14:50 Navan (IRE) 08 Feb 2026
William Hill Boyne Hurdle
Grade 2 | Class 1 | 5YO plus
Winner €27,000 - 6 ran
tracked leader in 2nd, slight mistake 7th, good jump to dispute 3 out, 2nd and slight mistake 2 out, ridden to press leader before last, led narrowly last, kept on well run-in
settled behind leaders, 3rd halfway, dropped to 5th 3 out, ridden to close 2 out, under pressure in 3rd before last, slight mistake last, kept on into 2nd closing stages, no impression on winner
led, slight mistake 4 out, joined 3 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, pressed before last, slight mistake and headed last, no extra in 3rd closing stages
held up, 5th halfway, closer in 4th 3 out, pressed leaders entering straight, ridden in 3rd 2 out, no extra before last
held up behind leaders, 4th halfway, closer in 3rd 4 out, pressed leaders entering straight, ridden and no extra 2 out, weakened
held up towards rear, closer 2 out, soon ridden, no extra in 5th before last, fell heavily last
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | €4.94 (6, 5) |
| Win | €2.10 (6) |
| Place | €1.10 (6), €1.90 (5) |
| Exacta | €4.70 (6, 5) |
| Trifecta | €15.50 (6, 5, 4) |
Expert Analysis
This Grade 2 has been less about Cheltenham and more a race for those that stay at home in March, and this year was no different, the thriving favourite winning a slowly run contest to lead home a 1-2-3 for Gordon Elliott.
STAFFORDSHIRE KNOT has been called names in the past, including by his trainer, but has been a revelation this season, winning three of his five starts and running well in the defeat in the other two. He tracked the steady pace, making a mistake two out but found plenty for pressure and was on top at the line. He is qualified for the Pertemps Final, but Elliott suggested he may be better in small fields.
BETTER DAYS AHEAD was having his first run since the Irish Grand National last year and shaped well. He was running on after the second last but got tight for room then made a mistake at the final hurdle, keeping on well late. His trainer said he missed time earlier in the winter so there should be improvement for this run though he does come from an ordinary crop of staying novice chasers and had no excuses at Fairyhouse last year.
MAXXUM came back to form after a pair of below-par efforts, making the running at a steady pace and only passed after the last. He can be inconsistent but is well-suited by these sorts of races, and the Grade 2 he won at Fairyhouse last Easter is a sensible target.
COLONEL MUSTARD won the Lismullen Hurdle here in November in a race that was set up for him but found this too competitive and appeared stretched by the trip after travelling well.
HIDDENVALLEY LAKE tends to go well fresh but was very weak in the betting and was nowhere near form, left behind after two out.
IRANCY was running beyond two miles for the first time and raced too keenly. He was beaten when falling at the last and may prefer better ground.
Video Highlights
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Replay: 14:50 Navan 8th Feb 2026
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Soft - Heavy | 7 | Maxxum | 8 | 11 3 | - | 1P8446 | 17 days | G Elliott (2 miles) | Danny Gilligan | 4/ 1 | 5:50.30 | |
| 2024 | Heavy | 8 | Hiddenvalley Lake | 7 | 11 6 | - | C1128-F | 64 days | H De Bromhead (153 miles) | Darragh O'Keeffe | 3/ 1 | 5:59.30 | |
| 2023 | Good - Yielding | 8 | Blazing Khal | 7 | 11 8 | - | 541-111 | 428 days | C Byrnes (127 miles) | Philip Byrnes | 5/ 1 | 5:27.50 | |
| 2022 | Heavy | 9 | Thedevilscoachman | 6 | 11 6 | - | 5117-32 | 44 days | N Meade (2 miles) | Mark Walsh | 4/ 1 | 5:49.60 | |
| 2021 | Heavy | 6 | Beacon Edge | 7 | 11 8 | - | 22-1133 | 21 days | N Meade (2 miles) | Sean Flanagan | 15/ 8 | 6:06.30 | |
| 2020 | Heavy | 8 | Cracking Smart | 8 | 11 3 | - | 2F8P75 | 47 days | G Elliott (2 miles) | Davy Russell | 16/ 1 | 5:58.80 | |
| 2019 | Yielding | 6 | Tiger Roll | 9 | 11 3 | - | 2P511-4 | 93 days | G Elliott (2 miles) | Keith Donoghue | 25/ 1 | 5:25.80 | |
| 2018 | Soft - Heavy | 4 | Diamond Cauchois | 7 | 11 3 | - | P01-313 | 24 days | G Elliott (2 miles) | Davy Russell | 4/ 6 | 6:04.80 | |
| 2017 | Soft - Heavy | 9 | Sutton Place | 6 | 11 8 | - | 3111-1 | 22 days | G Elliott (2 miles) | B J Geraghty | 4/ 6 | 5:32.30 | |
| 2016 | Heavy | 3 | Snow Falcon | 6 | 11 3 | - | 56-315F | 48 days | N Meade (2 miles) | Sean Flanagan | 11/ 4 | 5:49.70 | |
| 2015 | Yielding - Soft | 8 | Dedigout | 9 | 11 8 | - | F415-61 | 24 days | A J Martin (2 miles) | Bryan Cooper | 6/ 4 | 5:35.90 | |
| 2014 | Heavy | 4 | Dunguib | 11 | 11 3 | - | 13618-3 | 29 days | P Fenton (143 miles) | B O'Connell | 11/ 4 | 5:26.80 | |
| 2013 | Heavy | 6 | On His Own | 9 | 11 3 | - | 4P1-B1F | 311 days | W P Mullins (83 miles) | Paul Townend | 10/ 1 | 5:50.20 | |
| 2012 | Yielding - Soft | 8 | Mourad | 7 | 11 8 | - | 3-24223 | 22 days | W P Mullins (83 miles) | Paul Townend | 3/ 1 | 5:23.70 | |
| 2011 | Heavy | 9 | Voler La Vedette | 7 | 11 3 | - | 39-1234 | 21 days | Colm Murphy (119 miles) | A Lynch | 9/ 4 | 5:37.60 | |
| 2010 | Soft | 9 | War Of Attrition | 11 | 11 8 | - | P23041 | 24 days | M F Morris (143 miles) | Davy Russell | 7/ 1 | 5:26.30 | |
| 2009 | Heavy | 6 | Catch Me | 7 | 11 10 | - | 65-4111 | 50 days | E J O'Grady (143 miles) | A J McNamara | 4/ 9 | 5:33.90 | |
| 2008 | Soft | 7 | Kazal | 7 | 11 8 | - | 111-FU3 | 24 days | E Griffin (103 miles) | B J Geraghty | 4/ 1 | 5:12.90 | |
| 2007 | Heavy | 5 | Sweet Kiln | 8 | 10 11 | - | 463421 | 29 days | M J Bowe (103 miles) | Davy Russell | 8/ 13 | 5:43.40 | |
| 2006 | Soft | 6 | Golden Cross | 7 | 11 12 | - | 77-1123 | 21 days | M Halford (64 miles) | Johnny Murtagh | 8/ 15 | 6:04.80 |
