JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
3m 149y Good to Soft (Good in places)
mid-division, closed from 9th, went 2nd after 4 out, joined leader 2 out, led last, edged left inside final 100 yards, stayed on
led, hard pressed 2 out, headed last, soon hung left, about 1 length down when short or room and snatched up inside final 100 yards, held after
3 20
10 11-7 162
not much room 1st, held up towards rear, hanging left and struggling after 4 out, driven 3 out, plugged on approaching last, went never dangerous 3rd close home
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake 2 out, plugged on
5 nk
8 11-7 161
chased leaders, pushed along after 4 out, outpaced before 3 out, went modest 3rd after 2 out, mistake last, dropped to 5th close home
held up in rear, slow 2nd and 3rd, not fluent 5th, pushed along before 9th, not fluent 4 out, no impression, hanging left after 2 out, plugged on flat
mid-division, lost place after 4 out, well beaten 3 out, tailed off
chased leader, not fluent 4th or 9th, lost 2nd after 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| Betfair SP | £19.25 |
| CSF | £38.82 (6, 3) |
| Tricast | £87.79 (6, 3, 2) |
| Win | £17.00 (6) |
| Place | £2.50 (6), £1.10 (3), £1.40 (2) |
| Swinger | £1.70 (2, 3), £4.80 (2, 6), £4.20 (3, 6) |
| Exacta | £44.00 (6, 3) |
| Trifecta | £151.80 (6, 3, 2) |
A pretty good renewal on paper, and in reality for a first two who drew clear, though it is likely that those behind were below form to varying degrees. It was a rather unevenly run affair, on the steady side early (over 20 lengths slower than the opening handicap to the fifth flight), making up much of the leeway later on but slow up the run-in and resulting in a 97% finishing speed and a rather modest overall time.
SIRE DU BERLAIS (h166 here, 155 previously) chose a good occasion to turn in a new personal best, unrecognisable as the gelding who scarcely went a yard and was pulled up at Leopardstown 3 starts back, though he had fared somewhat better in between. He raced in mid-field before improving after 4 out, edged ahead approaching the last and kept on despite edging left. As a 10yo already, it must be wondered if he will be quite as good next season as he was here.
FLOORING PORTER (h164 here and previously) ran up to his best but caught the winner on a real good day, settling nicely in front and jumping well, winding it up some way out and drawing on with the winner after 3 out, headed approaching the last and belatedly showing his quirks by hanging left before keeping on.
CHAMP (h146 here, 163 previously) is not straightforward and ran poorly by his own high standards, pushed along after 4 out and possibly not putting it all in, then passing a few late.
THOMAS DARBY (h146 here, 155 previously) was below form, though by a bit not a lot, under pressure some way out and finding little.
THYME HILL (h146 here, 161 previously) had been Mr Consistency but ran a poor race this time, niggled briefly at halfway but in more serious trouble after 4 out. He will probably be back.
KOSHARI (h143 here, 156 previously) might have been a bit flattered to finish so close to Flooring Porter at Cheltenham and trailed most of the way here.
ROI MAGE (h131 here, ? previously) narrowly missed the cut in the Grand National and made little impact here.
MOLLY OLLYS WISHES (h111 here, 145 previously) only just lasted 3m when winning at Ascot in January and has looked a non-stayer (though there may have been other factors at play also) in both starts since.
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