The step up in trip worked the oracle as Yanworth returned to form in the Ryanair Stayers Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree. Check out our race report, reaction and free video replay.
4.20 Aintree result
1st Yanworth 9/4 favourite
2nd Supasundae 5/1
3rd Snow Falcon 9/1
Report
Alan King had wanted to step Yanworth up in trip earlier in the season and the Champion Hurdle flop proved his point with a gritty display in the Ryanair Stayers Liverpool Hurdle.
The presence of Unowhatimeanharry influenced JP McManus and his team with King going down the two mile route with Yanworth who was given his chance to prove his stamina in the Aintree Grade One.
Half a dozen runners were still in contention turning for home and that number was down to four at the second last with Snow Falcon seemingly travelling best of all.
Barry Geraghty on Yanworth and Robbie Power, the meeting's leading jockey, on Coral Cup winner Supasundae were both hard at work but their mounts responded to jump the last alongside, marginally ahead of Snow Falcon.
The latter rallied and it was touch and go to the line but Yanworth ultimately prevailed by a length in a thrilling finish with Supasundae three parts of a length clear of Snow Falcon.
Reaction
Barry Geraghty: "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."
Alan King: "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, 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."
Robbie Power: "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: "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."