2023 Stayers' Hurdle Tips: Best bets for Thursday's feature race

The feature race slot on Thursday is of course at 15:30 and sees the best staying hurdlers around clash in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle. Here at HorseRacing.net we have sifted through our Cheltenham tipsand highlighted the most tipped selections in the race, the biggest priced selection from the presspack and given our opinion on the best bet too. As well as this, we've got you covered with all the stats and trends you need for the race...

The Stayers’ Hurdle is the feature race on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival, which is traditionally the Thursday. A Grade One contest, the Stayers’ Hurdle is run on the old course over a distance of just shy of three miles (two miles, seven furlongs and 213 yards). Many iconic names have claimed the race over the years, none more so than Big Bucks who is the record holder with four wins.     

Gavin Cromwell's Flooring Porter retained his Stayers' Hurdle crown in tremendous fashion in 2022, as the 4/1 chance outclassed the staying-on British duo of Thyme Hill and Paisley Park. Danny Mullins has given the front runner a masterful ride in both 2021 and 2022 to claim glory off the front end, and he will undoubtedly look to do the same again in the 2023 renewal. The problem for his backers is that he has been poor this season and is coming to the Festival with an interrupted preparation. Blazing Khal and Teahupoo are jousting for favouritism and the latter named will love how soft the ground has turned, while Home By The Lee cannot be ruled out for Joseph O'Brien after a brilliant season. Paisley Park winning would bring the house down, while Gold Tweet is a lively contender for France in an open renewal. 

Here are the latest trends and statistics for the Stayers' Hurdle.

Stayers' Hurdle Key Trends

• Two of the last 10 winners have been sent off favourite
• Five of the last 10 winners have been sent off an SP of 10/1 or bigger
• There have been five UK and five Irish-trained winners of the Stayers' Hurdle in the last 10 renewals.
• Five of the last 10 winners had won their race before going on to win the Stayers' Hurdle

As expected in such an open race, nearly every contender has been tipped at least once on our racecards. The horse with the most pundits backing him with six however is Blazing Khal for Charles Byrnes. He is undoubtedly one of the most talented runners in here and will find the stamina test and soft ground absolutely no bother at all, the only worry is if he will bounce after winning the Boyne Hurdle recently on his reappearance from a long absence.

Gold Tweet is being nibbled in the market and has been tipped by five tipsters at 11/1, while Home By The Lee has been sided with by four. The three horses mentioned are the only ones chosen as a Nap on the Naps table leaderboard today, with Blazing Khal and Gold Tweet having four pundits pick them as their best bet while Home By The Lee has two Nap votes. 

Both available at 50/1 at the time of writing, Sire Du Berlais and Dashel Drasher have both received a vote as the winner by tipsters on our site. James Stevens of the West Country publication is backing Dashel Drasher to claim the Stayers' Hurdle for Jeremy Scott, and the front runner would be a popular winner because he wears his heart on his sleeve and always runs his race. Sire Du Berlais has been tipped by Ben Hutton at Spotlight and he is banking on this veteran's cracking Cheltenham Festival record seeing him home at the age of eleven.

In a race packed with potential winners and loveable rogues, we like the look of HOME BY THE LEE for Joseph O'Brien to land the Stayers' Hurdle. He has been a totally different beast this season compared to last, when he was an inexperienced six year old who finished sixth in this race, and his form stacks up against anything in the race.

Blazing Khal has to rate as the danger due to his reputation but he is so fragile and ran recently so could flop, while Gold Tweet is respected for France and could be the each-way play.

The Best Betting Sites to bet on the Stayers' Hurdle

Paddy Power - The Pros and Cons of Paddy Power for Betting on the Stayers' Hurdle

Paddy Power have a new sign-up offer of Bet £20 & Get It Back As Cash If It Loses. T&Cs Apply.

• Paddy Power are offering a free bet for day three of the Cheltenham Festival, which can be used on the Stayers' Hurdle
• Paddy Power have an excellent sign-up offer that can be used in conjunction with the Stayers' Hurdle