Reigning Stayers’ Hurdle champion Teahupoo is a red-hot favourite to retain the 3m Grade 1 prize on day three of the Cheltenham Festival, and Gordon Elliott’s raider looks the standout candidate to land the feature race of the day on Thursday 13th March, 2025. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers previews the race here and picks out his 1-2-3 for the race.
TEAHUPOO
(Jack Kennedy/Gordon Elliott)
A comfortable three-and-three-quarter length winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle last season, Teahupoo is a red-hot favourite to emulate the likes of Big Buck’s and most recently Flooring Porter by winning back-to-back renewals of the contest. He followed his Cheltenham romp with a fine win at the Punchestown Festival to emphasise the fact that he’s the premier staying hurdler in Britain and Ireland.
He’s only been seen once this season, where he was well beaten by Lossiemouth in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, but that form was franked on Tuesday and over an inadequate two-and-a-half miles he will relish the step back up to three miles here. The proven class act in the field, Gordon Elliott’s charge will go off a short price for the event, but he’s undoubtedly the flagbearer in this division and he’s going to be awfully tough to beat.
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HOME BY THE LEE
(J J Slevin/Joseph O’Brien)
Fifth in the 2023 Stayers’ Hurdle, Home By The Lee improved on that effort when finishing third in last year’s contest and Joseph O’Brien’s ten-year-old will now look to finally get his first victory in this race. He’s one of the form horses of the race as he kicked off his season with a three-and-a-half length win over Bob Olinger in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan, while he followed that up with a win in Grade 1 Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown. He is a lively challenger to Teahupoo here, but he will need the market leader to underperform, as he was well beaten last year and needs to improve on that effort.
LUCKY PLACE
(Nico De Boinville/Nicky Henderson)
Fourth in the Coral Cup at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, Lucky Place has been one of the most improved hurdlers this season for Nicky Henderson and still only six the Seven Barrows inmate could have the potential to continue on a rapid incline and play a big role here. He started his season with a fine win in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle at Ascot, while he followed up with victory at Cheltenham in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle. Stepping up to three miles for the first time here, he will need to show he sees out the trip, but he’s certainly a fascinating challenger in what is a division devoid of strength in depth.
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THE WALLPARK
(Mark Walsh/Gordon Elliott)
Gordon Elliott will have a strong hand in this year’s Stayers’ Hurdle and his second string looks to be The Wallpark, who is another that has been in sensational form all season and is another with huge potential over hurdles. He notched up a sparkling four race winning streak earlier in the season, which saw him storm to victory in a competitive Cheltenham handicap and that victory saw him being purchased by JP McManus. He could only finish fourth in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, but a return to Prestbury Park could bring on more improvement and he’s another that has to be considered.
THE FIELD
Dual Coral Cup winner Langer Dan has shown he sparkles at the Cheltenham Festival, but has been absolutely appalling this season. However, Dan Skelton’s star has often saved his best for the Cheltenham hill in March, so he is one that can’t be ignored at double-figured odds. Second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last season, Mystical Power will be the primary shot fired by the Willie Mullins gun, but that form has turned out to be pretty average, so he’s one that needs to improve. Gowel Road is a Cheltenham regular and won the Cleeve Hurdle last time out, but may fall short of Grade 1 standard, while the likes of Rocky’s Diamond, Nemean Lion and Crambo add more depth to what is a big-field renewal.
VERDICT
If TEAHUPOO turns up in similar form to last year then he has to be capable of retaining his crown and Gordon Elliott’s raider can storm to victory over Lucky Place, who can claim second spot, while the improving The Wallpark can stay on best of the rest to claim the bronze medal.
2025 Stayers’ Hurdle 1-2-3
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