Gift gallops to Aintree glory

Iris’s Gift followed up his Cheltenham success with victory in the Martell Cognac Laurel Pub Company Liverpool Hurdle on the opening day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree today.

Jonjo O’Neill’s grey had beaten French ace Baracouda at last month’s Festival and another win today was on the cards as soon as he went for home under Barry Geraghty early in the straight.