Steve Ryder previews the William Hill Hurdle and picks his best bet.
William Hill Hurdle
The William Hill hurdle is a premier handicap run over 2m ½f at Newbury. This year the race will be run on Saturday 7th February at 3:20.
William Hill Hurdle Winners, Trends & Stats
Both Persian War and Make A Stand won this race before winning the Champion Hurdle on their next starts.
- 12 of the previous 12 winners had at least 2 runs that season
- 11 of the previous 12 winners were beaten last time out
- 11 of the previous 12 winners ran within the last 65 days
- 10 of the previous 12 winners were aged 5 or 6
- 9 of the previous 12 winners were rated 134 or higher
William Hill Hurdle Odds
| Horse | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Let It Rain | 11/4 | Various |
| All In You | 5/1 | William Hill |
| Un Sens A La Vie | 6/1 | Ladbrokes |
| Tutti Quanti | 9/1 | 888sport |
| Hot Fuss | 12/1 | Betfred |
| Lanesborough | 12/1 | Ladbrokes |
William Hill Hurdle Runners Guide
LET IT RAIN
Lightly raced seven-year-old who returned from 387 days off the track to finish 3rd at Ascot in December off an opening mark of 120. The handicapper has raised her 4lbs up to a mark of 124 but she remains open to a huge amount of progress based on her form in bumpers.
ALL IN YOU
Bought for £90,000 from the David Maxwell dispersal sale and has shown improved form for Warren Greatrex. The six-year-old finished ½ length ahead of Let It Rain when 2nd at Ascot in December before reversing form with Dance And Glance at Sandown a month ago.
UN SENS A LA VIE
Unexposed novice hurdler who looks to have been targeted at this race. He has won two of his four starts over hurdles and finished within 3 lengths of Old Park Star at Kempton who is now a short priced favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He runs here off a mark of 130 rather than his revised mark of 132.
TUTTI QUANTI
Paul Nicholls trained six-year-old who was an impressive winner of the Gerry Feilden Handicap Hurdle over this course and distance in November off a mark of 130. An 8lb rise for that three length success is fair and he looks sure to relish these conditions.
HOT FUSS
A beaten favourite behind All In You at Sandown in January, he recorded a second win over hurdles in a valuable handicap hurdle at Windsor last time. His 5lb penalty mirrors his 5lb rise in the rating and he showed last time that soft ground shouldn’t be an issue.
William Hill Trainer & Jockeys To Watch
Nicky Henderson has won this race a record seven times with Sharpical (1998), Geos (2000 & 2004), Landing Light (2001), My Tent Or Yours (2013), Iberico Lord (2024) and Joyeuse (2025).
Other trainers who have a good record are Gary Moore (3 wins), Nigel Twiston-Davies (3 wins), Paul Nicholls (2 wins) and Jonjo O'Neill (2 wins).
Sam Twiston-Davies (Ballyandy in 2017 and Al Dancer in 2019) and Nico de Boinville (Iberico Lord in 2024 and Joyeuse in 2025) have both won this race two times recently.
William Hill Hurdle Betting Tips
Although the Imperial Cup will no doubt be his long-term target next month, GO DANTE (best priced at 50/1) looks overpriced with conditions sure to suit. The Olly Murphy trained ten-year-old finished 3rd in this race in 2024 on heavy ground off a mark of 129 before finishing 7th last season. He beat fellow Sandown specialist Knickerbockerglory on soft ground in December off a mark of 130 before finishing well beaten at Windsor on his next start.
A mark of 133 shouldn’t prove beyond him and at huge odds he looks worth taking a chance on with conditions set to be testing this weekend.
Recommended Bet: Go Dante 50/1 (0.5pt ew)
