Cheltenham Festival: Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle Betting Preview
As we look ahead to Thursday’s feature race we will preview all the likely players and provide the very best race odds and Cheltenham Festival free bet offers
The feature race on day three of the Cheltenham Festival is the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle. Contested over a distance of 3 miles, the Stayers’ Hurdle is the UK’s most prestigious long-distance hurdle race on their National Hunt calendar. As we look ahead to Thursday’s feature race we will preview all the likely players and provide the very best race odds and Cheltenham Festival free bet offers from our betting partners at NAGS Bet.
The Stayers’ Hurdle was first contested as the Stayers Selling Hurdle back in 1912 and has been won by some iconic horses in recent times. Baracouda won twice in 2002 and 2003 whilst Inglis Drever won three renewals in 2005, 2007 and 2008. The Paul Nicholls-trained Big Buck’s won the race for a record four straight years between 2009 and 2012.
Returning race winners
Several previous Stayers’ Hurdle winners will be back at the Cheltenham Festival again this year hoping to regain their crown. Paisley Park (winner in 2019), two-time winner, Flooring Porter and last year’s race winner, Sire Du Berlais will all line up on Thursday. Flooring Porter looks most likely to win out of the trio.
Market leaders
For the second year running, Teahupoo is likely to line up as the bookies’ favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle. The Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old had to settle for third last year but he warmed up for this year’s Cheltenham Festival with an impressive Grade 1 win ahead of Impaire Et Passe and Ashroe Diamond at Fairyhouse in December.
Crambo is also set to be a major player on Thursday on what is set to be his first ever run at Prestbury Park. Crambo has already landed a Grade 1 this season as he heads to Cheltenham on the back of victory in Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle in December. A couple of Stayers’ Hurdle entries finished behind Crambo at Ascot with Paisley Park second and Dashel Drasher back in third.
Noble Yeats is an intriguing entry having won over C&D in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle in January. 2022 Aintree Grand National winner, Noble Yeats ran on for fourth in last year’s Gold Cup before also finishing fourth in the Grand National. Noble Yeats is one of three big chances this week for trainer, Emmet Mullins along with Corbetts Cross on Tuesday and It’s On The Line on Friday.
Each-way claims
Sire Du Berlais won the race at 33/1 last year so don’t be afraid to check out the lower ends of the betting markets ahead of the Stayers’ Hurdle on Thursday. Asterion Forlonge kept on well for second place behind Irish Point in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown and despite never winning beyond 2m5f, the improving conditions could bring Willie Mullins’ ten-year-old right into contention for a place at least.
Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle odds
| Odds | |
|---|---|
| Teahupoo | 2/1 |
| Crambo | 5/1 |
| Noble Yeats | 8/1 |
| Flooring Porter, Sir Gerhard, Monkfish | 10/1 |
| Paisley Park, Home By The Lee | 14/1 |
| Sire Du Berlais | 20/1 |
| Buddy One | 25/1 |
| Dashel Drasher, Champ, Janidil | 33/1 |
| Beacon Edge | 40/1 |
| Asterion Forlonge, Da Capo Glory | 50/1 |
| Proschema | 66/1 |
Deposit and bet £10 and get a £10 free bet to use on any market. Simple!
Claim here Review & Details