15:35 Aintree

Saturday 15 April 2023

All13:4514:2515:0015:3516:1517:1518:20

JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 5m 59.82s

Brewin'upastorm^t⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 150| C

28/1

Very smart hurdler who returned from wind surgery to land a second win in the Grade 2 National Spirit at Fontwell (19f) in February. His record suggests he'll be vulnerable back at highest level, though. Also has stamina to prove.

Form: 2P-U251

Champ¹¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: N J Henderson| OR: 158| BF| CD

6/1

Very talented hurdler/chaser who dug deep to fend off Paisley Park in 3m Newbury Grade 2 hurdle on his reappearance. Not in quite the same form when 4¾ lengths third to Paisley Park in Kempton Grade 1 over Christmas. Freshened up since. Third in this last year. Capable of going well.

Form: 1243-13

Dashel Drasher^p1³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 159| C

13/2

Tough and likeable sort who resumed with a 2½m hurdle win here in November. Good runner-up efforts on all 4 starts since, going down by ¾ length to Sire Du Berlais in Stayers' at Cheltenham on latest. Thereabouts again.

Form: P-12222

Flooring Porter^t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D E Mullins| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 161

3/1

Dual Stayers' Hurdle winner at Cheltenham. Couldn't complete a hat-trick of wins in that race last month but still ran his best race of the season in fourth. Chased home Sire Du Berlais in this 12 months ago.

Form: 212-444

Home By The Lee³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 157

9/2

Gained a breakthrough win at Grade 1 level at Leopardstown over Christmas. Did very well under the circumstances when 3¾ lengths fifth of 11 to Sire Du Berlais in Stayers' at Cheltenham, a serious mistake at the sixth knocking him right back.

Form: 26-R115

Meet And Greet⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 151

16/1

Smart hurdler. Creditable 3 lengths second of 8 to Blazing Khal in Boyne Hurdle at Navan (21f, good to soft, 10/3) 62 days ago. Third to Home By The Lee at Leopardstown over Christmas. A bit vulnerable at the highest level.

Form: 2-30342

Monmiral^p1,t1⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145| C

25/1

Won a Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at this meeting in 2021 and second in Aintree Hurdle last year. Smart form in defeat over fences this term. His good course record makes him a dangerous one to discount but he does have stamina to prove stepping up in trip. Tongue tie and cheekpieces on for first time.

Form: 542-224

Proschema⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 150| C

40/1

Looked better than ever when breezing to success in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby. Can't have been right when pulled up at Newbury 4 weeks later and she was quickly back in form when 9½ lengths fourth to Brewin'upastorm in National Spirit at Fontwell. Something to find in this company.

Form: F-371P4

Sire Du Berlais^b,t³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 160| CD

8/1

Beat Flooring Porter to win this 12 months ago and came alive come the spring again when overhauling Dashel Drashel late on in the Stayers' at Cheltenham last month. Bold show likely if in similar form.

Form: 455P41

Marie's Rock^t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 153| BF

5/1

Won Grade 1 mares' events around 2½m at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals last spring. Looked better than ever when bagging the Relkeel at Cheltenham on her reappearance. Disappointed back at Cheltenham last time but she's not the type to stay down for long. First attempt at 3m.

Form: P11-117

Forecasts

Flooring Porter (3/1), Home By The Lee (9/2), Marie's Rock (5/1), Champ (6/1), Dashel Drasher (13/2), Sire Du Berlais (8/1), Meet And Greet (16/1), Monmiral (25/1), Brewin'upastorm (28/1), Proschema (40/1)

HOME BY THE LEE shaped a lot better than the result when behind a couple of these in the Stayers' at Cheltenham and is taken to turn the tables and notch a second Grade 1 win of the season. Champ has been freshened up since his run at Kempton over Christmas and is a very talented operator on his day so he's second choice ahead of stablemate Marie's Rock, who can't have been right at Cheltenham last month and can get back on track now stepping up to 3m for the first time.