The 2025 Stayers’ Hurdle, a Grade 1 race over three miles, is the feature event on Cheltenham’s Thursday card. It’s often an open division and has been won by several bigger-priced horses, including 33/1 shot Sire Du Berlais and 50/1 shot Lisnagar Oscar in recent years.
This year, though, defending champion Teahupoo is a very short priced favourite to retain his crown. Here’s a look at his chances, and of those who’ll be trying to cause an upset…
Teahupoo
Trained by Gordon Elliott, Teahupoo enters the race as the defending champion, bettering this third-placed effort in 2023 by securing victory in the 2024 Stayers’ Hurdle. He has ran only once so far this season, finishing a creditable second to Lossiemouth in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at the start of December, but has an exceptional record after a break , so connections have made the decision to keep him fresh for this contest.
He has the benefit of regular jockey Jack Kennedy back on board, who returned to action after recovering from a sixth broken leg in the week before the Festival. He sets a high standard and if able to replicate the form of his win the race last year, will be hard to beat.
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Home By The Lee
Home By The Lee represents the Joseph O’Brien yard and will be having his fourth run in the Stayers Hurdle. His best effort came when beaten 6 lengths into third by Teahupoo last season.
He has won both starts this winter, namely winning the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan and the Grade 1 Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown. That form puts him amongst the best of the rest in the Stayers lineup again, though whether he can turn the tables with Teahupoo remains to be seen.
Lucky Place
A promising novice last season, Lucky Place was one of the few bright sparks for the Nicky Henderson yard at last season’s Festival, finishing an encouraging fourth in the Coral Cup. He’s progressed into a Graded-class performer this term, winning both the Ascot Hurdle and the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham, displaying a most determined attitude on both occasions.
This will be his first try at a staying distance, but he’s an improving and likeable type.
The Wallpark
The Wallpark, also trained by Gordon Elliott, could represent good each-way value. He was a rapid improver in the summer, winning at Kilbeggan and twice at Galway before completing the 4-timer under a big weight in a handicap here at Cheltenham. Stepped up to Grade 1 company on his next start at Ascot, he looked capable of making an even greater impact at the highest level when fourth in the Long Walk at Ascot.
The increased emphasis on stamina at Cheltenham should suit him and he’s certainly arriving on an upward curve.
Other Contenders
Crambo has won back to back renewals of the Long Walk at Ascot, but hasn’t fired on either visit to Cheltenham so far.
Gowel Road has enjoyed a consistent season and won the Cleeve Hurdle, traditionally a major trial for this race, at the course in January, whilst Rocky’s Diamond has also improved out of handicap company in Ireland this season and arrives at Cheltenham after a career-best win in the Galmoy.
Day 3 featured races quick links:
13:30 Turner Novices Chase Tips
14:10 Pertemps Final Tips
14:50 Ryanair Chase Tips
15:30 Stayers Hurdle Tips
16:10 Plate Handicap Tips
16:50 Mares Hurdle Tips
17:30 Kim Muir Tips
Past Analysis
Teahupoo will likely go off favourite and is currently available at 7/4. Recent form is impressive and he’s clearly the one the other 12 runners will be aiming for. They include Sire Du Berlais who as we saw has it in him to take a race like this and at 14/1 should not be overlooked.
Dashel Drasher is another returnee at a price of 18/1, and although in decent form has a lot to do in a field such as this. Emma Lavelle’s Paisley Park still has the pace but others appeal more, and we cannot rule out Gavin Cromwell’s Flooring Porter, winner of this race in 2021 and 2022 and back for another go.
A horse that will attract a lot of support from faithful punters is Noble Yeats, and Emmet Mullins’ horse is one that we like the look of for this under Harry Cobden. 13/2 is a good price for a horse with a real chance of being in the mix when it matters.
Nicky Henderson enters old favourite Champ and many may be tempted to take 28/1 for a place, but he’s not the force he once was.
This is a great race in prospect, and one we are looking forward to very much.
What happened in 2023?
It’s bizarre to say that a two time winner of this race has never gone off favourite and doesn’t look like he will be this year either but Flooring Porter has been rather disappointing this season in his two starts.
He has been given his normal campaign by Gavin Cromwell when starting in the Lismullen over an inadequate trip.
He looked awkward and as if something was amiss when fourth in the Christmas Hurdle. His connections haven’t exactly been bullish coming into this year’s festival when in mid January they said he was 50/50 on regaining his crown but in recent days they have said he’s on target.
He’s shown he’s a difficult ride hanging under pressure and needs to keep quiet going down to the start.
You just have to look at the run-in at last year’s race to show how awkward he can be but Danny Mullins gets on really well with him and will surely have him under control.
Teahuppo has flourished this season and shocked many when winning the Hatton’s Grace beating Honeysuckle & Klassical Dream. He seemed to love the step up to three miles in the Galmoy but that was a disappointing turnout for the race and I didnt think he beat an awful lot.
He’s a lot more progressive than a few in this but the Stayers is normally a stout stamina test and I’m not sure that’s what he wants at this stage of his career.
Blazing Khal is another unexposed rival but it’s not clear if he will be running at the Festival.
He heads the betting for this field after a great return from a long lay off in the Boyne Hurdle. He cut himself that day and has had a few days off to recover but may not make the festival in time.
He won at Cheltenham in November 2021 beating future Grade One winner Gelino Bello.
His novice form even though that strong form line isn’t that good and I’m not sure the form of that last time is that good.
For the reasons above I’m against him.
Home By The Lee has been solid this year when winning the Lismullen & Christmas Hurdle.
He finds plenty of the bridle and needs a fair bit of encouragement but gallops all the way to the line. Connections say he doesn’t like to be crowded so is often ridden wide but in top races such as this it isn’t ideal especially with such a large field this year. If he’s in the right mood I think he will go very close.
I have to give a mention to the 2019 winner, a legend that is Paisley Park who has been better than ever this season winning the Long Walk for the third time but over a different course and distance. Kempton really shouldn’t suit him with sharp turns on a right handed track but cajoled into the race he finished strongly to win nicely.
The Cleeve Hurdle didn’t go his way last time as they went no gallop and it turned into a sprint.
This race looks like it will be a nice gallop which he will love so he could be dangerous over a course and distance he adores.
He’s obviously of value to me.