Ryanair Stayers' Hurdle
Grade 1, Aintree 16:20
£150,000 added,
4yo plus,
3m 149y, Class 1   
Saturday 14th April 2018

Boylesports

1 Identity Thief 14/1
2 Wholestone 7/2
3 Sam Spinner 6/5F
10 ran NR: L'Ami Serge Distances: 5l, 10l, 8l
Time: 6m 20.70s (slow by 26.70s)

Identity Thief wins in the colours of sponsor Michael O’Leary

Identity Thief
© Caroline Norris
Identity Thief
 
Trainer Henry de Bromhead was delighted that Identity Thief's victory justified the decision to move him up in distance to three miles.
 
The Kayf Tara eight-year-old, who is owned by Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud, was fourth in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on his last outing. He was a 14/1 shot today under Sean Flanagan, and beat Wholestone by five lengths. The 6/5 favourite, Sam Spinner, finished third.
 
De Bromhead said: "You have to stay, and we just didn't know whether he did or not. It was Sean's plan, he said he'd love to go three miles, and we said we'd leave him to ride him how he wanted to ride him. Fair play to Sean - it was his suggestion.
 
"We came here for the two and a half mile race [the Betway Aintree Hurdle, where he finished last of six] here last year and rode him positively, and he was disappointing on the day. And then the way he ran in the Champion Hurdle - he sort of stopped midway and then ran on again really well at the end, so we just hoped that the big step up would suit him, and it has. 
 
"We always thought he was a good horse. He won the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, and then rather lost his way over fences, so it is great to have him back. And it's a Ryanair race!"
 
Winning jockey Sean Flanagan, registering his first G1 success in Britain, said: "I was very lucky to ride Identity Thief early in the season and it's great that I've been allowed to stay on him.
 
"He ran well in the Champion Hurdle and was staying on at the end of the race and I thought he could get three miles.
 
"He is such a classy horse that he was able to travel nicely and he stayed on well.
 
"I got a few gaps and he jumped his way there - he did it very easily as he is a very classy horse on his day.
 
"He rides like a very good horse over three miles."

QuinnBet

Liverpool Stayers' Hurdle
£150,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 149y, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Soft

Pos D Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st Identity Thief (IRE) 14/1 S W Flanagan
11-7
H de Bromhead 8
2nd 5 Wholestone (IRE) 7/2 D A Jacob
11-7
N A Twiston-Davies 7
3rd 10 Sam Spinner 6/5f Joe Colliver
11-7
Jedd O'Keeffe 6
4th 8 The Worlds End (IRE) 6/1 P J Brennan
11-7
T R George 7
5th nk Serienschock (GER) 66/1 Ludovic Philipperon
11-7
Miss Alexandra Rosa 10
6th 6 Shelford (IRE) 80/1 Harry Skelton
11-7
D Skelton 9
7th 50 Old Guard 12/1 Harry Cobden
11-7
P F Nicholls 7
PU Coole Cody (IRE) 25/1 T Scudamore
11-7
M Blake 7
PU Lil Rockerfeller (USA) 12/1 T E Whelan
11-7
N B King 7
PU Thomas Campbell 16/1 Nico de Boinville
11-7
N J Henderson 6
NR L'Ami Serge (IRE) Aidan Coleman
11-7
N J Henderson 8