Ivy Liverpool Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Aintree 15:05 £250,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 3m 149y, Class 1  |
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1 Hiddenvalley Lake 12/1
2 Strong Leader 5/1
3 Jetara 15/2
11 ran NR: Dashel Drasher, Teahupoo
Distances: 2¾l, 2½l, 5½l Time: 6m 4.74s (slow by 9.74s)
Hidden Valley Lake wins the Ivy Liverpool Hurdle! pic.twitter.com/IShyXLVeO1
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) April 5, 2025
Twelve months on from playing a supporting role, Hiddenvalley Lake stepped into the spotlight, serving up a polished staying performance for Henry de Bromhead and Robcour on a sun-kissed afternoon at Aintree.
A narrow second in the Long Walk at Ascot before Christmas, the eight-year-old had drifted from the limelight following a lacklustre showing at Gowran Park—but bounced back in style as a 12-1 shot, ridden with cool precision by Darragh O’Keeffe.
Settled mid-pack early, he crept into contention approaching the home turn in a line-up full of familiar staying names. Strong Leader, last year’s winner, was prominent. So too was Jetara for Jessica Harrington, with Monmiral representing the Paul Nicholls yard.
But as the field approached two out, the picture changed. O’Keeffe had yet to move a muscle, cruising upsides Jetara, as the British challenge began to falter. Over the last, Hiddenvalley Lake saw daylight—and did the rest himself. The response was immediate, the outcome emphatic.
Two and three-quarter lengths was the verdict, with Strong Leader staying on bravely in second. Jetara stuck on for third, while Gordon Elliott’s The Wallpark claimed fourth. But this was all about the winner, and a return to form that will raise eyebrows ahead of Punchestown.
A beaming De Bromhead said:
“It’s nice being the second string, isn’t it? Darragh gave him a super ride. We were a bit worried about the ground, but it might’ve suited him more than we thought. He’s a lovely horse—just touched off at Ascot, and now he’s got his big day.”
Robcour’s Teahupoo was a notable absentee owing to the quicker ground, but the owner's maroon and white silks continue to dominate the staying scene, adding this to Bob Olinger’s Cheltenham Festival triumph.
The future?
“We’ll enjoy today first,” added De Bromhead. “He’ll get a Punchestown entry, but I’d say he stays over hurdles now. We’ve flirted with fences, but it hasn’t worked.”
For Olly Murphy, there was pride—and no shortage of frustration.
“Sean’s gutted. They went no gallop, and we had to ride him handier than ideal. He landed steeply at the second-last too. But he’s run a cracker again. This is his track—flat, galloping, suits him down to the ground.”
Wetherby, Newbury, maybe Leopardstown—Strong Leader will have other days. But on this one, Hiddenvalley Lake stood tallest, proving that class—like a good stayer—never fades, it just needs the right conditions to flourish.
Ivy Liverpool Hurdle
£250,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 3m 149y, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Good
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Hiddenvalley Lake 8 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe 12/1
2 2¾ Strong Leader 8 11-10 Olly Murphy Sean Bowen 5/1
3 2½ Jetara 7 11-3 Mrs John Harrington Nico de Boinville 15/2
4 5½ The Wallpark 7 11-10 Gordon Elliott Mark Walsh 6/1
5 4¼ Kitzbuhel 5 11-10 W P Mullins Paul Townend 100/30F
6 hd Monmiral 8 11-10 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 40/1
7 9½ Buddy One 8 11-10 Paul John Gilligan 16/1
8 29 Altobelli 7 11-10 Harry Fry Bryan Carver 22/1
9 11 Gwennie May Boy 7 11-10 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 15/2
PU
Home By The Lee 10 11-10 Joseph O'Brien J J Slevin 5/1
PU Sounds Russian 10 11-10 Ruth Jefferson Brian Hughes 66/1
NR 3 Dashel Drasher 12 11-10 Jeremy Scott NON RUNNER
NR 11 Teahupoo 8 11-10 Gordon Elliott NON RUNNER
