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2026 Top Novices' Hurdle Preview
The Top Novices Hurdle has had a Grade 1 status since being upgraded in 2016; it is scheduled to take place in April of each year at the Aintree racecourse.
It is run during the Grand National meeting, and it is open to runners aged four or older who are novices, which means no wins over hurdles before the start of the current season.
The race is run over a trip of two miles, half a furlong, in which the runners will have to contend with a total of nine hurdles.
Top Novices' Hurdle Information:
- Top Novices' Hurdle Past Winners
- Top Novices' Hurdle Trainer Statistics
- Top Novices' Hurdle Jockey Statistics
If you are interested in other predictions at Aintree, then head over to the Aintree tips page to see which runners are being supported by the OLBG racing tipsters and also compare those predictions to the runners that make the trend shortlist when added below. We cover every race at the Aintree Grand National Meeting and below you can find links to all of the races for each of Thursday, Friday & Saturday.
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites 2026
How competitive is the Top Novices' Hurdle market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2013, when the race had an over-round of 107%. The race in 2018 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 123%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Top Novices' Hurdle, the over-round has been 116%, which means the bookie expects to pay out ÂŁ100 for every ÂŁ116 which is bet.
Below you will find the 2026 Top Novices' Hurdle Trends. See which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal. We also have a section that looks at the Top Novices' Hurdle Trend Analysis.
These are the top three quickest-run Top Novices' Hurdle races over the last 20 renewals:
- Salvator Mundi (3:56.84) in 2025
- General Miller (3:57.80) in 2010
- Pierrot Lunaire (3:58.30) in 2008
Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? Over the past 20 renewals, if you had followed the winner of the Top Novices' Hurdle next time out, then you would have backed a total of 6 winners. Backing all 20 runners who have been out since their win at SP next time out would have returned an LSP of -4.29. Before placing your bet on the 2026 Top Novices' Hurdle, see which other runners today are being backed on the racing predictions page.
The runner that holds the record over the past 20 renewals for the slowest time in the race was set in the 2018 renewal when Lalor from Kayley Woollacott under the guidance of Richard Johnson, won in a time of 4:15.80, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, Salvator Mundi, trained by W P Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend set the quickest time of 3:56.84 in the 2025 renewal.
What the expert says...
Andy Powell - Horse Racing Betting Expert - OLBG.com
Top Novices' Hurdle Past Winners
Here are the Top Novices' Hurdle past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the year of the race, the horse that won, and the horse's age & weight. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the Top Novices' Hurdle are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.
| Year | Horse | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 3:56.84 | Salvator Mundi (FR) 5yo 11-7 7/2 | Paul Townend W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2024 4:11.57 | Mystical Power (IRE) 5yo 11-7 11/10F | Mark Walsh W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2023 4:06.90 | Inthepocket (GB) 6yo 11-7 3/1F | Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead (IRE) |
| 2022 3:58.39 | Jonbon (FR) 6yo 11-4 1/1F | Aidan Coleman Nicky Henderson (GB) |
| 2021 4:03.47 | Belfast Banter (IRE) 6yo 11-4 9/1 | Kevin Sexton Peter Fahey (IRE) |
| 2019 4:02.50 | Felix Desjy (FR) 6yo 11-4 7/2 | Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2018 4:15.80 | Lalor (GER) 6yo 11-4 14/1 | Richard Johnson Kayley Woollacott (GB) |
| 2017 4:03.20 | Pingshou (IRE) 7yo 11-4 16/1 | Robbie Power Colin Tizzard (GB) |
| 2016 4:04.50 | Buveur DAir (FR) 5yo 11-4 11/4 | Noel Fehily Nicky Henderson (GB) |
| 2015 4:00.10 | Cyrus Darius (GB) 6yo 11-4 8/1 | Brian Hughes Malcolm Jefferson (GB) |
Where have the winning runners come from?
Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Top Novices' Hurdle have been based:
- GB: 15 winners with an additional 24 placings from 166 runners
- IRE: 5 winners with an additional 11 placings from 35 runners
2025 Top Novices' Hurdle Replay
Top Novices' Hurdle Trainer Statistics
The leading trainer in the Top Novices' Hurdle over the last 20 renewals is Nicky Henderson, who has won the race six times, with those six winners coming from General Miller (2010), Darlan (2012), My Tent Or Yours (2013), Josses Hill (2014), Buveur D'Air (2016) and Jonbon (2022). The only other trainer to have recorded multiple wins in the Top Novices' Hurdle is W P Mullins (2 wins).
Here are some of the best Top Novices' Hurdle trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicky Henderson | 21-6-9 | -0.64 | -2.60 |
| W P Mullins | 9-2-7 | -2.40 | +6.47 |
| Paul Nicholls | 15-1-5 | -9.00 | -7.43 |
| Gordon Elliott | 7-1-4 | -2.50 | -0.43 |
| Henry De Bromhead | 5-1-1 | -1.00 | -2.20 |
| Lucy Wadham | 4-1-1 | +11.00 | +5.40 |
| John Quinn | 2-1-1 | +13.00 | +7.40 |
| Peter Fahey | 2-1-1 | +8.00 | +4.40 |
| Kayley Woollacott | 1-1-1 | +14.00 | +8.40 |
| Henry Daly | 1-1-1 | +3.00 | +1.88 |
Top Novices' Hurdle Jockey Statistics
Here are some of the best Top Novices' Hurdle jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Hughes | 7-1-2 | +2.00 | -0.48 |
| Paul Townend | 4-1-3 | +0.50 | +3.00 |
| Kevin Sexton | 2-1-1 | +8.00 | +4.40 |
| Jack Kennedy | 2-1-2 | +2.50 | +1.97 |
| Mark Walsh | 2-1-1 | +0.10 | -0.31 |
| Nico de Boinville | 6-0-2 | -6.00 | -4.40 |
| Sam Twiston-Davies | 6-0-1 | -6.00 | -4.80 |
| Harry Cobden | 4-0-0 | -4.00 | -4.00 |
| Harry Skelton | 4-0-0 | -4.00 | -4.00 |
| Sean Bowen | 2-0-1 | -2.00 | -0.10 |
2026 Top Novices' Hurdle Trends
Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): 2, 1, 3, PU, 2, 2, 3, 1, 1, 1, 4, 3, (2, 5), 6, 2, (3, 4), 1, 1, 1, 6
The percentage shown is the proportion of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones, as you would expect them to do well.
- 20 / 20 (64%) - No bigger than 16/1
- 20 / 20 (68%) - Within the first 7 of the market
- 20 / 20 (72%) - Highest Won is not G1/LST/Cl2/Cl6
- 20 / 20 (79%) - Ran in England (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (79%) - Achieved an RPR of 127+ (Last 3)
- 20 / 20 (80%) - Carried 130 - 161lbs (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (82%) - Break of 16 - 118 days (Last Place)
- 20 / 20 (83%) - Not on HY/GF/FM/STD-SLW/STD (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - No bigger than 33/1 (Career)
- 20 / 20 (84%) - Highest Placed is not G3/LST
- 20 / 20 (85%) - Off a break of 13 - 61 days
- 20 / 20 (85%) - Furthest Won 2m - 2m4f
- 20 / 20 (87%) - Not in FRA/DEU/SCO (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Ran in 2 - 6 races (180 Days)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Ran in 1 - 3 races (90 Days)
Remember to use the trends listed above, along with the Aintree racing predictions, to see if you can find the winner of the Top Novices' Hurdle. Did you know that we have an OLBG Betting School section on OLBG? It is a place to help you improve your betting experience with articles covering numerous topics.
Are you already a member? If not, then why not? With over ÂŁ6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, it is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then share your thoughts on the Top Novices' Hurdle by adding a tip on the race here.
101 Ways to find Winners in Horse Racing
Top Novices' Hurdle Trend Analysis
â The trend factor, which has produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +10.25, is when runners ran on Good To Soft ground last time out.
â The worst performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners ran over 1m on debut, when backing these, the trend shows a record of 0-25.
The course which has produced the most winners of the Top Novices' Hurdle is Cheltenham; there have been a total of 13 winners of this race who ran at Cheltenham last time out.
The race is open to both sexes, with male runners having produced a total of 20 winners from a total of 192 runners, while female runners have produced 0 winners from a total of 9 runners.
Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Pingshou in 2017, winning for Colin Tizzard at odds of 16/1 under the guidance of Robbie Power. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals, there have been 7 winning favourites in the race. Remember to use the best racing tipsters along with the information on this page to find a bet on the 2026 Top Novices' Hurdle.
Route to the Top Novices' Hurdle
Many trainers target races as preparation for the Top Novices' Hurdle. These are the races which the recent winners ran in before coming here:
| Info | Last Race |
|---|---|
| 2025 - Salvator Mundi Cheltenham - 5th of 11 (14/1) | Supreme Novices' Hurdle |
| 2024 - Mystical Power Cheltenham - 2nd of 11 (10/3) | Supreme Novices' Hurdle |
| 2023 - Inthepocket Cheltenham - 4th of 14 (9/1) | Supreme Novices' Hurdle |
| 2022 - Jonbon Cheltenham - 2nd of 9 (5/1) | Supreme Novices' Hurdle |
| 2021 - Belfast Banter Cheltenham - 1st of 25 (33/1) | County Handicap Hurdle |
| 2019 - Felix Desjy Cheltenham - 5th of 16 (11/1) | Supreme Novices' Hurdle |
| 2018 - Lalor Newbury - 13th of 24 (14/1) | Newbury Handicap Hurdle |
| 2017 - Pingshou Cheltenham - 10th of 14 (25/1) | Supreme Novices' Hurdle |
| 2016 - Buveur DAir Cheltenham - 3rd of 14 (10/1) | Supreme Novices' Hurdle |
| 2015 - Cyrus Darius Hexham - 1st of 10 (2/7) | SIS Novices Hurdle |
Schedule for Thursday at the Aintree Grand National Meeting
The three-day Grand National meeting kicks off on Thursday with four Grade 1 events on the seven-race card, which features both the Aintree Hurdle and the Bowl Chase.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 13:45 Aintree Anniversary 4YO Juvenile Hurdle | Murcia (FR) 4yo - 11/4 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| 14:20 Aintree Manifesto Novices Chase | Impaire Et Passe (FR) 7yo - 9/4 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| 14:55 Aintree Bowl Chase | Gaelic Warrior (GER) 7yo - 11/4 | W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins |
| 15:30 Aintree Foxhunters Chase | Gracchus De Balme (FR) 9yo - 22/1 | J J O'Shea Mr Huw Edwards |
| 16:05 Aintree Aintree Hurdle | Lossiemouth (FR) 6yo - 5/4 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| 16:40 Aintree Red Rum Handicap Chase | Sans Bruit (FR) 7yo - 5/1 | Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden |
| 17:15 Aintree Nickel Coin Mares Bumper | Seo Linn (IRE) 5yo - 15/8 | P Twomey W J Lee |
Schedule for Friday at the Aintree Grand National Meeting
Day 2 of the Grand National meeting is Ladies Day or Fabulous Friday, the highlights on the track being the Melling Chase, plus there is the Topham Chase over the Grand National fences.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 13:45 Aintree National Meeting 2m4f Handicap Hurdle | Wellington Arch (GB) 6yo - 14/1 | Jonjo & A J O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr |
| 14:20 Aintree Mildmay Novices Chase | Caldwell Potter (FR) 7yo - 11/4 | Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden |
| 14:55 Aintree Top Novices Hurdle | Salvator Mundi (FR) 5yo - 7/2 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| 15:30 Aintree Melling Chase | Jonbon (FR) 9yo - 4/6 | Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville |
| 16:05 Aintree Topham Chase | Gentleman De Mee (FR) 9yo - 14/1 | W P Mullins Mark Walsh |
| 16:40 Aintree Sefton Novices Hurdle | Julius Des Pictons (FR) 6yo - 14/1 | Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan |
| 17:15 Aintree National Meeting 2m Handicap Hurdle | Shes A Saint (IRE) 8yo - 25/1 | Dan Skelton Tristan Durrell |
Schedule for Saturday at the Aintree Grand National Meeting
The Grand National is obviously the showpiece of the Aintree meeting, and day 3 also includes three Grade 1 events, the feature of those being the Liverpool Hurdle.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 12:45 Aintree Maghull Novices Chase | Kalif Du Berlais (FR) 5yo - 15/8 | Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden |
| 13:20 Aintree National Meeting 3m Handicap Hurdle | Deep Cave (IRE) 7yo - 28/1 | Christian Williams Jack Tudor |
| 13:55 Aintree Mersey Novices Hurdle | Honesty Policy (IRE) 5yo - 5/1 | Gordon Elliott Mark Walsh |
| 14:30 Aintree Freebooter Handicap Chase | Cruz Control (FR) 8yo - 10/1 | Tom Lacey Stan Sheppard |
| 15:05 Aintree Liverpool Hurdle | Hiddenvalley Lake (IRE) 8yo - 12/1 | Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe |
| 16:00 Aintree Grand National | Nick Rockett (IRE) 8yo - 33/1 | W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins |
| 17:00 Aintree Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race | Green Splendour (GB) 5yo - 100/30 | W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins |
Article Contributor Information
We are fortunate to have an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to the creation and maintenance of this Top Novices' Hurdle Preview are Andy and Darren. They both work on the Horse Racing Tips team, overseeing the tipsters and managing the tip settlement, while also creating and managing all the horse racing event previews for National Hunt Racing.
Darren Brett
Expert Guide
Andy Powell
Expert Guide
Other Principal Races at the Aintree Racecourse
Here are some other notable races at the Aintree racecourse throughout the racing season that you may be interested in.
