15:05 Aintree 05 Apr 2025
Ivy Liverpool Hurdle
Grade 1 | GBB Race | Class 1 | 4YO plus
Winner £140,325 - 11 ran
held up in touch early, mid-division, closed after 7th, challenged 2 out, soon led, edged left flat, stayed on well, ridden out
prominent, not fluent 6th or 4 out, mistake 2 out, switched right before last, stayed on into 2nd flat, not trouble winner
mid-division, headway on outside after 5th, challenged before 3 out, led 2 out, soon headed, lost 2nd flat, no extra
in rear, not fluent 1st, shaken up after 7th, some headway and carried tail awkwardly before 3 out, ridden into 5th and flashed tail before last, went 4th and stayed on flat
jumped right at times, took keen hold, held up in touch, steadied 7th, effort before 3 out, no impression from 2 out
led until 2 out, lost 4th and weakened flat
in rear, mistake 9th, outpaced after 4 out, modest effort before 3 out, no impression, well beaten 2 out
prominent early, tracked leaders, outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened, eased flat
held up towards rear, headway before 5th, outpaced after 3 out, weakened 2 out, eased flat
in touch on inside, lost place before 5th, soon pushed along, not fluent 8th, outpaced next, well beaten after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
towards rear on outside, struggling after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | £70.08 (5, 10) |
| Tricast | £488.20 (5, 10, 13) |
| Win | £15.50 (5) |
| Place | £3.60 (5), £2.00 (10), £2.60 (13) |
| Swinger | £12.40 (5, 10), £12.40 (5, 13), £6.90 (10, 13) |
| Exacta | £85.30 (5, 10) |
| Trifecta | £497.40 (5, 10, 13) |
Expert Analysis
In common with the staying hurdle division in general, this has seldom required a truly high-class performance since the days of Big Buck’s, over a decade ago, and this year’s contest – deprived of Teahupoo due to “going” – looks a somewhat second-rate affair. It was well-run, however, despite some appearances to the contrary, with the winner’s final 4f of 57.26s prompting a close-to-par 103.3%, and those behind him finishing slowly for the conditions to varying degrees.
HIDDENVALLEY LAKE (h157 here, 154 previously) has had a fair few breaks in his career so far, and may not be the easiest to train, but he remains very smart on his day and ran a new personal best to go 2 better than he had 12 months before. He travelled OK in mid-field before leading 2 out and stayed on well, ridden out as the second rallied.
STRONG LEADER (h155 here, 158 previously) could not quite repeat his win from 12 months before, not helped by a couple of sloppy jumps but always prominent and switched then rallying late on. He is not the easiest of rides but retains smart ability.
JETARA (h146 here and previously) ran right up to her best, looking like doing even better for a long way, moving up from mid-field after halfway and leading from 3 out until the next, beginning to run out of stamina at the very end.
THE WALLPARK (h148 here, 155 previously) turned in a moody performance but finally got going late on for a respectable effort.
KITZBUHEL (h145+ here, 152 previously) is far from exposed but will not be staying this far unless he learns to settle, over-racing early and dropping away from approaching 2 out. The fact that he still managed to record useful suggests there is a good engine in there.
MONMIRAL (h145 here, 149 previously) failed to get home, ridden from the front and mostly at a good pace, weakening after being headed 3 out.
BUDDY ONE (h137 here, 154 previously) is rather hit and miss these days (reportedly made a respiratory noise a couple of starts back) and never really threatened to get into it.
ALTOBELLI (h0 here, 144 previously) failed to stay.
GWENNIE MAY BOY (h0 here, 149 previously) was close enough if good enough going to 3 out then found nothing. His Haydock win is difficult to relate to his other efforts.
HOME BY THE LEE (h0 here, 158 previously) had been running fairly consistently, for all his quirks, but seemed not to want to know from halfway here.
SOUNDS RUSSIAN (h0 here, 135 previously)
Video Highlights
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Replay: 15:05 Aintree 5th Apr 2025
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Good to Soft | 10 | Strong Leader | 7 | 11 10 | - | 92-0243 | 77 days | O Murphy (130 miles) | Sean Bowen | 8/ 1 | 6:15.71 | |
| 2023 | Good to Soft | 10 | Sire Du Berlais | 11 | 11 10 | - | 455P41 | 30 days | G Elliott | Mark Walsh | 8/ 1 | 5:59.82 | |
| 2022 | Good to Soft | 8 | Sire Du Berlais | 10 | 11 7 | - | 32-2P40 | 23 days | G Elliott | Mark Walsh | 16/ 1 | 6:09.21 | |
| 2021 | Good to Soft | 15 | Thyme Hill | 7 | 11 7 | - | 1114-12 | 112 days | P Hobbs & J White (233 miles) | Tom O'Brien | 5/ 2 | 6:12.13 | |
| 2019 | Good | 15 | If The Cap Fits | 7 | 11 7 | - | 11-2132 | 41 days | H Fry (251 miles) | Sean Bowen | 7/ 1 | 5:58.70 | |
| 2018 | Soft | 10 | Identity Thief | 8 | 11 7 | - | 460-624 | 32 days | H De Bromhead | Sean Flanagan | 14/ 1 | 6:20.10 | |
| 2017 | Good | 11 | Yanworth | 7 | 11 7 | - | 12-111D | 25 days | A King (186 miles) | B J Geraghty | 9/ 4 | 6:03.60 | |
| 2016 | Soft | 6 | Thistlecrack | 8 | 11 7 | - | 1-21111 | 23 days | C L Tizzard (216 miles) | Tom Scudamore | 2/ 7 | 6:33.50 | |
| 2015 | Good | 9 | Whisper | 7 | 11 7 | - | 1211-25 | 30 days | N J Henderson (180 miles) | Nico De Boinville | 5/ 1 | 5:58.30 | |
| 2014 | Good to Soft | 7 | Whisper | 6 | 11 7 | - | 1-33121 | 24 days | N J Henderson (180 miles) | B J Geraghty | 4/ 1 | 6:06.40 | |
| 2013 | Good to Soft | 13 | Solwhit | 9 | 11 7 | - | 222-211 | 23 days | C Byrnes | Paul Carberry | 9/ 4 | 6:19.40 | |
| 2012 | Good to Soft | 8 | Big Buck's | 9 | 11 7 | - | 11-1111 | 28 days | P F Nicholls (207 miles) | Ruby Walsh | 2/ 9 | 6:16.60 | |
| 2011 | Good to Soft | 11 | Big Buck's | 8 | 11 7 | - | 111-111 | 21 days | P F Nicholls (207 miles) | Ruby Walsh | 4/ 6 | 6:10.20 | |
| 2010 | Good | 7 | Big Buck's | 7 | 11 7 | - | 111-111 | 21 days | P F Nicholls (207 miles) | Ruby Walsh | 3/ 10 | 6:21.30 | |
| 2009 | Good | 10 | Big Buck's | 6 | 11 10 | - | 71-U111 | 21 days | P F Nicholls (207 miles) | Ruby Walsh | 5/ 6 | 6:13.30 | |
| 2008 | Good to Soft | 11 | Blazing Bailey | 6 | 11 10 | - | F-84124 | 21 days | A King (186 miles) | R Thornton | 5/ 1 | 6:18.20 | |
| 2007 | Good | 6 | Mighty Man | 7 | 11 10 | - | 231-212 | 28 days | H D Daly (94 miles) | Richard Johnson | 15/ 8 | 6:10.30 | |
| 2006 | Good | 12 | Mighty Man | 6 | 11 6 | - | 1-91223 | 21 days | H D Daly (94 miles) | Richard Johnson | 11/ 4 | 6:05.50 | |
| 2005 | Good to Soft | 9 | Monet's Garden | 7 | 11 10 | - | 21-1552 | 40 days | N G Richards (100 miles) | Tony Dobbin | 11/ 2 | 6:31.40 |
