Here at GeeGeez, we give you all the key stats for all the main LIVE ITV races at Aintree on the opening day of their 2026 Grand National Festival (Thursday 9th April) – these will help build-up a better profile of horses that have done well in each race over the years.

Once the final runners are out, you can apply these stats to the entries to put history on your side.

Aintree Trends (ITV/Racing TV) - Thursday 9th April 2026

1:45pm – Boodles Anniversary 4yo Juvenile Hurdle 4yo (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4yo) 2m1f ITV

18/22 – Ran at the Cheltenham Festival last time out
17/22 – Placed in the top three last time out
15/22 – Returned 3/1 or shorter in the betting
14/22 – Raced in the Triumph Hurdle (Cheltenham) last time out
10/22 – Winning favourites
8/22 – Won last time out
5/22 – Won by trainer Alan King (4-from-7 since 2007)
4/22 – Won by trainer Paul Nicholls
4/22 – Irish-trained winners
3/22 - Won by trainer Nicky Henderson (3 of last 7)
17/20 – Won at least twice over hurdles
16/20 – Retuned 13/2 or shorter in the betting
14/20 – Previous Grade 1 or 2 winners that season
14/20 – Trained by Willie Mullins, Alan King, Nicky Henderson or Paul Nicholls
13/20 - Winners were placed at worst at the Cheltenham Festival
13/20 – Ran at least 4 times over hurdles before
11/20 – Finished in the top 3 in the Triumph Hurdle
12/17 – Began their careers in France
15 of the last 20 had won a graded race that season
Horses rated 152+ are 5 from 8 (since 2007)
Willie Mullins has won 3 of the last 9 runnings
Just 4 of the last 24 winners were Irish-trained
French-bred horses have won 15 of the last 26 (58%) runnings – including 8 of the last 10
Just 6/35 winners hadn’t won at least twice over hurdles before

• 2025 Winner: Murcia (11/4)
• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Jockey: Paul Townend

2.20pm – William Hill Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1) (5yo+) 2m4f ITV

16/16 – Didn’t win last time out
14/16 – From the top 3 in the market
13/15 – Rated 150+
12/16 – Ran 8 or less times over hurdles
12/14 – Ran between 4-5 times over fences
11/16 – Ran in the Arkle (6) or Golden Miller (5) at Cheltenham
9/11 – Won exactly once over fences
8/12 – Aged 6 years-old
4/9 – Irish winners (last 3)
1/10 – Won by a 5 year-old
0/7 – Mare winners
0/11 – Winning favourite (1 of the last 16)
Paul Nicholls runners are 0-17
Willie Mullins has won the last 2 runnings

• 2025 Winner: Impaire Et Passe (9/4)
• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Jockey: Paul Townend

2:55pm – Racing Welfare Bowl Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1) (5yo+) 3m1f ITV

20/22 – Didn’t win last time out
16/22 – Ran at the Cheltenham Festival last time out
14/22 – Placed in the top 4 last time out
12/22 – Ran in the Gold Cup (Cheltenham) last time out
8/22 – Winning favourites (7 of the last 10)
7/22 – Aged in double-figures
5/22 - Won by the Paul Nicholls yard (6 wins in total)
5/11 – Were the top-rated horse in the field
4/22 – Won by the Pipe stable
4/11 – Won that season’s King George VI Chase
13 of the last 16 (81%) winners aged 9 or younger
12 of the last 15 winners returned 7/2 or shorter
9 of the last 12 winners top two on BHA ratings
7 of the last 10 market leaders (favs) have won
All of the last 14 winners DIDN’T win last time out
Trainer Willie Mullins has won 2 of the last 6
26/41 (63%) winners ran in that season’s King George
26/41 (63%) winners ran in that season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup
14/28 (50%) winners were placed fourth or better in that season’s King George VI Chase
Just 6 of the last 29 winners were Irish-trained (only 3 in the last 11)
6 of the last 13 winners had headgear
12 of the last 15 winners were favourite or second favourite
2nd or 3rd favourites have won 14 of the last 32 (44%) renewals and 7 of the last 15 (47%)
6 of the last 14 winners had run in this race before
No last-time out winner since 2010
Harry Coden (2) and Nico de Boinville (2) have won 4 of the last 7

• 2025 Winner: Gaelic Warrior (11/4)
• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Jockey: Patrick Mullins

3:30pm – Randox Foxhunters´ Open Hunters’ Chase (Class 2) (6yo+) 2m5f ITV

20/22 – Aged 9 or older (Just 3 of the last 40 winners were younger than 9)
16/22 – Returned 13/2 or shorter in the betting
15/22 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
14/22 – Aged in double-figures
9/22 – Won last time out
9/22 – Ran in the Cheltenham St James’s Place Hunters’ Chase last time out
6/22 – Winning favourites (1 joint)
14 of the last 20 (70%) winners were aged 10 or older
Irish-trained runners have won 5 of the last 11 runnings
5 of the last 11 winners were placed in the top 4 in last season’s race
22 of the last 32 (69%) winners went off favourite or second favourite
25 of the last 31 winners had won a race earlier that season
Only 4 of the last 41 winners were aged younger than 9
25 of the last 32 (78%) winners came from the top 4 in the market and returned at single-figures in the betting.
12 of the last 20 winners had run over these National-style fences before
Ex-handicap horses have won 14 of the last 23 (61%) renewals
Owner JP McManus has won 3 of the last 10
2 of the last 8 ridden by James King

• 2025 Winner: Gracchus De Balme (22/1)
• Trainer: J J O’Shea
• Jockey: Mr Huw Edwards

4:05pm – William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4yo+) 2m4f ITV

21/22 – Aged 8 or younger
18/22 – Returned 6/1 or shorter in the betting
17/22 – Ran at the Cheltenham Festival last time out
15/22 – Placed in the top 4 last time out
12/22 – Ran in the Champion Hurdle last time out
12/22 – Irish-trained winners, plus 22 of the last 48
7/22 – Winning favourites (2 joint)
6/22 – Won by trainer Nicky Henderson (6 of the last 14)
6/22 – Won last time out
16 of the last 17 winners from the top 3 in the betting
27 of the last 31 winners aged between 6-8 years-old
47 of the last 48 winners aged 8 or younger
16 of the last 31 (52%) winners trained in Ireland
32 of the last 48 (67%) winners ran in that season’s Champion Hurdle
9 of the last 15 winners (60%) were placed in the top 4 of that season’s Champion Hurdle
Just 1 of the last 48 winners aged 10+
29 of the last 31 winners aged 8 or younger
16 of the last 19 winners (including last 13) had won a Grade 1 before
9 of the last 24 (38%) winners had won at this meeting before
Only 6 Champion Hurdle winners since 1999 have run – but 4 won
The last 17 winners returned 15/2 or shorter
Just 4 winning outright favourites since 2000
Every past British-trained winner had raced at the Cheltenham Festival that season
Just 2 winning 5 year-olds in the last 36 runnings
Just 2 of the last 20 Champion Hurdle runners-up to race have won
The last 3 winners aged 6
Willie Mullins has won the last 2 (3 of the last 9)
Gordon Elliott has never won this race

• 2025 Winner: Lossiemouth (5/4)
• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Jockey: Paul Townend

4:40pm – Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Class 1) (5yo+) 2m ITV

20/22 – Aged 9 or younger
19/22 – Carried 11-1 or less
16/22 – Carried 10-13 or less
16/22 – Priced 10/1 or shorter in the betting
14/22 – Unplaced last time out
12/22 – Aged 7 or younger
10/22 – Ran at the Cheltenham Festival last time out
4/22 – Winning favourites (1 co)
4/22 – Won last time out
3/22 – Irish-trained winners
17 of the last 23 winners returned 10/1 or shorter in the betting
20 of the last 24 winners were rated 139 or lower
Only 3 winners older than 9 years-old since 1988
4 of the last 17 winners were ridden by conditional jockeys
The top 5 in the betting have won 19 of the last 27 (70%) runnings
22 of the last 25 (88%) winners carried 11-2 or less
7 of the last 26 (27%) winners ran in that season’s Johnny Henderson Grand Annual (Cheltenham)
10 of the last 11 winners DIDN’T run at the Cheltenham Festival that season
7 of the last 10 winners were Irish-bred
Respect trainer Henry De Bromhead – winner 2019 & 2023 and 4 placed horses
No winning favourite in the last 11 runnings
9 of the last 11 winners carried 10-10 or less
Brian Hughes has won 2 of the last 9
Sans Bruit (Paul Nicholls) has won the last 2 runnings

• 2025 Winner: Sans Bruit (5/1)
• Trainer: Paul Nicholls
• Jockey Harry Cobden

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