Strong Leader lifts Liverpool Hurdle honours

Freshness was the order of the day as

Strong Leader

landed a telling blow in the JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle at .

Olly Murphy’s seven-year-old had hit the frame on his first attempt at three miles in January’s Cleeve Hurdle and his handler’s decision to skip the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival was rewarded in Liverpool as the mount of Sean Bowen produced a brilliant display.

Towards the rear in the early stages as regular Flooring Porter was disputing the lead with the evergreen Dashel Drasher and King George hero Hewick, Bowen made a notable move aboard Strong Leader heading down the back side on the second circuit, soon joining those towards the head of proceedings.

Buddy One was another to take close order rounding the bend for home, with Jack Gilligan setting sail aboard the Irish raider. But Bowen was holding on to plenty of horse and after powering his way to the front jumping the last, he galloped on to score by four and a quarter lengths at odds of 8-1.

Buddy One bravely kept on for second, with Henry de Bromhead’s Hiddenvalley Lake third, but they were never a match for Strong Leader who gave his trainer just a second Grade One victory after Itchy Feet back in February 2020.

Murphy said: “He's a good horse ad he got a great ride from Sean. He jumped and travelled way better .... It's not often you'll struggle to get words out me but I really, really enjoyed that. We were an unlucky loser yesterday (with Go Dante), but luck was on our side today and the best horse won. It's absolutely magic. I wear my heart on my sleeve and I loved that.

“We missed Cheltenham - he probably should have won the Cleeve Hurdle, and got underneath hurdles for a mile and a half that day, and to go back and run in the Stayers… I’m adamant he doesn’t like Cheltenham, he doesn’t like going up and down the hills enough. We were ballsy enough to leave Cheltenham alone - I wanted to go there as much as anyone; I’ve never had a Festival winner - and save him for today. It’s a flat track, he’s won round here and he just got into a rhythm today. He missed the last badly, but usually your heart is in your mouth for the last mile and a half, and it was only in my mouth for the last two furlongs this time. He’s a very good horse on his day and I’m over the moon.

“Big winners is where you want to be. It’s tough, it’s hard, you’ve got to work hard, you’ve got to get up in the morning, no different to anyone else who trains horses, but if you don’t enjoy days like this, go and do another profession.

“This is the best day I’ve had. I’ve had some good days in my short career so far, but this lad’s a homebred, his owners live 10 minutes down the road from me, they rub his back themselves, they come up and get involved, they have him at home in the summer and it’s a fantastic story. He’s the most gorgeous horse you’ll set your eyes on and a good racehorse as well at the same time. That meant an awful lot to me, and I’m chuffed.

“It’s so hard, training racehorses - the expectation you put on yourself and the expectation they put on you. I love pressure, because it means you are doing well and people expect a lot of you. I thrive off that, but at the same time you have to deliver on the big stage, and it’s taken a while to train my second Grade One winner. We've had some big days along the way, but this proves if you have the animal, you can do it and mix it with the big boys. It’s absolutely fantastic.”

Sean Bowen, won enjoyed a first Grade One success in this race on If The Cap Fits in 2019, told ITV Racing "He's a difficult horse to ride now. He's not straightforward, and he's not a good jumper. I had to pick my way around and try to find a bit of room, and although on the whole he jumped well I had to keep going forward on him as otherwise he'd have been stepping. The last couple he missed, but I didn't want to be there too soon. I didn't want to wing them and go two lengths clear and then get beat. It's brilliant.

"This sits right up there as one of the best (days), and it's great to do it for Olly. He's been such a great supporter of mine for the last few years and we've got a great relationship. He lets me get on with it, and I try to get him get on with it. It works well."

Paul Gilligan, trainer of the runner-up Buddy One, said: “It was an absolutely fantastic run. He was given a peach of a ride by Jack (Gilligan). It is brilliant to be here, and boxing on the big stage as you are in the main arena here.