s, winning the Champion Hurdle in 1973 and 1975, and finishing second in 1974. He was trained by Fred Rimell and ridden by Bill Smith and Ken White. The horse was the first to regain British hurdling's top prize....

    9 Ken White Fred Rimell
    1977 Night Nurse
    Night Nurse (horse)
    Night Nurse was an Irish bred English trained National Hunt racehorse sired by Falcon.Timeform rated Night Nurse at 182, the highest rating ever awarded to a hurdler.* 182 - Night Nurse* 180 - Istabraq, Monksfield...

     (DH
    Tie (draw)
    To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. The word "tie" is usually used in North America for sports such as American football. "Draw" is usually used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Commonwealth of Nations and it is usually used for sports such as...

    )
    6 Paddy Broderick Peter Easterby
    Peter Easterby
    Miles Henry 'Peter' Easterby is a retired British racehorse trainer. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer three times....

    1977 Monksfield
    Monksfield
    Monksfield was an Irish-trained National Hunt racehorse who won the Champion Hurdle in 1978 and 1979.There was never much of Monksfield, but his small frame hid an attitude of great determination. If it came to a fight Monksfield would not only want to be in it, he would expect to win it...

     (DH
    Tie (draw)
    To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. The word "tie" is usually used in North America for sports such as American football. "Draw" is usually used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Commonwealth of Nations and it is usually used for sports such as...

    )
    5 Dessie Hughes Des McDonogh
    1978 Monksfield
    Monksfield
    Monksfield was an Irish-trained National Hunt racehorse who won the Champion Hurdle in 1978 and 1979.There was never much of Monksfield, but his small frame hid an attitude of great determination. If it came to a fight Monksfield would not only want to be in it, he would expect to win it...

    6 Dessie Hughes Des McDonogh
    1979 Monksfield
    Monksfield
    Monksfield was an Irish-trained National Hunt racehorse who won the Champion Hurdle in 1978 and 1979.There was never much of Monksfield, but his small frame hid an attitude of great determination. If it came to a fight Monksfield would not only want to be in it, he would expect to win it...

    7 Dessie Hughes Des McDonogh
    1980 Pollardstown 5 Philip Blacker Stan Mellor
    1981 Daring Run 6 Mr Ted Walsh
    Ted Walsh
    Ted Walsh is an amateur jockey turned racehorse trainer, based in Kill, County Kildare, Ireland. He was born and raised in Co. Cork. As a rider, one of his most important wins was on Attitude Adjuster in the 1986 Cheltenham Festival Foxhunter Chase...

    Peter McCreery
    1982 Daring Run 7 Mr Ted Walsh
    Ted Walsh
    Ted Walsh is an amateur jockey turned racehorse trainer, based in Kill, County Kildare, Ireland. He was born and raised in Co. Cork. As a rider, one of his most important wins was on Attitude Adjuster in the 1986 Cheltenham Festival Foxhunter Chase...

    Peter McCreery
    1983 Gaye Brief 6 Richard Linley Mercy Rimell
    1984 Dawn Run
    Dawn Run
    Dawn Run was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was the most successful racemare in the history of National Hunt racing. She won the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham racing festival in 1984 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup over fences at the festival in 1986. Dawn Run was the only racehorse to have...

    6 Tony Mullins Paddy Mullins
    Paddy Mullins
    Paddy Mullins was an Irish racehorse trainer in a career which spanned fifty two years.His first winner was Flash Parade, which won the 1953 La Touche at Punchestown...

    1985 Bajan Sunshine 6 Peter Scudamore
    Peter Scudamore
    Peter Scudamore , known universally as 'Scu', is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was an eight-time Champion Jockey , riding 1,678 winners in his career...

    Martin Tate
    1986 Aonoch 7 Jimmy Duggan Sally Oliver
    1987 Aonoch 8 Jacqui Oliver Sally Oliver
    1988 Celtic Chief 5 Richard Dunwoody
    Richard Dunwoody
    Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...

    Mercy Rimell
    1989 Beech Road 7 Richard Guest Toby Balding
    Toby Balding
    Gerald Barnard Balding, Jr. OBE , known as Toby Balding, is a retired British racehorse trainer.-Biography:He was born in the United States where his father, Gerald Barnard Balding, Sr., ran a polo team and is part of a famous racing family. His brother, Ian Balding, also a retired trainer, trained...

    1990 Morley Street 6 Jimmy Frost Toby Balding
    Toby Balding
    Gerald Barnard Balding, Jr. OBE , known as Toby Balding, is a retired British racehorse trainer.-Biography:He was born in the United States where his father, Gerald Barnard Balding, Sr., ran a polo team and is part of a famous racing family. His brother, Ian Balding, also a retired trainer, trained...

    1991 Morley Street 7 Jimmy Frost Toby Balding
    Toby Balding
    Gerald Barnard Balding, Jr. OBE , known as Toby Balding, is a retired British racehorse trainer.-Biography:He was born in the United States where his father, Gerald Barnard Balding, Sr., ran a polo team and is part of a famous racing family. His brother, Ian Balding, also a retired trainer, trained...

    1992 Morley Street 8 Richard Dunwoody
    Richard Dunwoody
    Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...

    Toby Balding
    Toby Balding
    Gerald Barnard Balding, Jr. OBE , known as Toby Balding, is a retired British racehorse trainer.-Biography:He was born in the United States where his father, Gerald Barnard Balding, Sr., ran a polo team and is part of a famous racing family. His brother, Ian Balding, also a retired trainer, trained...

    1993 Morley Street 9 Graham Bradley Toby Balding
    Toby Balding
    Gerald Barnard Balding, Jr. OBE , known as Toby Balding, is a retired British racehorse trainer.-Biography:He was born in the United States where his father, Gerald Barnard Balding, Sr., ran a polo team and is part of a famous racing family. His brother, Ian Balding, also a retired trainer, trained...

    1994 Danoli 6 Charlie Swan Tom Foley
    1995 Danoli 7 Charlie Swan Tom Foley
    1996 Urubande 6 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien
    Aidan O'Brien
    Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....

    1997 Bimsey 7 Mick Fitzgerald
    Mick Fitzgerald
    Mick Fitzgerald is an Irish National Hunt jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. He has ridden the winners of the Grand National, on Rough Quest in 1996, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup on See More Business in 1999. He was the stable jockey for Nicky Henderson and was leading jockey at the...

    Reg Akehurst
    1998 Pridwell 8 Tony McCoy
    Tony McCoy
    Anthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....

    Martin Pipe
    Martin Pipe
    Martin Pipe was a racehorse trainer until his retirement in April 2006.The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Devon, near Wellington, England....

    1999 Istabraq
    Istabraq
    Istabraq is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who was most famous for his hurdling. He had an exceptional pedigree, being the produce of Sadler's Wells, a son of Northern Dancer, and a Secretariat mare making him a three-quarter brother to Epsom Derby winner Secreto. He won the Champion...

    7 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien
    Aidan O'Brien
    Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....

    2000 Mister Morose 10 Carl Llewellyn Nigel Twiston-Davies
    Nigel Twiston-Davies
    Nigel Twiston-Davies is a British racehorse trainer specialising in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Naunton, Gloucestershire....

    2001 Barton 8 Tony Dobbin
    Tony Dobbin
    Tony Dobbin is a retired Northern Irish National Hunt jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. He rode the winner of the Grand National on Lord Gyllene in 1997 and won over 1,200 races during his career in the saddle. He was the regular stable jockey for Nicky Richards...

    Tim Easterby
    Tim Easterby
    Tim Easterby is a British racehorse trainer based in North Yorkshire.TIM EASTERBY took over the famous Habton Grange stables in North Yorkshire from his father, Peter Easterby, in February 1996...

    2002 Ilnamar 6 Ruby Walsh
    Ruby Walsh
    Ruby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...

    Martin Pipe
    Martin Pipe
    Martin Pipe was a racehorse trainer until his retirement in April 2006.The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Devon, near Wellington, England....

    2003 Sacundai 6 Ruby Walsh
    Ruby Walsh
    Ruby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...

    Edward O'Grady
    2004 Rhinestone Cowboy
    Rhinestone Cowboy (horse)
    Rhinestone Cowboy was an Irish bred racehorse. He was trained in England by Jonjo O'Neill.-Debut:He made his racecourse debut in February 2003, winning a National Hunt Flat race at Ascot. His trainer them immediately stepped him up to the top level, where he contested the Champion Bumper at the...

    8 Mr J. P. Magnier Jonjo O'Neill
    Jonjo O'Neill
    Jonjo O'Neill is an Irish National Hunt racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a native of Castletownroche, County Cork in Ireland. Based at the Jackdaws Castle training establishment in England, O'Neill is the private trainer to J. P. McManus, one of the largest owners of steeplechasers and...

    2005 Al Eile
    Al Eile
    Al Eile is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He is best known for being the only horse to win the Grade I Aintree Hurdle three times.-Background:...

    5 Timmy Murphy
    Timmy Murphy
    Timothy James Murphy , commonly known as Timmy Murphy, is a National Hunt jockey who overcame difficult personal problems to win the 2008 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on the horse Comply or Die. He recorded his 1,000th winner at Taunton on 21 January 2010.- References :...

    John Queally
    2006 Asian Maze 7 Ruby Walsh
    Ruby Walsh
    Ruby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...

    Tom Mullins
    2007 Al Eile
    Al Eile
    Al Eile is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He is best known for being the only horse to win the Grade I Aintree Hurdle three times.-Background:...

    7 Timmy Murphy
    Timmy Murphy
    Timothy James Murphy , commonly known as Timmy Murphy, is a National Hunt jockey who overcame difficult personal problems to win the 2008 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on the horse Comply or Die. He recorded his 1,000th winner at Taunton on 21 January 2010.- References :...

    John Queally
    2008 Al Eile
    Al Eile
    Al Eile is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He is best known for being the only horse to win the Grade I Aintree Hurdle three times.-Background:...

    8 Timmy Murphy
    Timmy Murphy
    Timothy James Murphy , commonly known as Timmy Murphy, is a National Hunt jockey who overcame difficult personal problems to win the 2008 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on the horse Comply or Die. He recorded his 1,000th winner at Taunton on 21 January 2010.- References :...

    John Queally
    2009 Solwhit
    Solwhit
    Solwhit is an French thoroughbred racehorse, born to sire, Solon and dam, Toowhit Towhee. He is owned by the Top Of The Hill Syndicate and is trained by Charles Byrnes. Throughout his time as a racehorse, he has been predominately ridden by Davy Russell...

    5 Davy Russell
    Davy Russell
    Davy Russell is an Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. Russell's first win as a professional jockey was for English-based Irish trainer Ferdy Murphy on Inn Antique in a novice hurdle at Sedgefield, 12 November 2002...

    Charles Byrnes
    2010 Khyber Kim 8 Paddy Brennan
    Paddy Brennan (jockey)
    Paddy Brennan, is an Irish jockey who rode the winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2010.A native of Ardrahan, County Galway, Brennan was a keen GAA player with dreams of becoming a county hurler. He only became involved in horseracing after a neighbour noticed his talent with hunt horses...

    Nigel Twiston-Davies
    Nigel Twiston-Davies
    Nigel Twiston-Davies is a British racehorse trainer specialising in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Naunton, Gloucestershire....

    2011 Oscar Whisky 6 Barry Geraghty
    Barry Geraghty
    Barry Geraghty is an Irish jockey.Geraghty rode his first winner in January 1997, three years later he became the Irish Champion jump jockey for the first time. He rode his first Cheltenham winner on the Jessica Harrington trained Moscow Flyer in the 2002 Arkle Chase.He won the Grand National in...

    Nicky Henderson
    Nicky Henderson
    Nicky Henderson is a British racehorse trainer. He has been British jump racing Champion Trainer twice.Henderson, educated at Eton College, has been a trainer since 1978, based at Seven Barrows near Lambourn, Berkshire...

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