Stayers' Hurdle 2024 tips and runners guide for Thursday 15:30 Cheltenham
It is a wide open edition of the Stayers’, Thursday’s feature race at Cheltenham
Can a Grand National hero win the Stayers’ Hurdle crown at Cheltenham? Can the former winner Paisley Park regain his crown at 12 years of age.
Can Crambo provide Fergal O’Brien with his first festival winner? Or can the 12 year old Sire Du Berlais provide connections with a fourth festival win as he bids to defend his crown?
All these questions haven’t even touched upon two time winner Flooring Porter, two time Cheltenham Festival winner Sir Gerhard and the rising star and favourite Teahupoo.
In what looks like an action packed Stayers’ Hurdle, there are simply more questions than answers and all will be revealed at 3.30pm on Thursday.
Stayers’ Hurdle Runners
Six of the leading runners for the Stayers’ Hurdle on Thursday at Cheltenham.
Teahupoo
3rd in the race last year, Gordon Elliott’s stable star has a major chance of winning this year’s rendition. Indeed he was only a six-year-old in the race last year, finishing behind an 11 and 10-year-old in a division where strength and maturity means a lot.
This year he took another notable scalp in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse in December. Last year it was Honeysuckle and this year it was unbeaten hurdler Impaire Et Passe.
Gordon Elliott made the call there and then that he would be kept fresh for this race and he comes here with a massive chance having won every start with a 200+ day break. Any more rain will boost his chances further.
Crambo
Crambo’s rise to the staying division has been the quickest of this field. The highlight of last season was his win in Sandown’s EBF final a week before Cheltenham. That race has worked out remarkably well with 4th placed Etalon rising 23lb since, 5th placed Cuthbert Dibble has gone up 14lb since and 6th placed Crebilly is favourite for the Plate later on the card.
This season he had his first run over 3 miles in Haydock’s Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle. Although he only finished 3rd that day, he was giving over a stone to the front two and he was held out the back, presumably ridden to get the trip. Next time out he won the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle beating Paisley Park by a short head who was subsequently 2nd in the Cleeve to boost the form.
He has been kept fresh for this having won first time in his last two seasons and he has a big chance to provide his trainer with his first festival win. His EBF final win was on heavy so any rain won’t blunt his chances.
Noble Yeats
There are no doubts about Noble Yeats’ stamina concerns. The 2022 Grand National hero subsequently won the Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase and was a ‘staying on’ 4th in both last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National itself off a mark of 166. The problem was his jumping which was often sloppy, making him lose his position.
Therefore, it wasn’t too much of a surprise when Emmet Mullins reverted to hurdles this season, a move which eliminates his weakness of jumping. A 2nd over an inadequate 2m 4f was followed by his win in the Cleeve Hurdle beating Paisley Park.
That form is similar to Crambo’s win in the Long Walk and he is arguably equally unexposed in this division. Cobden keeps the ride and he has a massive chance in reapplied cheekpieces.
Sir Gerhard
For a two time Cheltenham Festival winner and a horse trained by Willie Mullins, it may be surprising that Sir Gerhard is nearly a double figure price. After winning the 2022 Ballymore, the son of Jeremy had an interrupted novice chase season last year, running once before being entered into the Brown Advisory.
He jumped poorly that day before making a big mid race move and weakening out of it late on. He reverted to hurdles last time out over 2m 3f beating Thedevilscoachman over 2m 3f in heavy ground. The ground won’t be a problem but I fear the trip will be.
He did win his point over 3 miles but he weakened badly out of the Brown Advisory last year and he’s never previously raced over 3 miles. A doubtful stayer is not something I want for this and he’s opposable.
Flooring Porter
A dual Stayers’ Hurdle winner, the double figure price available for this son of Yeats will be attractive to many. Successful in the 2021 and the 2022 renewals, he was a respectable 4th in the race last year, hanging left up the run in and getting slightly pushed out after the last.
He followed up with a 3rd at Aintree and connections have decided to revert to hurdles after an unsuccessful chase campaign. There is a feeling this front runner was given two tactical rides from the front from Danny Mullins when winning the race but Keith Donoghue has taken over now and will need to be equally astute in the fractions he sets.
Paisley Park
No result would be more popular than the 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle champion regaining his crown on Thursday. Owned by Andrew Gemmell, whose own story is captivating enough, Emma Lavelle’s stable star has continued his form into the twilight of his career.
Now aged 12, it would be no surprise to see connections retire him on the spot with victory in this race. His form this year has seen him come 2nd three times, beaten a head, a short head and a head again. They are in the Long Distance, the Long Walk and the Cleeve with two coming behind Noble Yeats and Crambo, horses with massive chances themselves.
There’s no reason to think this son of Oscar can’t go close again and maybe the bigger field and softer ground can see him given more time to get his head in front.
Stayers’ Hurdle Tips
1pt each-way Noble Yeats @ 8/1
Teahupoo is sure to be popular with many, especially given the recent rain, however I am keen to side with Emmet Mullins’s Noble Yeats. Mullins tends to reapply the cheek pieces on the day of the big race, something he did for Grand National glory in April 2022.
He took the cheek pieces off at the start of the season and that hasn’t stopped him. His win last time out in the Cleeve is amongst the best form, and with him still unexposed in this division, he can go close with the headgear returning. Teahupoo can build on his 3rd last year whilst Crambo, who also beat Paisley Park in the Long Walk, can fill out 3rd.
Stayers’ Hurdle Prediction
Noble Yeats
Teahupoo
Crambo
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