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Grand National 2026: Aintree Hurdle race analysis and preview

The eyes of the racing world will turn their attention to Merseyside this weekend, as the 2026 Grand National Festival gets underway at Aintree racecourse.

by
Callum Close
6 April 2026

The eyes of the racing world will turn their attention to Merseyside this weekend, as the 2026 Grand National Festival gets underway at Aintree racecourse.

Three days of unmissable action will see racing’s elite go head-to-head in 21 National Hunt races, including Europe’s most valuable Handicap.

The Grand National is the meeting’s namesake and showpiece event; it is due to take place at 16:00, on Saturday, April 11.

Before that, however, 11 Grade One contests are due to run at the Festival, including the Aintree Hurdle on the opening day.

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Dan Skelton duo

Runners and riders will negotiate two miles and four furlongs of Aintree’s iconic course, where they are scheduled to jump 11 flights of hurdles.

Trainer Dan Skelton looks to have a strong hand in this contest, with him represented by two of the top three in the betting.

Priced at 15/8, The New Lion shades favouritism, whilst Kabral Du Mathan is out at 7/2 following a very promising run at the Cheltenham Festival.

The former will return to action following his third-placed effort in the Champion Hurdle, at the Cheltenham Festival.

This race will see owner JP McManus’ horse step back up in trip, having had questions asked of his speed when he fell in the Fighting Fifth and finished third at Cheltenham.

His latest effort was the first time in his career that the New Lion has been defeated on track, with his only other loss in six races coming when he fell at Newcastle.

Undefeated at this trip

Meanwhile, Kabral Du Mathan looked like he was coming to win the Stayers’ Hurdle, as he travelled so well turning for home, but failed to stay up the hill.

He drops back to 2.5 miles here, a distance at which he is undefeated in two starts – both of which came this season.

They will arrive on Merseyside as part of an in-form yard, after Skelton became the first British trainer to surpass £4million prize money in a single season.

Brighterdaysahead looks set to line up alongside The New Lion once again, as the Gigginstown-owned mare is currently priced as the (9/4) second favourite.

She has won one of her three runs this season, finishing second to Lossiemouth either side of the Irish Champion Hurdle win, where she beat Lossiemouth.

Much-improved effort

Her latest run saw a much-improved effort in the Champion Hurdle, where she beat The New Lion into second, after her very poor run in that race last season.

She has mainly campaigned over two miles, but has won a Listed contest over this distance, as well as the Novices’ hurdle on this card in 2024.

Next in the betting comes trainer Willie Mullins’ leading charge in the race, as former Grade One-winning chaser El Fabiolo continues his exploits back over hurdles.

Fell at Aintree last season

Following successive falls on this card and at Punchestown last season, El Fabiolo reverted to hurdles from his debut run this campaign.

He has won two of his three races this season, but his defeat saw him beaten 21 lengths by Brighterdaysahead.

El Fabiolo is priced at 5/1 to win the Aintree Hurdle, whilst Alexei comes next at around 10/1.

Trainer Joe Tizzard’s gelding had been more accustomed to Handicaps until his two latest runs, which have seen him tackle Graded races.

He opened the campaign with a second-placed run behind Celtic Dino, at Chepstow, before winning three of his next five starts.

This run comes after his fourth-placed finish in the Champion Hurdle and will see him step up to 2.5 miles for only the second time in his career.

His one and only run over this distance came back in March last year, when he was beaten by a long distance.

Cheltenham Festival victors

2025 Champion Hurdler and Fighting Fifth winner Golden Ace couldn’t repeat her fortunes at Cheltenham, but will arrive here nonetheless.

Trainer Jeremy Scott’s mare is priced at 12/1 to win this race, ahead of trainer Nicky Henderson’s recent Cheltenham winner Jinkgo Blue.

Potters Charm is looking to make it three consecutive victories and Air Of Entitlement will also arrive here off the back of a Cheltenham Festival win.

They are priced at 14/1 and 16/1 respectively, before Lucky Place – who completes the field at 25/1.