Staged every year as part of the Grand National meeting in early April, the Aintree Hurdle is one of the most important races of its type.
Run over a trip of 2 miles, 4 furlongs, the race often attracts those who have also taken in the slightly shorter championship event the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival the previous month, owing to the fact that Aintree is a flatter track which makes the distance that bit easier to get.
With a total prize fund of £250,000, the Aintree Hurdle is one of the most valuable National Hunt races on the calendar and has been won since its inception in 1976 by such eminent names as Monksfield, Morley Street (four times), Istabraq, Annie Power and Buveur D’Air.
The Aintree Hurdle is run on day one of the National meeting alongside the Betway Bowl, the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle and the Red Rum Handicap Chase.