William Hill Hurdle antepost favourite Secret Squirrel is set to face 17 rivals in Saturday’s feature at Newbury.
Hughie Morrison’s striking stable star landed a lucrative pot at the Berkshire Winter Million last month and is partnered by jockeys’ championship leader Sean Bowen in his bid to land Europe’s richest handicap hurdle over two miles.
Last year’s champ Iberico Lord is among the opposition but Nicky Henderson’s yard appear to favour Joyeuse as Nico de Boinville is booked to ride the mare.
Scottish Champion Hurdle scorer Favour And Fortune is bidding to build on a sixth-place finish at Ascot before Christmas and the winner of that race, Fiercely Proud, is 9lbs higher in the weights for that success.
Aucunrisque, meanwhile, will attempt to regain the crown in Saturday’s 15:35 having finished first in the 2023 renewal.
The latest William Hill Hurdle odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
William Hill Hurdle 2025 verdict
Timeform: A typically strong renewal in which it might be worth siding with FAVOUR AND FORTUNE to bounce back to form with his reappearance behind him. Alan King’s charge has had the form of last spring’s Ayr Champion success franked on a few occasions and still looks on a good mark. A 5 lb penalty for Windsor shouldn’t prevent Secret Squirrel from making a bold bid to land another valuable prize and he’s second choice ahead of Washington and Nicky Henderson pair Joyeuse and Iberico Lord.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
William Hill Hurdle 2025 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the William Hill Hurdle 2025.
Lump Sum
Trainer: Sam Thomas Jockey: Dylan Johnston Age: 7 Weight: 12st 0lbs
Grade 2 novice hurdle winner last season and improved again to make a winning reappearance in the Welsh Champion Hurdle (handicap) at Ffos Las in October. Stepped up to Grade 1 level since, finishing best of rest behind Sir Gino in Fighting Fifth before a remote last of 4 in Christmas Hurdle.
***
Iberico Lord
Trainer: Nicky Henderson Jockey: Freddie Gordon Age: 7 Weight: 12st 0lbs
Won the Greatwood at Cheltenham and this race in an excellent 2023/34 campaign. Failed to convince over fences at the start of this season (despite a win at Kempton) and shaped better than the result suggests back hurdling when fourth of 5 over 2½m at Windsor last month. Enters reckoning back at 2m.
****
Favour And Fortune
Trainer: Alan King Jockey: Tom Cannon Age: 7 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Enjoyed a good first campaign over hurdles, culminating with a win in the Scottish Champion Hurdle (handicap) at Ayr (2m, good to soft) in April. Could only manage a well-held sixth in another valuable handicap on Ascot reappearance before Christmas but expect him to come on plenty for the run.
*****
Minella Missile
Trainer: Evan Williams Jockey: Adam Wedge Age: 7 Weight: 11st 8lbs
Point winner who was unbeaten in two starts as a novice hurdler last season, including a Grade 2 over 21f at Cheltenham. Off 14 months, never involved in 3m Windsor handicap on reappearance 3 weeks ago. Connections have had a big rethink on the trip.
**
Fiercely Proud
Trainer: Ben Pauling Jockey: Ben Jones Age: 6 Weight: 11st 7lbs
Built on 2 encouraging runs in November when winning a valuable 2m handicap at Ascot just before Christmas. Hit with a 9 lb rise after the first 2 came clear so he will require another career best if he’s to land a second big pot of the winter.
***
Our Champ
Trainer: Chris Gordon Jockey: Rex Dingle Age: 7 Weight: 11st 6lbs
Returned to his best to win 2m Ascot handicap in November, with Secret Squirrel back in third. Good third to Navajo Indy in Gerry Feilden over C&D next time before going off too hard in the valuable Ascot event won by Fiercely Proud. The type to bounce back.
****
Beat The Bat
Trainer: Harry Fry Jockey: Bryan Carver Age: 7 Weight: 11st 5lbs
Bumper winner who quickly made up into a very useful hurdler last winter. Good second of 14 on 19f Haydock reappearance in November but seemed unsuited by the drop back to 2m when 7¾ lengths seventh of 14 to Secret Squirrel at Windsor since.
**
Washington
Trainer: Harry Derham Jockey: Paul O’Brien Age: 9 Weight: 11st 3lbs
Improver for this new yard after wind surgery, winning 2m handicaps at Chepstow and Fairyhouse (valuable event) towards the end of 2024. Freshened up ahead of this tilt at another big prize. Further progress can’t be discounted.
****
Aucunrisque
Trainer: Chris Gordon Jockey: Freddie Gingell Age: 9 Weight: 11st 3lbs
First win since his 2023 success in this when landing a decent 2m Ascot handicap in November but needs to shrug off a poor run at Kempton over Christmas.
**
Givemefive
Trainer: Harry Derham Jockey: Harry Cobden Age: 5 Weight: 11st 2lbs
Landed Cheltenham conditions race on return to hurdling in October. Respectable fourth in 2m Fairyhouse Grade 2 in November but made disappointing start to his handicap career when well held in the Windsor race won by Secret Squirrel. The blinkers he wore on the Flat earlier in career go on now.
**
Josh The Boss
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies Jockey: Mr Jamie Neild Age: 6 Weight: 11st 1lbs
Resumed progress on return with victory in 17-runner Silver Trophy at Chepstow (19.5f) in October, form which has worked out well. Failed to repeat that effort at Haydock (19f, soft) the following month but he’s not ruled out given his yard’s decent record in this.
***
Secret Squirrel
Trainer: Hughie Morrison Jockey: Sean Bowen Age: 6 Weight: 11st 1lbs
In process of running a cracker when falling at the last in the valuable Ascot event won by Fiercely Proud and confirmed that promise when landing a good prize at Windsor (2m, good to soft) last month. A 5 lb penalty shouldn’t prevent another prominent showing.
****
Mirabad
Trainer: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole Jockey: Luke Scott Age: 6 Weight: 11st 0lbs
Fairly useful on Flat in France and has a progressive profile around 2m over hurdles, building on Ascot’s November third to Aucunrisque when winning a 14-runner race at Cheltenham in December. Did benefit from an enterprising ride, though, and he’ll need more again off 10 lb higher.
***
Williethebuilder
Trainer: Dan Skelton Jockey: Kielan Woods Age: 6 Weight: 11st 0lbs
Has advanced his form this term after wind surgery, scoring at Wetherby (2m) in November. Seemed spooked by an early faller when pulled up at Ascot later that month and can be forgiven that run. Freshened up since.
***
Go Dante
Trainer: Olly Murphy Jockey: James Bowen Age: 9 Weight: 11st 0lbs
Winner of the Imperial Cup at Sandown (soft) in March but hasn’t hit the same heights this season, finishing eleventh of 14 to Secret Squirrel at Windsor latest.
**
Navajo Indy
Trainer: Tom Symonds Jockey: Gavin Sheehan Age: 6 Weight: 10st 12lbs
Progressive sort who completed a hat-tick when seeing off 12 rivals, including Our Champ, in Gerry Feilden over C&D in November. Off the bridle a long way out but stuck on for a good 2¾ lengths fourth of 14 to Secret Squirrel at Windsor (2m, good to soft) since. Cheekpieces may help. Respected.
***
Joyeuse
Trainer: Nicky Henderson Jockey: Nico de Boinville Age: 6 Weight: 10st 7lbs
Half-sister to connections Champion Hurdle winner Epatante. Having just the fourth outing of her career when promising second on 2½m Cheltenham handicap debut in December. There’s surely more to come from this unexposed mare.
****
King William Rufus
Trainer: Chris Gordon Jockey: Charlie Maggs Age: 8 Weight: 10st 6lbs
Likeable front-runner who put an end to a frustrating run of seconds when the dominant winner of what had looked a competitive handicap hurdle at Ascot (2m, good to soft) in December. The run probably came too soon when only sixth at Chepstow a week later. Freshened up since.
***
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