The Liverpool Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and ½ furlong (3 miles and 149 yards, or 4,964 metres), and during its running there are thirteen hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year at the Grand National meeting in early April.

Liverpool Hurdle
Grade 1 race
LocationAintree Racecourse
Merseyside, England
Inaugurated1974
Race typeHurdle race
SponsorJRL Group
WebsiteAintree
Race information
Distance3m 149y (4,964 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and up
Weight10 st 8 lb (4yo);
11 st 7 lb (5yo+)
Allowances
7 lb for fillies and mares
Purse£250,000 (2022)
1st: £140,325
Liverpool Hurdle
2024
Black, emerald green diamond, diamonds on sleeves, pink cap White, maroon star, striped sleeves, yellow cap, emerald green diamond Pink and white (halved), black sleeves, black cap, pink star
Strong Leader Buddy One Hiddenvalley Lake
Previous years
2023
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Light blue, orange epaulets Black, white sleeves, black cap, white diamond
Sire Du Berlais Marie's Rock Flooring Porter
2022
EMERALD GREEN, YELLOW hoops, EMERALD GREEN cap, WHITE star Black, white sleeves, black cap, white diamond Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
Sire Du Berlais Flooring Porter Champ
2021
Purple, emerald green hoop, checked sleeves, white cap Pink, royal blue chevron, halved sleeves, royal blue cap Dark blue, light blue hoop, checked sleeves and cap
Thyme Hill Roksana Thomas Darby
2020-2011
2019
Dark blue and yellow (quartered), striped sleeves Pink, royal blue chevron, halved sleeves, royal blue cap Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap
If The Cap Fits Roksana Apple's Jade
2018
Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Orange, dark blue armlets
Identity Thief Wholestone Sam Spinner
2017
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap Cerise
Yanworth Supasundae Snow Falcon
2016
Orange, black triple diamond, chevrons on sleeves Black and beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap
Thistlecrack Shaneshill Prince of Scars
2015
Dark blue and white diabolo, hooped sleeves and cap Dark green and orange (quartered), dark green sleeves, hooped cap navy blue cap, Orange with 3 navy blue stars on sleeves and one large navy blue star on the front
Whisper Cole Harden Un Temps Pour Tout
2014
Dark blue and white diabolo, hooped sleeves and cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star
Whisper At Fishers Cross Thousand Stars
2013
Mauve, white disc, white cap, mauve spots White, mauve stars Grey and maroon diamonds, grey sleeves
Solwhit Holywell Smad Place
2012
Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap Maroon and white (quartered), checked sleeves and cap Light blue, brown star, diabolo on sleeves and star on cap
Big Buck's Crack Away Jack Across The Bay
2011
Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap Purple, yellow triple diamond, yellow sleeves, red armlets, red cap Red, dark blue chevron, halved sleeves, quartered cap
Big Buck's Grands Crus Won in the Dark
2010-2001
2010
Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap White, light blue and white check sleeves, light blue cap White, black braces, black sleeves, white stars, black cap, white star
Big Buck's Souffleur Possol
2009
Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap Dark blue, white armlets Black and light blue (quartered), black sleeves, white cap
Big Buck's Mighty Man Fair Along
2008
Royal Blue, Yellow chevrons, Yellow sleeves, Royal Blue spots, Yellow cap Red, yellow epaulets Black and beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap
Blazing Bailey Faasel Inglis Drever
2007
Dark blue, white armlets White, mauve stars Black And Beige Halved, Chevrons on Sleeves, Red Cap
Mighty Man Black Jack Ketchum Inglis Drever
2006
Dark blue, white armlets Red, White sleeves, Red spots, Brown cap Beige and black halved, black chevrons on sleeves, beige cap
Mighty Man My Way de Solzen No Refuge
2005
Black, white seams, checked sleeves, quartered cap Red, White epaulets, Emerald Green sleeves, White armlets and cap BLACK, red hollow box, check cap
Monet's Garden Mr Ed Tumbling Dice
2004
Mauve, Black sash, Yellow sleeves and cap Beige and black halved, black chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Green, white sash, red cap, white spots
Iris's Gift Royal Rosa Aine Dubh
2003
Dark blue, white sleeves, dark blue diamonds, white cap, dark blue diamonds Royal blue and orange (quartered); blue sleeves and cap with orange diamond Mauve and yellow check, yellow sleeves
Deano's Beeno Frosty Canyon Stromness
2002
Claret, grey disc and armlets, quartered cap Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap Emerald Green and Maroon (quartered), halved sleeves, Emerald Green cap
Spendid Brother Joe Carlovent
2001
Red, light blue chevron, orange cap Dark Blue and Yellow stripes, White sleeves and cap Yellow and black chevrons, yellow sleeves, hooped cap
Maid Equal Anzum Merry Masquerade
2000-1991
2000
Black and White diamonds, diabolo on sleeves Orange, black star and sleeves, orange cap, black star Royal Blue, large Red spots, Royal Blue sleeves, Red spots, Red cap
Teaatral Rubhahunish Audacter
1999
Emerald Green and Maroon (quartered), halved sleeves, Emerald Green cap Purple, yellow diamonds on sleeves, quartered cap Emerald green, white hoops and sleeves, orange cap
Galant Moss Lord Jim Paddy's Return
1998
Royal Blue, Yellow striped sleeves, Royal Blue cap, Yellow star Dark blue, emerald green armlets and cap Light blue, maroon chevron, halved sleeves, light blue and maroon quartered cap
Marello Gysart Ocean Hawk
1997
Red, pale green cap Emerald green, pink seams, pink cap Yellow, red stars on body, green cap
Trainglot Pleasureland Sassiver
1996
Purple, grey seams, white sleeves, purple cap Pink, purple cross belts, hooped sleeves, purple cap Red, light blue hoop
Pleasure Shared Seekin Cash Gillan Cove
1995
Yellow, black epaulets, white sleeves, yellow cap, black star BLACK and WHITE HOOPS, emerald green cap, white star White, Red epaulets and armlets, Red and Yellow check cap
Cab on Target Bokaro Spring Marathon
1994
White, green epaulets, yellow and green quartered cap Orange and blue (quartered), white sleeves, blue cap, orange star Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap
Sweet Glow Avro Anson Time for a Run
1993
Blue, white triple diamond, white sleeves, blue armlets, white diamond on cap MAROON, light blue slvs, light blue cap, maroon diamond Orange and blue (quartered), white sleeves, blue cap, orange star
Sweet Duke Burgoyne Avro Anson
1992
Green, yellow chevrons, white sleeves and cap Blue and red check, blue sleeves, red cap Red, black epaulets, halved sleves; black cap
Pragada Trapper John Sweet Glow
1991
Dark Blue and White check, Dark Blue sleeves, White cap, Dark Blue star Yellow, dark blue spots, dark blue sleeves, yellow spots, yellow cap Red, red and Royal blue check cap
Mole Board Yaheeb Upton Park
1990-1988
1990
White, purple disc, striped sleeves, purple cap DARK BLUE and WHITE DIABOLO, striped cap Maroon, light blue star and sleeves, light blue cap, maroon star
Battalion Maelkar Old Dundalk
1988
Red, black chevrons on body Emerald green, yellow chevrons, white sleeves and cap Yellow, brown stripes on body, stars on cap
Gaye Brief Pragada Ruby Flight
 

History

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The event was established in 1974, and it was originally held at Ascot. During the first part of its history it was called the Long Distance Hurdle, and it was initially contested over 3 miles. For a period it was classed at Grade 2 level.

The race was transferred to Aintree in 2004, and since then it has been named after the nearby city of Liverpool. Its original distance has been extended by 110 yards.

The Liverpool Hurdle was promoted to Grade 1 status in 2010, and it currently takes place on the final day of the three-day Grand National meeting. Prior to 2013 it was the opening race on the first day of the meeting.

The field usually includes horses which ran previously in the Stayers' Hurdle, and the last to win both races in the same year was Sire du Berlais in 2023.

Records

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Most successful horse (4 wins):

Leading jockey (5 wins):

  • Peter ScudamoreGaye Chance (1982), Bajan Sunshine (1985), Gaye Brief (1986), Mrs Muck (1987), Pragada (1992)

Leading trainer (5 wins):

  • Martin PipePragada (1992), Sweet Glow (1994), Galant Moss (1999), Maid Equal (2001), Deano's Beeno (2003)

Winners

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Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer
1974 Moyne Royal 9 Jeff King Arthur Pitt
1975 Lanzarote 7 Richard Pitman Fred Winter
1976 Good Prospect 7 Andrew Turnell John Edwards
1977 Mark Henry 6 Tommy Stack Bill Elsey
1978 Flame Gun 6 Niall Madden[a] Edward O'Grady
1979 Prominent King 7 Jonjo O'Neill Peter Easterby
1980 Derring Rose 5 Andrew Turnell Alan Jarvis
1981 Shell Burst 6 Hywel Davies Les Kennard
1982 Gaye Chance 7 Peter Scudamore Mercy Rimell
1983 Sandalay 5 Paul Charlton Peter Cundell
1984 Alastor O Mavros 5 Hywel Davies Josh Gifford
1985 Bajan Sunshine 6 Peter Scudamore Martin Tate
1986 Gaye Brief 9 Peter Scudamore Mercy Rimell
1987 Mrs Muck 6 Peter Scudamore Nigel Twiston-Davies
1988 Gaye Brief 11 Dermot Browne Mercy Rimell
1989 no race 1989 [b]
1990 Battalion 6 Ben de Haan Charlie Brooks
1991 Mole Board 9 Jamie Osborne Jim Old
1992 Pragada 9 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe
1993 Sweet Duke 6 Carl Llewellyn Nigel Twiston-Davies
1994 Sweet Glow 7 Richard Dunwoody Martin Pipe
1995 Cab on Target 9 Peter Niven Mary Reveley
1996 Pleasure Shared 8 Warren Marston Philip Hobbs
1997 Trainglot 10 Richard Dunwoody Jimmy FitzGerald
1998 Marello 7 Peter Niven Mary Reveley
1999 Galant Moss 5 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
2000 Teaatral 6 Dean Gallagher Charles Egerton
2001 Maid Equal 10 Tom Scudamore[a] Martin Pipe
2002 Spendid 10 Warren Marston Alan King
2003 Deano's Beeno 11 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
2004 Iris's Gift 7 Barry Geraghty Jonjo O'Neill
2005 Monet's Garden 7 Tony Dobbin Nicky Richards
2006 Mighty Man 6 Richard Johnson Henry Daly
2007 Mighty Man 7 Richard Johnson Henry Daly
2008 Blazing Bailey 6 Robert Thornton Alan King
2009 Big Buck's 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2010 Big Buck's 7 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2011 Big Buck's 8 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2012 Big Buck's 9 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2013 Solwhit 9 Paul Carberry Charles Byrnes
2014 Whisper 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2015 Whisper 7 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson
2016 Thistlecrack 8 Tom Scudamore Colin Tizzard
2017 Yanworth 7 Barry Geraghty Alan King
2018 Identity Thief 8 Sean Flanagan Henry de Bromhead
2019 If The Cap Fits 7 Sean Bowen Harry Fry
no race 2020 [c]
2021 Thyme Hill 7 Tom O'Brien Philip Hobbs
2022 Sire Du Berlais 10 Mark Walsh Gordon Elliott
2023 Sire Du Berlais 11 Mark Walsh Gordon Elliott
2024 Strong Leader 7 Sean Bowen Olly Murphy
  1. ^ a b amateur jockey
  2. ^ The 1989 running was abandoned because of snow
  3. ^ The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Coronavirus: Horse racing in Great Britain suspended until end of April". BBC Sport. 17 March 2020.