Cheltenham is fast approaching and we’re taking a look at our Festival odds ahead of the renewal and giving you Stayers Hurdle Tips. We’re looking at the favourites, the potential outsiders, trends, top trainers and jockeys and more.
Course and Distance Insights
The Stayers’ Hurdle is:
- Set to take place Thursday 14 March 2024 at 15:30, the 3rd day of the Festival.
- A three miles distance with a total of twelve hurdles to be jumped – a true test of stamina.
- A difficult distance, along with the uneven landscape of Cheltenham’s New Course
- A strenuous uphill finish that assesses the horses’ speed and endurance
- The last two hurdles positioned closely, thereby escalating the difficulty before the uphill finish.
Key Takeaways
- Key contenders for the Stayers’ Hurdle include Teahupoo, Irish Point and Crambo with each showing strong recent performances that favour their potential success in the Cheltenham Festival race.
- Favourites in the Stayers’ Hurdle have a mixed track record, with dark horses like Paisley Park potentially offering better value for bettors, and stable conditions currently do not indicate injury or withdrawal concerns for top contenders.
- Many runners come back to win this race the second time round, like Flooring Porter in 2021 and 2022, Inglis Drever and Baracouda and amazingly Big Bucks won 4 times back to back between 2009 and 2012. Last year’s winner, Sire Du Berlais is in the odds as an outsider.
Stayers Hurdle Tips
The Favourites
Over the past 20 years, favourites have emerged victorious twice, making the race difficult to predict. Many runners have had previous experience at the Stayers Hurdle before winning, for example, Sir Du Berlais placed 2nd in 2021 before winning in 2023.
- Teahupoo – priced at 5/2* and trained by Gordon Elliott, this 7 year old was favourite last year and placed 3rd. They recently ran at Fairy house, winning the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle and beating Impaire et Passe in the process.
- Irish Point – priced at 3/1* and trained by Gordon Elliott, this 6 year old has yet to run at Cheltenham but won the Christmas Hurdle which has led to a lot of eyes being on him. This was the same race that produced Flooring Porter.
- Crambo – priced at 5/1* and trained by Fergal O’Brien, this horse recently won the Howden Long Walk Hurdle and beat Paisley Park.
Dark Horses to Watch
The Stayers’ Hurdle has dark horses that could stun bettors by exceeding expectations and providing substantial value for wagers. Paisley Park, a significant dark horse, has been consistently making each-way claims and has a track record of finishing third in the previous two Stayers’ Hurdle. Even though his performance in the Cleeve Hurdle was not up to the mark, his past achievements should not be dismissed.
Some dark horses to keep an eye on for the upcoming races are:
- Botox Has, trained by Gary Moore, has seen their odds jump from 50/1* to 25/1* after winning at Haydock 17 February.
- Sir Gerhard, who has notable potential for the Stayers’ Hurdle despite previous difficulties over fences, the Willie Mullins trained 9 year old won at Punchestown on 31st December, but hasn’t run anything since.
- Sire Du Berlais, priced at 16/1* and trained by Gordon Elliott, has an excellent record at the Cheltenham Festival despite higher odds. Even though his recent form hasn’t been the best, his solid festival record earmarks him as a potential victor. And as we mentioned previously, it’s not uncommon for horses to win back to back in this race.
Our Analysis on the Stayers Hurdle and Key Trends
The course which has produced the most winners is Cheltenham, with 9 winners running at Cheltenham last time out. The biggest priced winner was Lisnagar Oscar at odds of 50/1 in 2020 and trained by Rebecca Curtis.
A successful pairing of a seasoned trainer and a proficient jockey can markedly affect a horse’s performance in a race. For example, Alan King and jockey Robert Thornton set the fastest winning time in the Stayers’ Hurdle with My Way De Solzen (5:38.20) in 2006.
Paul Nicholls’ Track Record
Paul Nicholls is a trainer who has achieved remarkable success in the Stayers Hurdle. He coached Big Buck to four back-to-back victories from 2009 to 2012, and because of that, he is this race’s leading trainer.
Other Trainers to watch out for
Wille Mullins in next in line with 2 back to back wins coming in the form of Nichols Canyon and Penhill, followed by Jonjo O’Neill with 2 wins and Gavin Cromwell with 2 victories as well.
One trainer worthy of mention is Nicky Henderson, who, unfortunately, despite his prowess overall at the Cheltenham Festival has failed to clinch a win out of his total 17 runners he’s sent to the Stayers Hurdle.
These trends could help inform your betting strategy for the Stayers’ Hurdle, but remember that they can’t guarantee a win. Visit our Safer Gambling Portal for more information on responsible gambling.
Previous Winners
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Nicholls | 18-4-7 | -5.43 | -3.35 |
| W P Mullins | 34-2-7 | -10.00 | -11.66 |
| Jonjo O’Neill | 11-2-2 | +3.00 | -1.80 |
| Gavin Cromwell | 3-2-2 | +15.00 | +8.60 |
| Alan King | 15-1-5 | -6.00 | -3.50 |
| Rebecca Curtis | 6-1-2 | +45.00 | +26.40 |
| Emma Lavelle | 6-1-3 | -3.62 | -2.24 |
| Warren Greatrex | 5-1-1 | +10.00 | +3.00 |
| Gordon Elliott | 4-1-2 | +30.00 | +17.52 |
| C Byrnes | 2-1-1 | +7.50 | +4.10 |
Previous winners of the Stayers Hurdle who return to compete are held in high esteem and merit respect. Some notable winners include:
- Big Buck’s, trained by Paul Nicholls, who won four successive Stayers’ Hurdle victories from 2009 to 2012 guided by Ruby Walsh
- Thistlecrack, trained by Colin Tizzard, who won in 2016
- Paisley Park, trained by Emma Lavelle, who won in 2019 and 2020
Injury Updates and Withdrawals
As of now, there have been no recent injury updates or withdrawals reported for top contenders in the Stayers’ Hurdle. The current stable conditions suggest no immediate concerns for bettors regarding injury or withdrawal-related odds changes. However, bettors need to stay alert for scratches and lineup changes that can occur due to unpredictable weather and last-minute switchups.
Impact of the Ground Conditions
Ground conditions at Cheltenham can change the predicted results at the track. Here are some factors to consider:
- Soft ground conditions tend to benefit horses with a preference for softer terrain.
- Firmer ground conditions may favour those with a solid performance on harder tracks.
- Extended periods of heavy rain or dry weather can lead to drastic changes in ground conditions, demanding an assessment of horses’ abilities to handle such variations.
These changing conditions create betting opportunities by opposing favourites that struggle under extreme ground conditions like heavy or firm ground. You can also consult a horse’s race record to see how they fare on the different types of going.
Betting Offers and Free Bets Opportunities
We’re offering Cheltenham betting offers, including non runner no bet, best odds guaranteed and much more for our customers, as well as the opportunity for new customers to opt in to our welcome offers that come with free bets.
We’re also offering Best Odds Guaranteed, which means we’ll pay out at the bigger price if you take an early price. (18+ Take the Early Price at any UK or Irish Horse Racing or Greyhound Meeting (applies to bets placed on the day of the race between 09:00 & the start of the race) & we’ll pay out at the Starting Price if it’s bigger. Click for T&C’s. begambleaware.org)
How to Claim Free Bets
It’s important to understand the terms and conditions of free bet offers before opting into them as a new customer at BetVictor.
Predictions and Top Picks
Our prime choices for the Stayers’ Hurdle are Teahupoo, and Irish Point, which seem to show the same characteristics as past winners.
We’re publishing Cheltenham betting tips for every race of the festival, with our expert tipster Sam Boswell giving his naps for every day.
*All odds are correct at time of writing and are subject to change.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The top contenders for the Stayers’ Hurdle are Teahupoo, Irish Point and potentially Sire Du Berlais could make a comeback. These horses are expected to be strong challengers in the race.
Age and experience play a crucial role in the Stayers’ Hurdle, with most winners being between 6 and 8 years old and having substantial experience and wins over hurdles.
