Aintree Hurdle 2013 - Liverpool Hurdle

2.50 Aintree

John Smith's Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £67,524

Advice: 3 pts win Solwhit, 1 pt win Grand Crus (9/4 and 8/1 general)

African Gold: One of the season’s most progressive novices, completing 4 timer in fantastic style when giving good smashing to Close Touch (subsequent impressive winner) before second to At Fishers Cross at Cheltenham Festival; Vastly different ground today and lots more needed for all that At Fishers Cross won well here yesterday.

American Spin: Decent second to Cape Tribulation and then winner of well contested Haydock contest; out of form since then and more needed.

Any Given Day: Get the feeling that despite his great attitude and considerable stamina, as shown in valuable handicap win at Haydock off 155, that his seventh in the World Hurdle is the limit of his ability and that he needs far more.

Attaglance: Pulled off terrific big festival double when grinding out the finish of 2m4f handicap hurdle for conditionals/amateurs here, but hard to find him as a realistic contender for this one.

Bear’s Affair: Looked very good when winning by 8 lengths here in December but off since failing to run to same level at Kempton in Lanzarote; Should go better over 3m at this course, but others make more appeal.

Celestial Halo: Back in the day, he was a leading 2 miler (involved in titanic Champion Hurdle battle) but rejuvenated by step upto 3m when outrunning his odds to come second in World Hurdle behind Solwhit (well clear of rest); Would have gotten even closer had he not hit the last badly and got to be given a big chance.

Grands Crus: Best known as troubled chaser but valid excuses for two of his failures this year and get the feeling he’s going to relish the best ground he’s run on this season; When he was a top hurdler, he pushed Big Bucks as close as any horse has and on that form, has big chance today.

Holywell: This would look to be a step too far on all known form but plenty in his handicap improvement to recommend him and was a long way clear at one point in Peremps; This could be bridge too far though.

Medinas: Has been steady improver through this season, second and fourth in strong handicaps before fantastic double and winning Welsh Champion Hurdle and then Coral Cup (under topweight, form boosted); Needs respect stepping upto 3m which should really suit, especially on this track.

Oscara Dara: Deeply impressive when romping the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton but unable to land a blow in Welsh Champion Hurdle or World Hurdle and more needed.

Smad Place: Ran a stormer when third in the World Hurdle last year (rejuvenated by the return to good ground) and much the same conditions when third once again in same race last year; Can go well once again.

Solwhit: Lengthy absence threatened to have curtailed career which has seen remarkable consistency at the top level (one of only horses to beat Hurricane Fly in Ireland) but back stronger than ever, and well on top at the end of World Hurdle ahead of Celestial Halo; Winner of Aintree Hurdle back in 2009, and undoubtedly the one to beat.

Won In The Dark: Outran odds when third here in 2009 but that a weaker renewal in terms of strength in depth.

VERDICT: A fiercely contested renewal, mostly thanks to the absence of Big Bucks from the staying hurdle division. Grands Crus pushed him harder than most in the 2011 World Hurdle and is some real each/way value back over hurdles with the ground to suit, but it’ll take a good one to beat World Hurdle winner SOLWHIT, who was well on top at Cheltenham late on and can confirm form with Celestial Halo and Smad Place, with the Pipe horse as a saver.