For sponsorship reasons, the Liverpool Hurdle is referred to as the Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle, a Grade 1 race at the Aintree Grand National Festival. This race is open to horses aged four and older. The course runs over a distance of three miles and half a furlong with 13 fences for the horses to jump.
The race takes place in early April each year at the Aintree race track and it has done so since 2004. Initially called the Long Distance hurdle when established in 1974, it was classified as a Grade 2 level race until 2010.
| Date | 9th of April, 2021 |
| Start Time (GMT) | 15:35 |
| Distance | 3m ½f |
| Type | Steeplechase |
| Prize | £150,000 |
| Where to Watch | |
| Horses’ Age | 4 + |
Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle: Recent Winners
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2021 | Thyme Hill | Tom O’Brien | Philip Hobbs |
| 2020 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2019 | If The Cap Fits | Sean Bowen | Harry Fry |
| 2018 | Identity Thief | Sean Flanagan | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2017 | Yanworth | Barry Geraghty | Alan King |
| 2016 | Thistlecrack | Tom Scudamore | Colin Tizzard |
Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle 2021 Tips, Predictions and Previews
Note: the tips below refer to the 2021 Grand National Festival; updated previews will be available on the week of the 2022 Festival.
The third clash this season of Paisley Park and THYME HILL didn’t happen at Cheltenham, the latter ruled out with a minor setback. Emma Lavelle’s charge was a laboured third in the Cotswolds and may fall behind his old foe now, with Thyme Hill primed to take revenge for a narrow defeat in Ascot’s Long Walk on heavy ground in December when he perhaps committed too soon. He’s on the up, whereas Paisley Park is perhaps past his peak on last month’s evidence. If The Cap Fits won this in 2019, narrowly, from Roksana. Dan Skelton’s mare could have a big say again.
Selection: Thyme Hill @ 9/4
Previous Race: Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle
Next Race: Handicap Steeplechase
