13 runners have been entered at the six-day stage for the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle, one of four top tier races being run on Thursday, 3rd April. The contest is arguably the showpiece event on day one of the Grand National festival, during which the big race itself features on the Saturday.
Many headlines were written at Cheltenham, but perhaps the most notable was that Constitution Hill lost his unbeaten record at the 11th attempt. Nicky Henderson’s stable star fell at the fourth last flight during the Champion Hurdle, but will look to gain compensation over 2m4f here. He won the race back in 2023, after his Champion Hurdle victory that same season.
Also looking for redemption is Gordon Elliott’s mare Brighterdaysahead. She has only lost twice in her career so far, but both races have come at Cheltenham, as she was extremely disappointing at Prestbury Park earlier in March. She was the only one of the big three in the market to complete, but was only fourth to Golden Ace; however, she was very impressive at this track last season and clearly has the talent to bounce back.
Lossiemouth, meanwhile, easily secured a second straight Mares’ Hurdle title, but plenty have since questioned the wisdom of running her in that race when the Champion Hurdle may well have been hers given what unfolded. She was beaten by Constitution Hill earlier in the year, but sees out 2m4f effectively.
Other Cheltenham Festivals winners may appear here, firstly in Wodhooh, another mare for Gordon Elliott. She stormed away with the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle, the last race of the meeting, and remains unbeaten herself, with this her first potential step into Grade 1 company. The other could be Jimmy Du Seuil, the Coral Cup hero for Willie Mullins, who was fourth to Brighterdaysahead here in novice company last term.
Break My Soul and Take No Chances are other mares in the prospective line-up, while British trainers are lining up to take on the big guns, with Altobelli (Harry Fry), Be Aware (Dan Skelton), Salver (Gary & Josh Moore) and Tellherthename (Jonjo & A J O’Neill) also confirmed.
Willie Mullins has also given an entry to the intriguing and unexposed Kitabuhel, who runs in the colours of the Donnellys, while Henry De Bromhead’s Hiddenvalley Lake, third in the 3m Liverpool Hurdle 12 months ago, completes the early line-up.
Aintree Hurdle Runners 2025
| Number | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | Altobelli | Harry Fry |
| 2 | Be Aware | Dan Skelton |
| 3 | Constitution Hill | Nicky Henderson |
| 4 | Hiddenvalley Lake | Henry De Bromhead |
| 5 | Jimmy Du Seuil | Willie Mullins |
| 6 | Kitzbuhel | Willie Mullins |
| 7 | Salver | Gary & Josh Moore |
| 8 | Tellherthename | Jonjo & A J O’Neill |
| 9 | Break My Soul | Ian Patrick Donoghue |
| 10 | Brighterdaysahead | Gordon Elliott |
| 11 | Lossiemouth | Willie Mullins |
| 12 | Take No Chances | Dan Skelton |
| 13 | Wodhooh | Gordon Elliott |