# Formby Novices' Hurdle 2026: Race Time, Winners & Guide _The Formby Novices' Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day, the Grade 1 that replaced the Tolworth: race date, off time, recent winners and raceday guide._ *Source: [https://stablebet.co.uk/racing-news/formby-novices-hurdle/](https://stablebet.co.uk/racing-news/formby-novices-hurdle/) ยท last updated 2026-10-09* # Formby Novices' Hurdle 2026 The **Formby Novices' Hurdle** at Aintree is a Grade 1 for novice hurdlers on Boxing Day. It replaced the Tolworth Hurdle, Sandown's long-standing January Grade 1 for novices, when the BHA moved that Grade 1 to Aintree's new Boxing Day fixture. For **2026** the race is scheduled for **Saturday 26 December 2026**. The off time, the going and the declared runners are confirmed in race week, and this page adds the off time and going as they are published. ## At a glance - **Course:** Aintree, Liverpool - **Grade:** Grade 1 - **Distance:** 2m 209y, eight hurdles - **Age:** 3yo+ (novices) - **First run:** 2023, as the Formby Below: the 2026 details, the winners so far, how to watch, and the day out. The [Aintree course guide](/uk-racecourses/aintree/) covers the track. ## 2026 race details # 2026 race details | Detail | Value | |---|---| | **Race date** | Saturday 26 December 2026 | | **Off time** | TBA | | **Going** | TBA | | **Field size** | TBA | | **Distance** | 2m 209y | | **Grade** | Grade 1 | | **Age** | 3yo+ (novices) | Final declarations are made two days before the race, and the off time and going above update once they are published. ### Where the race fits It runs on the same day as the [King George VI Chase](/racing-news/king-george-vi-chase/) at Kempton, so Boxing Day now has Grade 1 jumps racing at both courses. For the novices who come out of it, the spring targets are at Cheltenham and Aintree's own Grand National meeting. Our [festivals and big races board](/festivals/) lists every big race coming up, soonest first. On race morning the [AI race predictor](/ai-race-predictor/) publishes its ratings and fair prices for every British race, the Formby included. ## Recent winners and trends # Recent winners and trends ## The records # The records - **Leading trainer (Tolworth and Formby together):** Nicky Henderson, with seven wins, the latest Jango Baie in the first Formby in 2023. - **Leading jockeys (Tolworth and Formby together):** Norman Williamson, Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty, with three wins each. - **The Tolworth years:** the race was run at Sandown in January from 1976 until its last running in January 2023. ## How to watch and where to bet # How to watch and where to bet The television listing and the off time are confirmed in race week, when the declarations are out. This page shows the off time above as soon as it is published. Two things are worth checking before you bet: - **Free bets and their terms.** Check the minimum odds and the expiry before you claim. Our [free bet offers](/bookmakers/best-free-bet-offers/) page compares them. - **Best odds guaranteed.** Prices move once the going is known. A BOG bookmaker pays the starting price if it is bigger than the price you took. See our [best BOG bookmakers](/bookmakers/best-bog-bookmakers/). 18+. Bet only what you can afford to lose. If gambling stops being fun, [BeGambleAware](https://www.begambleaware.org/) offers free, confidential help. ## Raceday at Aintree # Raceday at Aintree Boxing Day at Aintree is a newer fixture than the Grand National meeting and a quieter day out. Dress for the weather and book ahead for hospitality. For getting there and the enclosures, read our [day out at Aintree](/uk-racecourses/aintree/aintree-day-out-guide/) guide. Results go on this page within 24 hours of the race, and the full card's results are on our [racing results](/racing-results/) page the same evening. ## Frequently asked questions # Frequently asked questions ### When is the Formby Novices' Hurdle 2026? Saturday 26 December 2026 at Aintree. The off time is confirmed in race week and shown in the race details above. ### What happened to the Tolworth Hurdle? The BHA moved the Grade 1 to Aintree's new Boxing Day fixture as the Formby Novices' Hurdle, open to three-year-olds and up. The last Tolworth was run at Sandown in January 2023 and the first Formby on 26 December 2023. ### What distance is the Formby? 2m 209y, with eight hurdles. It is a Grade 1 novices' hurdle.