15:05 Aintree

Saturday 11 April 2026

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0516:0017:00

Jet2 Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 1 | 3m 149y | 12 Runners | Turf

SKY BET EXTRA PLACE RACESky Bet paying 4 places instead of 3

Doddiethegreat^t,p³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N J Henderson| OR: 147

40/1

Winner of Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival last year and has advanced his form in graded events this season, though at the same time having his limitations exposed. Usual cheekpieces reapplied but looks an easy swerve kept to this company.

Form: 2-3453P

Hewick^b³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Paddy Hanlon| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 152| D

25/1

High-class chaser (winner of the 2023 King George at Kempton) and no slouch in this sphere either but evidence this season suggests his best days are behind him.

Form: 8-71457

Hiddenvalley Lake⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 158| CD

6/1

Smart staying hurdler who was successful in this race last season. Tends to go well fresh but proved easy to back and failed to fire on return at Navan in February. Leap of faith required to get involved but he's certainly capable.

Form: 3/2719-5

Home By The Lee^b³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 161

15/2

Seemingly as good as ever at the age of 11, becoming the first in history to win a Championship race at the Cheltenham Festival at the fifth time of asking when landing last month's Stayers' Hurdle. Shouldn't be underestimated despite his advancing years.

Form: UP6-411

Honesty Policy^t1³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 155| C

11/4

Completed hat-trick in 2½m Grade 1 novice at this meeting last year and has advanced his form in defeat this season, a falsely-run race on undemanding ground preventing him raising his game sufficiently in Stayers' Hurdle last month. Tongue tie applied and remains capable of better.

Form: 1112-35

Impose Toi^p³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 158| CD

5/1

Progressive over 3m this season, completing hat-trick in Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot in December. Looked unsuited by emphasis on stamina when 7 lengths behind Ma Shantou in Cleeve Hurdle in January but simply failed to fire in Stayers' Hurdle last month. Hopes pinned on reapplied cheekpieces.

Form: 2-1112P

Jingko Blue³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 153

11/2

Very useful novice over hurdles who quickly made up into a smart chaser in 2024/25, successful on both completed starts. Back in this sphere this season and landed a significant gamble when making every yard in BetMGM Cup at Cheltenham last month and he's not dismissed back at this level.

Form: 11U-721

Strong Leader^t1,p⁷⁷

4/1

Won this in 2024 (also second last year) and has proved better than ever this season, winning Grade 2 at Wetherby on reappearance prior to finishing runner-up to Impose Toi at Newbury/Ascot. Tailed off in Cleeve Hurdle in January but better anticipated here in a first-time tongue tie.

Form: 42-1226

Air Of Entitlement²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 144

9/1

Lightly-raced 7-y-o who delivered at the Cheltenham Festival for the second year in succession when landing Martin Pipe last month, showing improvement to win such a competitive race on only her second handicap start. Upped to 3m for the first time and should have more to offer. Interesting.

Form: 117-201

Lavida Adiva³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: H Cobden| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 136| C

40/1

Consistent mare who resumed winning ways in 3m listed hurdle at Doncaster in December. Produced a career best with the hood quickly discarded on her return to a handicap when runner-up in Pertemps Final last month but she's a big outsider on her first crack at Grade 1 level.

Form: 341432

Take No Chances³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 145| D

18/1

Landed a mares Grade 2 at Ascot (2½m) last season and came in a good third to Lossiemouth at this meeting. Running well in defeat this season, though was a little off her game for once when fourth in David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle last month. Hard to see her featuring.

Form: 5-62334

Non-Runners

Happy Jacky²¹²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 12

T: M Fahey J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Honesty Policy (3/1), Strong Leader (4/1), Jingko Blue (5/1), Hiddenvalley Lake (6/1), Home By The Lee (7/1), Impose Toi (7/1), Air Of Entitlement (12/1), Take No Chances (25/1), Doddiethegreat (25/1), Hewick (25/1), Lavida Adiva (33/1), Happy Jacky (50/1)

The staying hurdle scene has lacked a standout performer in recent seasons, so it could pay to take a chance on AIR OF ENTITLEMENT, who made it back-to-back Cheltenham Festival wins in the Martin Pipe last month and Henry de Bromhead's mare could well have even more to offer now stepping up to 3m. Honesty Policy was behind Home By The Lee in the Stayers' Hurdle last month, but he's fancied to reverse those placings here, while Jingko Blue looks another interesting contender, also.