Hiddenvalley Lake claimed the Ivy Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in effective type for coach Henry de Bromhead.
Third to Olly Murphy’s Sturdy Chief on this occasion 12 months in the past, the eight-year-old was pipped at Ascot simply earlier than Christmas within the Lengthy Stroll Hurdle, however was a 12/1 probability after a disappointing show at Gowran most not too long ago.
Ridden in mid-division by Darragh O’Keeffe, he was certainly one of a bunch of runners to maneuver into rivalry getting into the house straight, as alongside Jessica Harrington’s Jetara, he joined Sturdy Chief and Paul Nicholls’ Monmiral on the head of affairs.
That quartet jumped the second-last in a line, however O’Keeffe appeared to be travelling finest as Hiddenvalley Lake and fellow Irish raider Jetara left their British-trained rivals trailing on the run to the final.
Hiddenvalley Lake quickly asserted after the leaping was full, galloping on strongly to register a two-and-three-quarter-length success over the rallying Sturdy Chief who misplaced little in defeat, regardless of failing to defend his title.
Jetara was third, with Gordon Elliott’s The Wallpark fourth, however for De Bromhead and house owners Robcour it was additional success within the staying division after Bob Olinger triumphed on the Cheltenham Competition.
The Robcour-owned Teahupoo was a late absentee because of the good floor and De Bromhead mentioned: “It is good being the second string, is not it? We’re delighted, Darragh gave him a brilliant journey, we had been somewhat bit involved concerning the floor however I might say he almost most well-liked it.
“He’s a lovely horse, he was only just chinned at Ascot. He was disappointing in Gowran the last day, but it’s lovely to have him back.
“We’ll get pleasure from at the moment. I believe Bob Olinger will hopefully be going to Punchestown, however each horses will get an entry and we’ll see nearer the time.
“I’d say we’ll stick to hurdles with this horse now. We’ve tried jumping (fences) a couple of times and he just didn’t seem to take to it.”
Murphy mentioned of Sturdy Chief: “He’s run well but Sean (Bowen) is very frustrated because they went no gallop which meant he had to ride him handier than we wanted to.
“In the event that they went a gallop would possibly we have now received? Possibly, however the very best horse received on the day, he is run a cracker once more.
“We’ve no excuses bar they went no gallop and we had to ride him differently to normal, but he’s run very well.
“He is only a actually robust stayer they usually did not go fast. He additionally landed on all fours on the second-last which did not assist.
“I’m very happy, but you want to win don’t you. This is his race, he loves it here. It’s the flat tracks he wants so all being well we’ll start at Wetherby, go to Newbury, probably skip Ascot at Christmas and maybe look at going to Leopardstown, something like that (next season). He’s a stone better on a flat track.”
