Stayers' Hurdle Tips & Predictions
The Stayers' Hurdle is the ultimate test for the best stamina-laden hurdlers around and the Grade 1 will take place on Thursday at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
Shock winners can pop up in this contest, as proven by rank outsiders Lisnagar Oscar (50/1) in 2020 and Sire Du Berlais (33/1) in 2023, but repeat winners are also common, and the last horse to win back-to-back renewals was Flooring Porter (2021 and 2022).
A strong field will go to post for Thursday's 16:00 race. Here are three to keep in mind, including one at big odds.
NAP: Teahupoo @ SP
Teahupoo finished off with a wet sail to see off the attention of Flooring Porter 12 months ago and backed that up with victory at the Punchestown Festival. The current champion is back to defend his crown, and it's hard to see past him.
Gordon Elliott's star has had a very light campaign again with just the one run under his belt, finishing runner-up to Lossiemouth in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December.
Elliott, who also won this race in 2023 with Sire Du Berlais, has another runner in the JP McManus colours this year courtesy of The Wallpark, but he will have to improve on his Long Walk Hurdle fourth to trouble the favourite.
It has been clear that this is the only race that matters to connections of Teahupoo. He goes well fresh and Elliott should have him in tip-top order again.
NB: Home By The Lee @ SP
He's now 10-years-old, but Home By The Lee is now fulfilling the potential his connections always felt he had. Second favourite for the Stayers' Hurdle for some time, he has his best chance of success in this race at the fourth time of asking.
An incredibly difficult horse to break in during his early years, Joseph O'Brien has done an incredible job with him and he put in a career-best performance when landing the Grade 1 Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival.
He can hit a flat spot in his races, but that's not unusual for a top-class stayer. Inglis Drever, Big Buck's and Paisley Park are all Stayers' champions who hit flat spots in their races. If he's in contention as they turn for home, he could lay down a great challenge.
Also consider: Langer Dan @ SP
There's every reason to believe Dan Skelton will have Langer Dan back to somewhere near his best. The nine-year-old has run at the last four Festivals, landing the Coral Cup twice, but the secret is out of the box now with his current mark of 158. That means Skelton had no other option but to throw him into Grade 1 company for this year's Festival and he usually surges into life once the spring sun hits his back.
Beaten a short head into third in a Grade 1 at Aintree last season, there is every chance he could hit the frame at good odds.
View all Cheltenham Festival markets
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation