Skip to content

Racecards

14:00 Aintree

Martell Cognac Laurel Pub Company Liverpool Hurdle (Registered As The Long Distance Hurdle Race) (Class A)

  • 8 Runners
  • Distance: 3m 110y
  • Going: Good
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 6m 13.00s
  • 8 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Iris's Gift

4/7

    2
    Silk -

    Royal Rosa (FR)

    11/1

      3
      Silk -

      Aine Dubh (IRE)

      80/1

        1
        Silk - Yellow, Dark Blue star, armlets and star on cap

        Crystal d'Ainay (FR)

        14
        12/1
        • Form 2-21213
        • Age 5
        • Weight 11-10

        in touch, headway 9th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last

        2
        Silk - Dark Blue, White sleeves, Dark Blue diamonds, White cap, Dark Blue diamonds

        Deano's Beeno

        33
        33/1
        • Form 2-62343
        • Age 12
        • Weight 11-10

        reluctant to race, with winner, led after 4th to 6th, jumped slow and lost place 8th, soon behind

        3
        Silk - Dark Blue, White hoops, chevrons on sleeves, striped cap

        Holy Orders (IRE)

        14 b
        25/1
        • Form 00-1005
        • Age 7
        • Weight 11-10

        held up, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace

        4
        Silk - Mauve, Black sash, Yellow sleeves and cap

        Iris's Gift

        14
        4/7
        • Form 1121-21
        • Age 7
        • Weight 11-10

        keen, led, headed after 4th, led again 6th, ridden 3 out, ran on

        5
        Silk - White, Maroon hoops, sleeves and cap

        Sh Boom

        14
        5/1
        • Form P-2211F
        • Age 6
        • Weight 11-10

        held up in rear, mistake 4th, headway 8th, pecked 9th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened

        6
        Silk - Black and Beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, Beige cap

        Royal Rosa (FR)

        33
        11/1
        • Form 1-11211
        • Age 5
        • Weight 11-6

        tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, no extra towards finish

        7
        Silk - Pink, Light Blue and Royal Blue chevrons on sleeves, Light Blue cap

        Hasty Prince

        16
        25/1
        • Form 133200
        • Age 6
        • Weight 11-2

        in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened flat

        8
        Silk - GREEN, white sash, red cap, white spots

        Aine Dubh (IRE)

        15
        80/1
        • Form 040406
        • Age 7
        • Weight 10-13

        held up in rear, mistake 4th, ridden 3 out, kept on flat, never troubled first 2

        Previous results

        2003
        Silk -

        Carlovent (FR)

        16/1
        • Age 8
        • Weight 10-11

        2002
        Silk -

        Sudden Shock (GER)

        33/1
        • Age 7
        • Weight 10-1

        In depth

        Verdict

        The first and third from the Stayers' Hurdle come face-to-face again in the shape of Iris's Gift and Crystal d'Ainay and we reckon that the form will be confirmed in the race that opens the Aintree Martell Cognac Grand National meeting. Iris's Gift showed his typical battling qualities in landing the Stayers' championship and, given that he has been lightly campaigned this season, ought to be able to overcome the fact that there is only a 14-day gap between Cheltenham and Liverpool this year. On the bare form of the Cheltenham race, Crystal d'Ainay has 13 lengths to find with the selection. Sh Boom fell in the Stayers' Hurdle but, in the two times that he had met Crystal d'Ainay before Cheltenham this season, there was not much between them. However, at today's weights, Crystal d'Ainay holds a slight advantage. Deanos Beano ha little bit to find with Crystal d'Ainay and Sh Boom based on Spa Hurdle form in December, while Holy Orders is held based on his Stayers' Hurdle fifth. Aine Dubh has a lot to find on official ratings while Hasty Prince, second in Haydock's Champion Hurdle Trial in January is trying today's trip for the first time but, that said, he does appear to be very much the O'Neill stables third string. The field is completed by Royal Rosa who has looked very progressive in the novice ranks this year but this race represents a big step up in class today. Overall, then, we take Iris's Gift to win the festival opener.