Grade One Aintree Hurdle Guide

From Ditcheat for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden, McFabulous earmarked himself as one to follow winning two bumpers in the late 2018-19 season. 

Life over hurdles didn’t start perfectly as it took three attempts for him to shed his maiden tag. Moving up to 2m4f miles seemed to unlock the necessary improvement and he followed up his maiden win with a Grade Three victory at Kempton. 

Put away until this season he still retained his novice status and took maximum advantage when easily winning the Grade two Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow.

Connections attempted to move him up to three miles in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury but he couldn’t quite lie up with the staying superstars Thyme Hill and Paisley Park, despite going off favourite. 

Shifting back down to 2m4f miles he hosed up in another Grade Two event at Kempton. 

We last saw the seven year old at Fontwell contesting the National Spirit Hurdle, however a bad mistake five out seemed to knock the stuffing out of him and he couldn’t handle Brewin’upastorm. 

An excuse for his last performance and a swing in the weights with the rival that beat him see’s him sit prominently in the market.

A flat 2m4f miles is his ideal and he’s looking more than ready to strike in a Grade One. 

Trained by Denise Foster, Abacadabras went agonisingly close in the 2020 Supreme off the back of a solid novice hurdling campaign. 

His first season in open company has been inconsistent. A short priced favourite on return in the WKD hurdle, he was well held behind Aspire Tower. 

The bubble looked burst, but he bounced back immediately when cutting through the deep ground best to hold on in the Morgiana Hurdle. Fending off Saint Roi and Jason the Militant looked strong form for a horse who could idle when hitting the front. 

He’s since floundered. Fifth in Matheson at Christmas was put down to a health issue and he showed a rekindling of form when best of the rest behind Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle. 

Last seen falling at only the third flight in the champion hurdle last month, he’s on somewhat of a rescue mission to fulfil the promise he showed as a novice. 

He’s untested at this trip but his strong galloping style suggests he should stay the distance. If he’s ever going to get 2m4f it will be around a speed favouring Aintree.

Classy but inconsistent. 

Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore had a storming Cheltenham festival and combine here with Jason The Militant. 

This seven year old caught the eye when third in his only bumper run behind Envoi Allen. A gusty winner of his maiden hurdle he finished his novice campaign with a massive win in a Grade Two at Naas. Scalping Beacon Edge and Andy Dufresne was some smart form. 

A warm up spin on the flat yielded a win before moving into open company over hurdles this season. Returning to timber in the WKD hurdle behind Aspire Tower he was pipped at the post for second by Abacadabras.

He finished behind the same rival next time out in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November and finished third again.  

Given some time off to freshen up, a 104 day break clearly did him good as he struck in a Grade Three at Fairyhouse in late February. An easy win saw Petit Mouchoir, Darasso and Sixshooter well beaten. 

He’s always shown a strong application in the finish of his races and is looking ready to make the step up to 2m4f.

Making all last time out on soft ground shows he’s got stamina and Aintree won’t provide too much of a test. 

He has however been beaten in a Grade One and Grade Two race this season and might just be lacking quality at the top table. 

Olly Murphy’s eight year old has had a mixed career. A handy winner of a novice hurdle, he then finished a respectable fourth in the Challow hurdle behind Champ. 

Sent off favourite for the Ballymore on Trials day that season, he crashed out at the last flight when looking like he had the measure of Birchdale.

He didn’t taste success again as a novice hurdler as he came fourth in the Ballymore and second in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle behind Reserve Tank. 

Sent chasing for his next season, he dispatched two small and weak fields with ease before lining up in last year’s Arkle. A dreadful mistake four out saw him catapult Richard Johnson out the saddle before he could get competitive. 

Reappearing in open chase company this season, he was last of six in a listed contest at Carlisle won by Imperial Aura. Keeping the faith he was meant for the bigger obstacles he ran in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, but again trialled home in last. 

Dropped back to hurdles subsequently he immediately appreciated the change in scenery and bolted up in a Class 2 handicap off a high mark of 148. 

Last seen at Fontwell when getting the better of McFabulous in the National Spirit hurdle, he put in a scratchy jump in the last but had already bounded clear of his main rival. 

He made the most of getting 6lbs from McFabulous that day but won’t get the same luxury here. He’s struggled in Grade One company previously but could have place credentials as track and trip are his ideal. 

Tom Symonds sends his six year old Song For Someone, despite his young age he’s already chalked up 14 runs over hurdles. 

The French flat recruit managed to win twice over hurdles as a juvenile before finishing sixth in the 4-Y-O hurdle here won by Pentland Hills. 

In his first season in open company he was first tested in handicaps. Winning a low grade event easily, he then went on to place in a listed event and a Grade Three. 

A mark in the 150’s started to look too stiff for handicaps and he transitioned into graded conditions company. Grossly outpaced in the Kingwell Hurdle two out, his massive engine kicked in and he rallied from the last flight to snatch victory at the line. 

The really likeable performance saw him put away until this season. Returning to the track for the three runner Ascot Hurdle, he was the outsider but won almost unchallenged when making all from the front. 

Dropped in trip for his next run in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December, another very likely performance saw him deny Silver Streak by a nose. Conceding a penalty for Grade Two successes, he showed his tenacity to hold on in a tight finish. 

Last seen in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton, a change in tactics didn’t play to his strengths. Held up at the back of the field didn’t make use of his stamina and he failed to get anywhere near Goshen. Twenty two lengths separating them at the line. 

A flat track over 2.5 miles is likely to suit him more. Hopefully a return to more prominent tactics will be used and he’s not without place claims. 

A two time winner of the Champion hurdle, Buveur D’Air’s career has slowly started to decline from the lofty heights he hit. 

Third in the supreme in 2016 behind stablemate Altior, he was subsequently sent chasing in his next season. He won his first two attempts over the bigger obstacles but was shifted back down to hurdles to avoid further clashes with Altior. 

A further seven Grade One victories over hurdles followed including this race in 2017. 

His last complete season came in 2018-19. Destroying Samcro in the Fighting Fifth, he was then famously chinned by stablemate Verdana Blue in the Christmas Hurdle. The mare just collaring him at the line. 

His low and slick hurdling style saw him come crashing down at the third hurdle in the 2019 Champion Hurdle. He was then brought to Aintree for this race where in the pouring rain he just couldn’t get past Supasundae. 

Taken to Punchestown after Aintree, he secured his last win there when easily winning the Punchestown Champion Hurdle. 

A serious injury on reappearance in late 2019 saw him come second in the Fighting Fifth with a piece of hurdle stuck in his hoof.

Not seen again until this January, he shaped like he needed the run after the break and was beaten by Najavo Pass despite getting weight. 

He’s certainly on a salvage mission to recapture some form and the 10 year old looks to have a mountain to climb.

Younger legs oppose and will likely get the better of him, even if he does retain most of his ability. 

The loveable grey trained by Evan Williams has been highly popular in the five seasons he’s been hurdling. 

A 72 rated flat horse, he made three hurdling starts for Ann Duffield but didn’t look particularly special in any of his runs. Not until changing yards and moving to handicap company did he taste success over timber. 

He moved through the handicap ranks rapidly and went down by a neck to Nietzsche in the 2018 Greenwood Hurdle. Clearly improving his connections sent him for a loftier target and he came second in the International Hurdle behind Brian Power. 

Wins were hard to come by in open company as he came second again before running a blinder in the 2019 Champion Hurdle to be third at a massive SP of 80/1. 

A Listed win at Kempton opened his next season but again he found winning hard as he finished third in the Fighting Fifth and second in the Christmas Hurdle behind Epatante. 

This season he’s seemingly unlocked more potential. A blistering listed win at Kempton opened his account again. Unlucky to be carried out early in the Fighting Fifth, he nearly made amends in the International Hurdle when just failing to get the better of Song For Someone. 

His big day in the sun finally came when a change in tactics saw him bully the sting out of Epatante in the Christmas Hurdle.

A Grade One win was highly deserved and making all the running seemed to suit the grey a lot more. 

A poor sixth in the Champion Hurdle last time out saw him grossly outpaced, a shift up in trip could however unlock further improvement. His best form has come around flat courses and he’s not short of stamina.

Not to be written off. 

An aptly named representative for Nicky Henderson. Buzz was hard to settle in his early days as a hurdler. Picked up from Hughie Morrison after achieving a respectable rating of 98 on the level he immediately took to hurdles. 

A tight winner of his first two wins over hurdles, he scraped home in both to cling on by a neck. He then pulled his chances away when sent off 6/4 favourite for the Dovecote hurdle at Kempton. Unable to settle down saw him run too freely and weaken tamely back into fourth. 

Moving into open company this year saw him return in the Welsh Champion hurdle. A good run, he blundered the last and couldn’t get to Sceau Royal and Ballyandy. 

Two very good handicap runs have followed subsequently. An easy winner at Ascot in a Class 2 event, he was then beaten over the same course and distance by Not So Sleepy in a Grade Three. 

Kept down the handicap route we last saw Buzz in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. The grey caught the eye making smooth progress from the back of the field but couldn’t go through the gears fast enough to get to the leaders and finished fifth. 

A good performance off a high mark of 152, the gelding hinted that his future could lie over further.
Untested at this trip would be a concern. He’s also only dipped his toe into conditions races once and finished fourth.

Moving into Grade One company and up in trip certainly gives him a lot on his plate. Likely to find a few too good to get competitive. 

The 2016 Champion Bumper winner Ballyandy has been a model of consistency over the last five years he’s been running over timber for Nigel Twiston-Davies

Favourite for the 2017 Supreme, he failed to justify support off the back of shedding his maiden tag in the Betfair Hurdle. However a 4th behind the ill fated Labaik was a solid performance. 

A short spell chasing didn’t work out and he was returned to the smaller obstacles. Experimentation with his trip saw him run his usual consistent race to be third in the Coral Cup in 2019. 

More trip experimentation saw him continue to struggle to notch wins. A string of placed efforts culminated in his first graded win for three years when rallying late at Haydock to win the New One Hurdle. His game attitude meant he overcame being outpaced and dug in deep to get in front where it mattered. 

Again winning has been hard to come by. A valiant second in the Welsh Champion hurdle saw him just not have the pace to go with Sceau Royal. Another second in the Greenwood hurdle, the progressive The Shunter had younger legs in the finish. 

A string of graded places have followed showing he’s still a place pot banker despite hitting the age of 10. Last seen well behind Navajo Pass and Buveur D’Air at Haydock was probably the poorest run in recent memory. 

He’s by no means looking like the winner of this, but the old boy has plenty of talent left in him and tries his hardest. He looks out of his depth, but going up in trip should suit and he’s the model of consistency. 

A brilliant dual purpose operator for Hughie Morrison. The nine year old has only been hurdling for the last couple of years but was a 97 rated animal on the flat. 

Beaten out of sight on his first attempt over hurdles, he made amends quickly and bolted up in only his second attempt. 
A busy year saw the free going runner mix it between the flat and jumps.

Fourth in the 2019 Cesarewitch was an impressive run and set him up nicely for a return to hurdles. He quickly hit form and recorded a brace of handicap wins off lenient marks. 

Well fancied for that seasons’ Betfair hurdle he had a nightmare start and never threatened. Moving into Grade One company he failed to lie up in that year’s champion hurdle and failed to complete. 

This year he’s mixed it between flat and jumps again. A win on reappearance was followed by another fourth in the Cesarewitch, despite being 8lbs higher in the handicap. 

His first hurdle run this season came in the Fighting Fifth where he only managed to cause havoc. Unseating at the first flight he then carried out Silver Streak when loose. 

Dropped back to handicap company he defied a mark of 142 to beat Buzz at Ascot. Deep ground playing to his strengths, he bowled out in front and didn’t see another rival until passing the post. 

Again tried in the Champion Hurdle he certainly fared better this season and finished fifth at 125/1. 
He’s hard to trust.

He’s most effective in handicap fields on deep ground. A grade 1 around a flat track doesn’t look his ideal. Unlikely to play a major role. 

This seven year old is only on his second season hurdling and notched up two wins during his novice campaign. 
This season he contested the Welsh Champion hurdle on seasonal reappearance but was well beaten and finished well back in ninth. 

Dipping his toe into listed company he again was well beaten back into eighth of nine runners. 

A low class handicap win did come back in early January off a mark of 133. 

He’s since narrowly gone down in second in a jumpers bumper and recorded another impressive handicap win. Off a revised mark of 137 he beat useful hurdler Highway One O Two by 10 lengths. 

He is improving, however he’s likely to be well out of his depth here. All his form has been over two miles so he has a half mile of unexplored territory against some strong rivals.

Likely to have too much on his plate to get competitive.