Hiddenvalley Lake claimed the Ivy Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in advantageous fashion for coach Henry de Bromhead.
Third to Olly Murphy’s Robust 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 just lately.
Ridden in mid-division by Darragh O’Keeffe, he was certainly one of a number of runners to maneuver into rivalry coming into the house straight, as alongside Jessica Harrington’s Jetara, he joined Robust 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 Robust 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 in regards to the floor however I would say he almost most well-liked it.
“He is a stunning horse, he was solely simply chinned at Ascot. He was disappointing in Gowran the final day, however it’s pretty to have him again.
“We’ll take pleasure in as we speak. I feel Bob Olinger will hopefully be going to Punchestown, however each horses will get an entry and we’ll see nearer the time.
“I would say we’ll persist with hurdles with this horse now. We have tried leaping (fences) a few occasions and he simply did not appear to take to it.”
Murphy mentioned of Robust Chief: “He is run effectively however Sean (Bowen) may be very pissed off as a result of they went no gallop which meant he needed to journey him handier than we needed to.
“In the event that they went a gallop may we now have gained? Perhaps, however one of the best horse gained on the day, he is run a cracker once more.
“We have no excuses bar they went no gallop and we needed to journey him otherwise to regular, however he is run very effectively.
“He is only a actually sturdy stayer they usually did not go fast. He additionally landed on all fours on the second-last which did not assist.
“I am very glad, however you need to win do not you. That is his race, he loves it right here. It is the flat tracks he desires so all being effectively we’ll begin at Wetherby, go to Newbury, in all probability skip Ascot at Christmas and possibly take a look at going to Leopardstown, one thing like that (subsequent season). He is a stone higher on a flat monitor.”
