Mersey Novices Hurdle Results at Aintree — 11 April 2026

Saturday, 11 April 2026

Dan Skelton holds a couple of lively chances when it comes to the Mersey Novices Hurdle and it would be no surprise to see the trainer in the winners' enclosure at Aintree. The handler will hope that Bossman Jack can produce the goods over two miles and four furlongs, with Soldier Reeves another solid competitor from the same stable.

Zeus Power may line up in this encounter where a maximum field size is twenty, while Ballyfad is no stranger to success here. The Gordon Elliott-trained five-year-old certainly has each-way claims, with Montemares having won three of four previous showings this term. Scorpio Rising has also been a serial winner and merits consideration.

PosHorseJockeyTrainerSP
1stTiny TetleyTiny TetleyCallum PritchardP Hobbs & J White4/1J
1stBossman JackBossman JackHarry SkeltonDan Skelton5/2
2ndSoldier ReevesSoldier ReevesTristan DurrellDan Skelton13/2
2ndThank You Ma'amThank You Ma'amMiss Olive NichollsG Nicholls5/1
3rdBallyfadBallyfadJack KennedyGordon Elliott7/2
3rdBold RecruitBold RecruitJames BowenBilly Aprahamian15/2
4thLord ByronLord ByronHarry CobdenFaye Bramley16/1
4thHigh Game RoyalHigh Game RoyalSam Twiston-DaviesP Hobbs & J White7/1
5thBurrows HallBurrows HallDanny McmenaminJ Parkinson & S Smith5/1
5thMontemaresMontemaresStan SheppardTom Lacey7/1
6thAn TailliurAn TailliurJonjo O'neill Jr.J & A O'neill6/1
6thCharisma CatCharisma CatTom BellamyAlan King14/1
7thScorpio RisingScorpio RisingSean BowenOlly Murphy7/1
8thKosac D'oudairiesKosac D'oudairiesGavin SheehanJamie Snowden20/1
9thMasked ManMasked ManJ J SlevinNigel & Willy Twiston-Davies18/1
10thZanndabadZanndabadDaniel KingA J Martin22/1
11thOnlyforfrankieOnlyforfrankieCiaran GethingsAlastair Ralph40/1
1stTiny TetleyTiny Tetley4/1J
J: Callum PritchardT: P Hobbs & J White
1stBossman JackBossman Jack5/2
J: Harry SkeltonT: Dan Skelton
2ndSoldier ReevesSoldier Reeves13/2
J: Tristan DurrellT: Dan Skelton
2ndThank You Ma'amThank You Ma'am5/1
J: Miss Olive NichollsT: G Nicholls
3rdBallyfadBallyfad7/2
J: Jack KennedyT: Gordon Elliott
3rdBold RecruitBold Recruit15/2
J: James BowenT: Billy Aprahamian
4thLord ByronLord Byron16/1
J: Harry CobdenT: Faye Bramley
4thHigh Game RoyalHigh Game Royal7/1
J: Sam Twiston-DaviesT: P Hobbs & J White
5thBurrows HallBurrows Hall5/1
J: Danny McmenaminT: J Parkinson & S Smith
5thMontemaresMontemares7/1
J: Stan SheppardT: Tom Lacey
6thAn TailliurAn Tailliur6/1
J: Jonjo O'neill Jr.T: J & A O'neill
6thCharisma CatCharisma Cat14/1
J: Tom BellamyT: Alan King
7thScorpio RisingScorpio Rising7/1
J: Sean BowenT: Olly Murphy
8thKosac D'oudairiesKosac D'oudairies20/1
J: Gavin SheehanT: Jamie Snowden
9thMasked ManMasked Man18/1
J: J J SlevinT: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
10thZanndabadZanndabad22/1
J: Daniel KingT: A J Martin
11thOnlyforfrankieOnlyforfrankie40/1
J: Ciaran GethingsT: Alastair Ralph

2026 Mersey Novices Hurdle Betting Tips

We could see as many as fifteen runners lining up in the Mersey Novices Hurdle and several of them have a decent chance of success. Wodhooh probably boasts the strongest credentials, with the latest effort coming in the Mares Novices' Hurdle where she was able to enjoy a one-length victory over Jade De Grugy at the Cheltenham Festival.

Previously to this, there had been a festive success at Leopardstown where the odds-on favourite was able to win the Kerrymount Mares' Hurdle and that came after a Grade 2 success in the Ladbrokes Ascot Hurdle. In the latter encounter, the 6/5 chance secured a victory by two miles, three and a half furlongs in a competitive field.

Honesty Policy has yet to win this season but the Gordon Elliott-trained charge has enough class to go well here at Aintree. At Punchestown in April 2025, the horse finished second before a lay-off all the way to December where a third-placed spot was banked at Ascot in the Howden Long Walk Hurdle.

Sent off at odds of 11/1 in the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, we saw a decent effort when finishing fifth in the race. Speaking of which, Stayers' winner Home By The Lee looks a big price for another victory here. The eleven-year-old might prove it was no fluke, with Strong Leader and Hiddenvalley Lake the other chief contenders.


2025 Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle Tips

There’s a big field set to line up in the Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle on Saturday, with this encounter taking place over two miles and four furlongs. There’s a smart four-year-old near the top of the betting, with Lulamba having landed a couple of wins this season before being narrowly pipped in the JCB Triumph Hurdle and there could be more to come.

Miami Magic runs for Stuart Edmunds and the horse hasn’t been out of the first two all season, with the six-year-old finishing second out of seven runners at Kempton Park last time out. This came after a solid performance at Aintree on Boxing Day when running two lengths behind Potters Charm over two miles and one furlong.

Jet To Vegas is bidding for a consecutive hat-trick of wins, with Lucinda Russell hoping that her charge can continue successful ways. The latest success came at Kelso at the beginning of March, with that coming after a January victory at Ayr. Fingle Bridge is another runner in excellent form and the latest triumph came at Exeter in February.

That came after successes at Market Rasen and Uttoxeter, with an eighteen-length win being enjoyed at Chepstow back in December. Good And Clever is a six-year-old with bags of ability and the horse has been third in the past two outings, with Horaces Pearl having enjoyed plenty of recent wins.


2024 Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle Tips

There was plenty to like about Slade Steel’s win in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, with the horse achieving a win in the 2024 Cheltenham Festival opener. The runner was previously second to Ballyburn at the Dublin Racing Festival when losing by seven lengths and this form stacks up as pretty attractive.

Brighterdaysahead enjoyed a consecutive hat-trick of victories, with the five-year-old finishing second in his previous encounter. The horse ran in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and was sent off as the 5/6 favourite before being beaten by Golden Ace at the Cheltenham Festival.

Previously to this came a strong performance at Navan and she might profit from the weight allowance when it comes to this race. Gordon Elliott will have high hopes for the horse, although there are several other decent contenders including Caldwell Potter who has landed back to back successes.

Paul Nicholls trains a runner who was last seen winning at Leopardstown during the festive period when fending off eight other rivals, with Predators Gold beaten by over six lengths. This came after another triumph at Navan, with Jack Kennedy likely to be on board a horse who can deliver a success.