15:05 Aintree

Saturday 5 April 2025

All13:2013:5514:3015:0516:0017:0017:35

Ivy Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 6m 4.74s

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Selected odds by:

Altobelli^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 147

22/1

Hasn't stood a great deal of racing since looking a good prospect when winning first 3 starts. Right back on track fitted with cheekpieces this winter, though, winning brace of 19.3f handicap at Ascot. This asks a different question in Grade 1 company tackling 3m for the first time.

Form: 230-211

Buddy One^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: J G Gilligan| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 154

16/1

Surpassed expectations when fourth in the 2024 Stayers' Hurdle and backed that up when runner-up in this a month later. Chase career didn't really go to plan but fitted with a tongue tie again, he ran right back to his best when fifth in latest renewal at Cheltenham.

Form: 1343P5

Gwennie May Boy⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 149| CD

15/2

Made it 3-3 for Dan Skelton with a useful performance in a competitive staying handicap at this meeting a year ago. Cranked it up another notch when taking step up to Grade 2 company in his stride in February, driven clear. Needs another step forward.

Form: 11-F351

Hiddenvalley Lake⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 155| BF

12/1

Lightly-raced hurdler (smart form) who was placed in Grade 1 company in the Liverpool Hurdle a year ago and repeated the feat when runner-up in the Long Walk at Ascot (24.4f). Disappointing at Gowran a month later but yard going much better now.

Form: 8/F13-27

Home By The Lee^b²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 161

5/1

Defeated Bob Olinger at Navan and Leopardstown but left with nowhere to go when a rival fell in front of him at Cheltenham 3 weeks ago. Big player if none the worse for that.

Form: 3-3611U

Kitzbuhel⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153

10/3

Juvenile winner for D. Sourdeau De Beauregard in France and left that form behind this winter upon joining Willie Mullins, supplementing his Punchestown success in Grade 3 company at Gowran. Limit hasn't been reached so he's a danger to all, for all stamina for 3m has to be taken on trust.

Form: 612-11

Monmiral^b,t⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149| C

40/1

Regular at this meeting, Grade 1 winner as a juvenile and also runner-up in the Aintree Hurdle in 2022. Cashed in on a reduced mark in the Pertemps last year and last seen posting an excellent second of 6 in Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle in January.

Form: 415-322

Sounds Russian⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 145

66/1

High-class chaser at his best but hasn't stood that much racing for a 10-y-o and hasn't done anything over hurdles to think he can win a race of this nature.

Form: 22B/51-5

Strong Leader⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 158| BF| CD

5/1

Arrived fresh and scaled new heights when landing this race a year ago in good style. Landed the odds on return at Newbury but something was surely wrong in the Long Walk next time and now has a lot to prove following another lacklustre effort post breathing surgery in the Cleeve Hurdle.

Form: 431-104

The Wallpark²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: M P Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 155

6/1

Progressive Irish hurdler who completed his 4-timer in 12-runner 3m handicap at Cheltenham in October, Better form stepped up in class when fourth in the Long Walk at Ascot and third in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Has his quirks but clearly going the right way.

Form: 111143

Jetara^p²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 146

15/2

Useful mare who has won 3 times on Flat/over hurdles since the autumn, returning to her best equipped with first-time cheekpieces (retained here) when narrowly landing mares' Grade 2 at Doncaster. Ran well on form despite drop back to 19.9f looking against her when fourth in the Mares' Hurdle.

Form: 215314

Non-Runners

Dashel Drasher⁵⁵

Weight: 11-10| Age: 12

T: J Scott J: Rex Dingle

Teahupoo²³

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: Sam Ewing

Forecasts

Teahupoo (5/2), Kitzbuhel (10/3), Strong Leader (5/1), Home By The Lee (5/1), The Wallpark (6/1), Jetara (15/2), Gwennie May Boy (15/2), Hiddenvalley Lake (12/1), Buddy One (16/1), Altobelli (22/1), Monmiral (40/1), Dashel Drasher (50/1), Sounds Russian (66/1)

Despite failing to justify fairly short odds, 2024 Stayers' Hurdle winner TEAHUPOO didn't do a lot wrong when second in last month's renewal, beaten for a turn of foot by an enigmatic but very talented opponent. He stuck to the task really well, though, and brings the most solid credentials to the table here. A break may have done last year's winner Strong Leader the world of good and he's a threat. Kitzbuhel is undoubtedly the most intriguing runner upped markedly in trip.