Yanworth wins Ryanair Stayers Liverpool Hurdle

Yanworth showed stamina is his forte as he ground out a determined success in the Ryanair Stayers Liverpool Hurdle.

The seven-year-old cast aside any doubts about seeing out the three-mile trip when staying on strongest of them all to lift the Grade One and atone for his Champion Hurdle disappointment.

Restrained near the back of the field early on by Barry Geraghty, the 9-4 favourite was one of four in with a live chance over the penultimate flight.

Over the last four soon became three as the Alan King-trained runner, together with Coral Cup winner Supasundae and Snow Falcon, pressed on.

As Geraghty asked for a maximum response the JP McManus-owned gelding delivered, getting up to deny Supasundae by a length with Snow Falcon a further three-quarters of a length away in third.

Geraghty said: "He kept going there. He bundled the third-last, I just didn't want to commit as I didn't want to land in front. He made a mess of it but recovered quickly and was good at the last two.

"Maybe the (two-mile) trip (found him out at Cheltenham), but he is better than that. I would say he probably slightly under performed. He got very warm beforehand.

"I think he's probably a middle-distance (horse) or stayer really."

King said: "We were trying three miles today and it was a long run-in. I'm relieved more than anything, delighted with him.

"He won a Christmas Hurdle and a Kingwell so we had to go to the Champion Hurdle. I wasn't confident today, but we got away with it.

"I think he will be even better over a fence and he will go novice chasing in the autumn."

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Supasundae, also expects her charge to be making his mark in novice chase company next term.

She said: "He kicked the third-last out which must have taken something out of him and Robert (Power) just said he was a bit warm, but he pulled up grand.

"This year he's proved himself a Grade One horse and he gets three miles.

"I know he's by Galileo but he has the stamp of a chaser and jumps hurdles so well that I think he will go over fences. He won't be going to Punchestown."

Power added: "He got very hot but he's fine and has gone to cool down. He's run a cracker."

Snow Falcon's trainer Noel Meade already has a trip to Royal Ascot on his mind for the third.

He said: "He jumped great and I thought he might do it coming to the last. I think he enjoyed this track more than the ups and downs of Cheltenham.

"He got into the race very easily today and will probably go to Punchestown, but the one I really want is the Ascot Stakes.

"He's the winner of a maiden and it might be borderline if he qualifies so I might give him another run (on the Flat)."

Sean Flanagan, rider of Snow Falcon, added: "I thought he was going to pick them up but he levelled out on the run-in. He has run a blinder."