This year's Jet2 Liverpool Hurdle (3:05) has been blown wide open by the withdrawal of ante-post favourite Wodhooh, whose absence transforms a race that already had plenty of depth into one of the most open Grade 1s of the entire Aintree meeting.
What remains is a classy field of 12, headed by last month’s Stayers' Hurdle form. Home By The Lee shocked Cheltenham at 33/1 last month, and three of those that chased him home in Honesty Policy, Hewick and Impose Toi re-oppose here.
Let's take a close look at all the runners…
1. DODDIETHEGREAT
Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies | Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Nicky Henderson's supposed third string alongside Impose Toi and Jingko Blue, but he does appear some distance behind them on ability and was pulled up on his most recent start in the Stayers’ Hurdle. Named after the late Doddie Weir, he earned his place at the top table with a solid 2024-25 season but this campaign has been a struggle, and it’s difficult to see him troubling the main contenders.
2. HAPPY JACKY
Danny Mullins | Mark Fahey
This Irish-trained veteran will be a big outsider on form, and his age profile alone makes him a tough sell. However, veteran stayers do occasionally spring surprises, and his connections clearly believe the old warrior has one more big day in him back from a lengthy lay-off.
3. HEWICK
Paddy Hanlon | John 'Shark' Hanlon
This loveable veteran, who finished eighth in last year’s Grand National, set the fractions in last month’s Stayers' Hurdle and kept Home By The Lee honest for most of the race before fading into seventh. Now an 11-year-old, consistency hasn’t been his strong suit this season, and he is likely to be vulnerable late reverting to a speedier circuit.
4. HIDDENVALLEY LAKE
Darragh O’Keeffe | Henry de Bromhead
The reigning Liverpool Hurdle champion, having seen off Strong Leader by the best part of three lengths 12 months ago. That’s the positive headline, but there hasn’t been a lot of encouragement in his two outings since, and supporters will be relying on the magic of Henry de Bromhead to get him back to peak form at odds that hardly inspire.
5. HOME BY THE LEE
J J Slevin | Joseph P O'Brien
Joseph O’Brien’s runner has waited a long time for recognition, but what happened at Cheltenham last month made it all worthwhile. At the fifth time of asking in the Stayers' Hurdle, the 11-year-old refused to be beaten, fending off the younger legs of Ballyburn and defending champion Bob Olinger to win at 33/1. His official rating of 161 is the highest in the field, but he doesn’t have course form at Aintree and another career-best may be required on this flatter track.
6. HONESTY POLICY
Mark Walsh | Gordon Elliott
Now Gordon Elliott's sole runner following Wodhooh's withdrawal, and a six-year-old that went to Cheltenham as a leading Stayers' Hurdle fancy at around 4/1. Fifth in that Grade 1 contest behind Home By The Lee, he probably wasn’t as suited as some by the climb to the finish, but he left the impression the experience wouldn’t be lost on him. The youngest horse in this race, he now gets a first-time tongue-tie, while reverting to this flatter track on just his third outing of the campaign can see him back in a better light. The ground ought to be perfect for him, too.
7. IMPOSE TOI
Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson
Won the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in imperious fashion in December when beating Strong Leader by a length and a quarter, with Honesty Policy close behind in third. The eight-year-old also has winning form at Aintree and should like the going on offer. However, he ran a stinker in the Stayers’ Hurdle and the risk is obvious: you cannot ignore a pulled-up run in a Grade 1 just four weeks ago. Something was wrong at Cheltenham, and whether it was physical, the ground, or simply a bad day, you are having to trust that he has put that effort behind him.
8. JINGKO BLUE
James Bowen | Nicky Henderson
Landed a big gamble in the BetMGM Cup at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, where he comfortably made all the running under James Bowen. That was over 2m5f in a handicap, so this trip is an obvious question mark, though possibly less of a leap than some given that Nicky Henderson has specifically targeted this race. The seven-year-old’s previous form with Kabral Du Mathan, who went close in the Stayers’ Hurdle, also catches the eye, so he certainly merits consideration at around 11/2 in what looks an open renewal.
9. STRONG LEADER
Sean Bowen | Olly Murphy
Once again started the season in fine form, finding only Impose Toi too good at both Newbury and Ascot. It’s no surprise that he flopped next time at Cheltenham - a track he loathes - and he has since had a wind operation. Indeed, trainer Olly Murphy also now enlists a first-time tongue-tie in his quest to go one better than a second-placing in this event last year, and this is his track, so it wouldn’t surprise if he’s the one to pass jumping the final flight.
10. AIR OF ENTITLEMENT
Jack Kennedy | Henry de Bromhead
Bounced back to her best when winning at the Cheltenham Festival for the second year in a row last month, landing the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle with something to spare. However, this represents something of a Hail Mary by connections, as she’s yet to tackle three miles and is now pitched into much deeper waters. The seven-year-old’s only previous outing at the top level saw her finish tailed off against her own sex.
11. LAVIDA ADIVA
Harry Cobden | Ruth Jefferson
Ran a huge race to finish second at 22/1 in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham last month and has shown a real liking for Aintree in the past. However, an official rating of 136 seems a pretty fair reflection of her ability, and this tough mare is surely biting off more than she can chew here.
12. TAKE NO CHANCES
Harry Skelton | Dan Skelton
An admirably consistent mare who has an attitude to die for. The eight-year-old has also taken a few scalps in her career to date and can go well at a decent price back up in trip, boasting collateral form behind Impose Toi and Strong Leader from Newbury earlier this season.
DAVE ORTON’S VERDICT
Wodhooh's withdrawal removes the ‘talking horse’ but clarifies the form picture. This is now a race dominated by the Stayers' Hurdle form, and the horse that finished fifth in HONESTY POLICY looks the one to side with back at the scene of his Grade 1 novice victory this time last year. Gordon Elliott’s charge is fresher than most and remains the one with genuine upside, with Jingko Blue the one to possibly chase him home.