The Cheltenham Festival may be the pinnacle of jumps racing, but for some connections, the lure of Aintree proves even stronger. Whether it’s the promise of flatter, speed-favouring tracks, a more suitable race distance, or simply the chance to keep a horse fresh for a big spring target, bypassing Cheltenham in favour of Liverpool can be a tactical masterstroke.
In recent years, several top-class horses have skipped the Festival’s intensity to arrive at Aintree in peak condition—some with spectacular success. Here, we take a look at four horses who gave Prestbury Park a miss and reaped the rewards at Aintree.
I Am Maximus
I Am Maximus has the almighty task of trying to defend jumps racing’s crown jewel at Aintree this April, but his top weight allocation of 11-12 is going to make life very difficult in Merseyside.
That’s fairly reflected in the Grand National betting, as the Willie Mullins-trained horse has been knocked off his perch at the fore of the market by fellow JP McManus-owned entry Inothewayurthinkin and 2024 Irish Grand National winner Intense Raffles.
After his impressive triumph, there had been talk that I Am Maximus could try to win the Gold Cup this season, but Mullins made it clear from the start of the campaign that retaining the Grand National was going to be the goal.
Grey Dawning
Another horse once tipped for the Gold Cup, Dan Skelton had high hopes for Grey Dawning going into this season after an eye-catching novice chasing campaign—which included a win in the Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
However, a couple of blips in his first two starts in open company—being held by veteran Royale Pagaille in the Betfair Chase before pulling up in the King George VI Chase—dampened the spirits at Lodge Hill and Badbury Hill Barn.
Nonetheless, Grey Dawning bounced back with a convincing win last time out when his sights were lowered for the Listed Premier Chase at Kelso at the start of March, comfortably holding off Iroko, and it’s straight onto Aintree for the eight-year-old.
Pic D’Orhy
Paul Nicholls isn’t in the exclusive Cheltenham Festival winner’s enclosure much these days, especially compared to his success earlier in this millennium with the likes of Denman, Big Buck’s and Kauto Star.
Those hoping that Pic D’Orhy might deliver the 14-time Champion Trainer his elusive 50th Cheltenham Festival winner after securing back-to-back Ascot Chases last month would have been left disappointed as well, as Nicholls confirmed he’d be bypassing Prestbury Park for Aintree.
The classy 10-year-old was slashed to as short as 6/1 for the Ryanair Chase by those who bet on horse racing after that 10-length win over Corbetts Cross in Berkshire, but Nicholls is targeting the Melling Chase as he doesn’t believe Cheltenham will suit the horse.
El Fabiolo
Unbeaten in four starts as a novice chaser, including winning the 2023 Arkle by over five lengths from Jonbon, El Fabiolo’s stock continued rising in open company with further successes in the Grade 1 Hilly Way Chase and Grade 1 Dublin Chase at Leopardstown.
However, things went horribly wrong in the Queen Mother Champion Chase 12 months ago—with Paul Townend pulling the eight-year-old heavy favourite up following several mistakes and nearly falling in the race’s early stages.
El Fabiolo hasn’t looked like the same horse since, finishing second when odds-on twice while also falling at the second fence when trying to defend his Dublin Chase title. His recent defeat to 50/1 outside Senecia saw Mullins pull him from Festival, and they will likely target a resurgence at Aintree.