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.
History 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 Home By The Lee in 2026.
Records Most successful horse (4 wins): Big Buck's – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Leading jockey (5 wins): Peter Scudamore – Gaye Chance (1982), Bajan Sunshine (1985), Gaye Brief (1986), Mrs Muck (1987), Pragada (1992)
Leading trainer (5 wins): Martin Pipe – Pragada (1992), Sweet Glow (1994), Galant Moss (1999), Maid Equal (2001), Deano's Beeno (2003)
Winners 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 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 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 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 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 2025 Hiddenvalley Lake 8 Darragh O'Keeffe Henry De Bromhead 2026 Home By The Lee 11 JJ Slevin Joseph O'Brien
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races Recurring sporting events established in 1974 – this race is included under its original title, Long Distance Hurdle.
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
aintree.co.uk – 2010 John Smith's Grand National Media Guide. pedigreequery.com – Liverpool Hurdle (Long Distance Hurdle) – Aintree.