Sire Du Berlais completed a 75/1 double on the card for JP McManus as he shocked reigning Stayers’ Hurdle champion Flooring Porter in the JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.
A 16-1 chance for Gordon Elliott and Mark Walsh, Sire Du Berlais looked up against it as dual Cheltenham Festival victor Flooring Porter set out to make all in the Grade One in the hands of Danny Mullins.
All appeared to be going to plan for the 11-8 favourite as Mullins built up an early advantage before giving Flooring Porter a bit of a breather ahead of the run for home.
Thyme Hill and Molly Ollys Wishes tried their best to keep pace but could not go on as Flooring Porter kicked, leaving Sire Du Berlais the only credible challenger in the hands of Walsh.
The pair were locked in battle at the last, jumping in unison, although Flooring Porter landed a little awkwardly and had to be put straight again by Mullins, losing a touch of momentum in the process.
Sire Du Berlais eventually made that advantage count and while he did drift to the rail, slightly checking Flooring Porter in the process, he eventually came home a length and three-quarters to the good. Champ kept on for third, beaten 20 lengths, with Thomas Darby a head back in fourth.
Elliott said: “He’s tough. We thought he’d run well in the Pertemps at Cheltenham (11th) but that race just didn’t work out for him.
“That’s great, and I think the long straight really helped him as he got into a lovely rhythm and he jumped great.
“I don’t know about Punchestown, we’ll enjoy today and see what happens.
“I suppose it is a bit of a surprise but that’s the game we’re in. I’d say the better ground helped him.”
Flooring Porter’s trainer Gavin Cromwell was philosophical in defeat, with next year’s Festival and a Stayers’ Hurdle hat-trick on the agenda.
He said: “I thought he was a bit gassy and fresh going to the start and then again in the race itself.
“He got beat, but that’s racing, and he was a length and three-quarters down at the line.
“I hope we can bring him back to Cheltenham for another crack at the Stayers’ next season.”
Champ finished one place better than at Cheltenham, although he was beaten four lengths by Flooring Porter on that occasion.
His trainer Nicky Henderson said: “He stayed on well from a fair way back. He’s entered in Ireland (Punchestown) but we’ll have to see.”
It came after the McManus-owned Gentleman De Mee created a minor surprise as he lifted the Poundland Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree.
Arkle winner Edwardstone was widely expected to follow up his Cheltenham Festival success in this Grade One contest, being sent off the 4-7 favourite for Alan King.
However, he proved no match for the Willie Mullins-trained winner, who raced generously throughout for Mark Walsh as he took a big step up from wide-margin wins at Thurles and in a Navan Grade Three.
Third Time Lucki briefly looked like challenging after Harry Skelton did well to recover a lost iron, but he dropped away in the straight, leaving Edwardstone and Gentleman De Mee to slug it out.
There was only one winner though, as Gentleman De Mee kicked on again at the last, coming home four and a half lengths clear with Dan Skelton’s Third Time Lucki another 11 lengths back in third.
Mullins said: “I think the Arkle winner, having been to Cheltenham and we didn’t, maybe didn’t have the freshness we had. I was hoping our freshness might be the right card to play and it looked like that.
“Mark gave him a brilliant ride, he got him out, got him jumping and even gave him a breather when he made a mistake at the fourth-last. Mark felt he was always in charge.
“He’s just improved the last six to eight weeks, I think the change of tactics have helped, rather than holding him up and getting beaten like he was early in the season. He’s maturing and growing into himself.
“It looks like there’s more to come. We’ll see about Punchestown, we’ll see how he comes out of this. I think he’s a Champion Chase horse.”
Mullins did have the ante-post favourite for the Arkle in Ferny Hollow until injury curtailed his season once more.
“He’s good,” said Mullins. “He had a vet check the other day and everything is going well. He’ll be back next season and hopefully he’ll get a bit of time out at grass first.”
King was not downhearted in defeat, although he felt the fact Edwardstone was having his seventh start of the year while Gentleman De Mee was having his fifth might have been key.
He said: “All through the week I was getting afraid of the winner who was only 3lb behind us and had an easier prep.
“There are no regrets, because if you look at Dan’s horse (Third Time Lucki), we have run our race.
“I’m thrilled with him, and would think the Shloer might be the first target next season.”
Skelton was similarly satisfied with Third Time Lucki, who was finishing behind Edwardstone for a third time this season.
He said: “It’s a shame that he hit the cross fence, but he soon was back on the bridle.
“He’s had a great first year over fences and seen a lot of the back of Edwardstone. His campaign will remain at two miles when he comes back next season.”
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