The aptly named Let It Rain headed the betting for the 2026 edition of this valuable handicap, with a Berkshire deluge turning the conditions from soft to heavy on the day. Representing the Dan and Skelton team, the seven-year-old arrived on the back of an eight-length success in a novice event and made obvious appeal on her handicap debut.
Tutti Quanti carried the hopes of Dan Skelton’s former boss, Paul Nicholls, and came next in the betting. Second in a novice event at this meeting in 2025, he had shown a liking for soft ground when landing the Gerry Feilden over this course and distance in November. No horse had ever carried 12 stone to victory in this event, but, welter burden aside, the mount of Harry Cobden had plenty in his favour.
The Warren Greatrex-trained All In You was the only other runner available at a single-figure price. Still only six years old, this son of Triple Threat was already on to his fourth trainer, but had started well for Greatrex, with a runner-up effort at Ascot and a win at Sandown.
Looking further down the betting list, Un Sens A La Vie caught the eye, having lost out by just three lengths to the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite, Old Park Star, earlier in the season. Others to note included Dance And Glance, who was closely matched with All In You on form, and the eleven-year-old Favoir, who had fallen to a mark that was two pounds lower than when winning the County Hurdle in 2023.
Result
- 1st – Tutti Quanti 100/30, Jockey: Harry Cobden, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 2nd – Wellington Arch 12/1, Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr, Trainer: Jonjo and A J O’Neill
- 3rd – Favoir 33/1, Jockey: Dan Skelton, Trainer: Miss Heidi Palin
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £87,218.50
- 2nd – £32,860
- 3rd – £16,445.50
- 4th – £8,215
- 5th – £4,123
- 6th – £2,061.50
- 7th – £1,023
- 8th – £527
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £4.34
- Tote Places – 1st – £1.80, 2nd – £3.90, 3rd – £8.10
- Exacta – £46.40
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £42.42
- Trifecta – £1,053.20
- Tricast – £1,185.37
Recap
Course and distance winner Bucephalus started quickly to hold a narrow lead over the first hurdle, closely pursued by Stuart Edmunds’ Aintree winner Bubble Dubi, and the topweight Tutti Quanti. Dance And Glance and Milldam led the chasing pack, with All In You and Poet Laureate bringing up the rear in the early stages.
Turning into the back straight, Tutti Quanti grabbed the lead against the inside rail, with Harry Cobden setting out to ensure this was a thorough test at the distance. Bubble Dubi and Bucephalus continued to race up with the pace, with a five-length gap back to Dance And Glance in fourth.
Tutti Quanti continued to pour on the pace throughout the back straight, with the solid fractions in the testing conditions beginning to take a toll on his rivals. Bubble Dubi and Bucephalus paid for their early exertions and began to backtrack through the field, while Poet Laureate, Go Dante, and The Hardest Geezer were struggling to stay in touch. The last of that trio tumbled to the turf when clipping heels with the horse in front.
Approaching the turn for home, Tutti Quanti’s lead had been cut to a length, with Wellington Arch, Favoir, and the favourite Let It Rain among those attempting to lay down a challenge. However, it soon became clear that Cobden had merely been getting a breather into his mount, and Tutti Quanti had a lot left in the tank.
Opening up a five-length lead approaching the third last, that advantage remained at the penultimate flight, with Wellington Arch vigorously ridden in second but gaining no ground. Jumping the last in splendid isolation, Tutti Quanti stayed on relentlessly to post an impressive 15-length success. Wellington Arch plugged on for second, with Favoir taking a remote third on the run-in.
It was a superb effort from the winner, who produced the finest weight-carrying performance in the history of the race. It was the third William Hill Hurdle success for Paul Nicholls and a second win for Harry Cobden.
Runners
- 1. Tutti Quanti – SP: 100/30, Trainer: Paul Nicholls, Jockey: Harry Cobden
- 2. Go Dante – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Olly Murphy, Jockey: Sean Bowen
- 3. Bucephalus – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Neil Mulholland, Jockey: Harriet Tucker
- 4. Wellington Arch – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Jonjo & A J O’Neill, Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
- 5. Favoir – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Dan Skelton, Jockey: Miss Heidi Palin
- 6. Un Sens A La Vie – SP: 11/1, Trainer: Nigel & Willie Twiston-Davies, Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
- 7. Lanesborough – SP: 11/1, Trainer: Ben Pauling, Jockey: Brendan Powell
- 8. Hot Fuss – Non-Runner
- 9. Bubble Dubi – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Stuart Edmunds, Jockey: Charlie Hammond
- 10. All In You – SP: 7/1, Trainer: Warren Greatrex, Jockey: James Bowen
- 11. Milldam – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Jamie Snowden, Jockey: Isabelle Ryder
- 12. Wreckless Eric – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Jonjo & A J O’Neill, Jockey: Kielan Woods
- 13. Let It Rain – SP: 5/2F, Trainer: Dan Skelton, Jockey: Harry Skelton
- 14. The Hardest Geezer – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White, Jockey: Sean Houlihan
- 15. Poet Laureate – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Chris Gordon, Jockey: Freddie Gordon
- 16. Dance And Glance – SP: 11/1, Trainer: Anthony Honeyball, Jockey: Rex Dingle
Non-Runners
Hot Fuss (unsuitable ground)