Cheltenham Stayers Hurdle Preview
The high-quality jumping action continues on St. Patricks Thursday at the Cheltenham Festival, with Day 3 serving up another trio of Grade 1 contests for our punting pleasure. The Turners Chase and Ryanair Chase have plenty to recommend them, but the traditional highlight of the day is the Stayers Hurdle, which sees the best of the stamina-laden performers locking horns over three miles.
Barring the Champion Hurdle, none of the week's major events looks easy to call on paper, but possibly the toughest to predict of all is this event. Here we take a look at the likely contenders for glory in one of the most wide-open Grade 1 contests of the meeting.
All prices quoted are with William Hill
Former Champions Back For More: Flooring Porter 6/1 & Paisley Park 14/1
This race is no stranger to a repeat winner, and this year we have two former champs in the field. Of that duo, the most likely to have his name up in lights once more is the Gavin Cromwell-trained Flooring Porter. Successful in 2021 and 2022, if he wins again this year, he will join the legendary Big Bucks as the only horse to land three consecutive editions. He has been beaten in his two prep races, but that was also the case 12 months ago, and it didn’t stop him from roaring to a 2¾l success.
It was back in 2019 that the Emma Lavelle trained Paisley Park bagged this prize. He has tried and failed to reclaim the title three times since, but if judged on the best of his efforts this season, he may not be done with quite yet. Too good for the field in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton in December, he may not be far away if in the same sort of form here.
New Contenders in the Mix: Blazing Khal 3/1 & Teahupoo 4/1
The Charles Byrnes-trained Blazing Khal hasn’t enjoyed the most conventional of preparations, having run just once in the previous 460 days. However, that hasn’t prevented the seven-year-old from making his way to the top of the market. Now a perfect four from four over hurdles, his comeback win in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan was an impressive effort following such a prolonged absence from the track. A course and distance winner here back in December of 2021, this classy operator looks to boast strong claims.
In what looks like a strong race for the Irish, another runner not to be underestimated is the Gordon Elliott representative Teahupoo. A talented performer over 2m, with wins at Grade 2 and Grade 3 level, the son of Masked Marvel nevertheless proved just shy of top class over the minimum trip. However, it seems that stamina may be his forte. Stepped up to 2m3½f for the first time in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, he promptly bagged the first Grade 1 of his career. Pushed out further to 3m½f last time out at Gowran Park, he thrust his hat firmly into the ring for this with a resounding 15-length romp. A soft ground lover, his chance increases with every drop of rain that falls.
Others to Consider
Nicky Henderson’s Marie’s Rock (4/1 BetUK) would rate an interesting contender if taking up this assignment ahead of a defence of her Mares Hurdle crown. The trip provides a slight question mark, but this mare possesses a potent turn of foot and would receive a useful 7lb from the boys.
Or how about a win for the French? Gabriel Leenders’ Gold Tweet (14/1 William Hill) caused a shock when travelling over to land the Cleeve Hurdle at this track in January – with Paisley Park amongst those in behind. There didn’t look to be any fluke about that display as he travelled smoothly unto contention before pulling clear after the last. Likely to be supplemented for the race, he may hand our Gallic cousins a first success in the race since Baracouda in 2003.
Race Prediction
- 1st - Blazing Khal
- 2nd - Marie’s Rock
- 3rd - Flooring Porter
More Cheltenham Festival Articles
Cheltenham Gold Cup Preview 2023
Cheltenham Champion Hurdle Preview
Cheltenham Queen Mother Champion Chase Preview
Top 20 Betting Offers
|
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. £10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place). Receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on a selected game within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply Gambleaware.org. Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
18+ New customers only. Opt in and bet up to £40 (min. £20) via mobile or app on any football (odds 1/1+) within 7 days of registration. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets, which expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly |
|||||
|
Offer valid for new BetTom customers. 50% of first day losses refunded as a free bet up to £25. Credited within 24 hours. 35x wagering requirement applies to free spins. Maximum takeout is £50 from free spins. 18+ Full terms apply. begambleware. |
|||||
|
Offer valid for new Betgoodwin customers aged 18 years and over. Min qualifying stake £10 at odds of 6/4+. Excludes horse & greyhound racing. Min 4 legs at odds of 2/5+ for £10 free acca. Full Terms apply. begambleaware |
|||||
|
New players. Choose bonus at signup / use code SPORT. Wager deposit+bonus 8x. Max bet = bonus. Deposit used 1st. Early withdrawals void bonus. Valid 60 days. Odds, bet & payment limits. T&Cs apply. 18+. |
|||||
|
T&Cs apply. 18+ New customers only. You must place a single win-only bet of £10 or more with odds of evens (2.00) or greater to qualify. Money back as £10 in free bets. Free bet is credited the day after the qualifying bet has settled. Must use code B10G10 when creating an account. |
|||||
|
18+ New Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. 1st Deposit & Bet £/€10+ at min odds 1/2 on Sports within 14 days of account reg & Get 4x £10 Free Bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days) Max 1 Free Bet per player. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
18+, UK only. Deposit and place a £10 cash bet at single or accumulated odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater and we will give you £10 in free bets. Free bets credited as 4 x £5 Void or 'Draw No Bet' wagers do not qualify for this promotion. Available once per customer. Free bets will be credited at bet settlement and will expire 7 days after being credited. Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
18+. New UK & ROI customers only . Certain deposit methods & bet types excl . Min first £10 win or E/W bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 & get 4 x £10 free bets . Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions + T&C apply |
|||||
|
New Customers Only. To qualify, deposit and place a minimum £10 bet on any sport. Then, place two additional qualifying bets, each worth at least 50% of your largest initial stake. Quinnbet will credit your account with a Free Bet up to £25, the following day 18+ T&Cs Apply. Gamble Responsibly. |
|||||
|
*New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. Virtuals) 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+ |
|||||
|
New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accepted in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+ |
|||||
|
18+ | GambleAware.org | New accounts only. Min Deposit £10, Claim offer within 7 days, bonus expires after 30 days, debit card or instant bank transfer only. Game contributions vary, max stake applies. Full terms apply. #AD |
|||||
|
Place a £10 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2 and get 3 x £10 free fixed odds bets, 3 x £5 Total Goals football spread bets and 3 x £5 Winning Favourites spread bets and a £1 racing Race Index spread bet.18+. Full T&Cs apply. www.gambleaware.org. |
|||||
|
#AD | Welcome bonus for new players only | Maximum bonus is 100% up to £100 | Min. deposit is £10 | No max cash out | Wagering is 40x bonus | Maximum bet with an active bonus is £5 | Eligibility is restricted for suspected abuse | Skrill & Neteller deposits excluded for welcome bonus | Cashback when offered, applies to deposits where no bonus is included | Cashback is cash with no restrictions | T&C's apply |Free bet: Min odds: 2.0 - Free bet value will be deducted from free bet winnings | 18+ | BeGambleAware.org | Gambling is addictive, please gamble responsibly! |
|||||
|
New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. |
|||||
|
18+. BeGambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Min £10 debit card deposit. Place a £10+ bet at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days. Opt in for £20 sports free bet and £20 Casino Bonus. Valid for 7 days. Geographical restrictions and T&C’s apply. #AD |
|||||
|
New sportsbook customers only. Place £10 first bet at min odds 1/2 to get £20 Free Bet. Stake not returned. Free Bet valid 7 days, min odds 1/2. Settled bets only. One welcome offer per customer (not with 50% Net Loss Refund). 18+. Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 at odds 2.00+ within 10 days, no cashout. Get 6x £5 Free Bets, set events at odds 2.00+. 7 day bonus expiry. Click for T&Cs. Please Gamble Responsibly. |



