3.05 3m. 149yds. 12 Declared. Jet2 Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1 ) of £250,000.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €140,325.00 2nd - €52,775.00 3rd - €26,375.00 4th - €13,175.00 5th - €6,625.00 6th - €3,300.00 7th - €1,700.00 8th - €900.00 9th - €500.00 10th - €250.00
Formscan - A fine renewal of this illustrious contest, not least because last year's one-two Hiddenvalley Lake and Strong Leader lock horns again. Shock Stayers' Hurdle winner Home By The Lee bids to be the first veteran to win this since the classy Sire Du Berlais in 2022 and 2023, whilst the impressive BetMGM Cup victor Jingko Blue deserves to take his chance at this level and must not be underestimated. Stable companion Impose Toi was pulled up in the Stayers' but he did land the Long Walk at Ascot in December. The fact he isn't even near the top of the betting market currently shows just how competitive this is, so it isn't much of a surprise that only a tentative vote can go to HONESTY POLICY. Gordon Elliott's charge has work to do to reverse form with a few of these but it the way in which he travelled into the contest at Cheltenham was taking. Last year's Mersey success still lives fresh in the memory so returning to a flatter track will be no bad thing and if a first-time tongue-tie can work the oracle, he may well take a significant step forward.