We are now into the calendar year of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, so the countdown is beginning in earnest to some of the biggest races of the meeting. A few huge contests determined significant changes in the market for the Stayers’ Hurdle, as we look at how the market is now shaping up.
Saturday, 28th December – Savills Hurdle @ Leopardstown
Now run in the same sponsorship as the Grade 1 chase on the same card, the Savills Hurdle produced a largely predictable result, with the top two in the market the only pair who mattered from the last.
Home By The Lee had run a shocker in the race 12 months prior, but regained a title he first won in 2022 by comprehensively outstaying Bob Olinger on the run-in. He has now won this race, and Navan’s Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle on two occasions, both in 2022 and 2024, while he was placed in both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Stayers’ Hurdles last season.
He looks a rock solid each-way play again for the 2025 Stayers’ Hurdle and is now the clear second favourite for the race, at least among those to have raced over hurdles this term. 10/1 with SkyBet is the best price on offer, though he has not beaten favourite Teahupoo under rules.
This was another runner-up finish to Home By The Lee for Bob Olinger. He was conceding 5lb in the Lismullen Hurdle, but having travelled better than his old rival for most of this race, he simply did not see out the 3m as thoroughly. He remains a best price of 66/1 with Betfair and Paddy Power to find the requisite improvement for the distance.
Conversely, the surprise third-placed Rocky’s Diamond has been introduced at 50/1 by the same bookmakers for the Stayers’. Rated just 130, he was hugely inexperienced as a then four-year-old compared to his rivals, but acquitted himself well despite some slow jumping. 3m on a decent surface clearly suits him well, and his age gives him room for improvement, albeit he will need loads of it to feature significantly at Cheltenham.
Another now 66/1 chance is Sandor Clegane, a drifter from a high of 50/1 beforehand. He galloped into the straight like the winner, but found little for pressure in fourth and is clearly difficult to win with at any level, let alone at the top. In fifth, Hewick is slightly shorter at 50/1 but also drifted from pre-race odds of 33/1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle. He can be considered dual purpose, but is clearly at his very best over a fence.
The other finishers, Asterion Forlonge and Beacon Edge, cannot be found in the Stayers’ ante-post market, but the pulled up former Grand National winner Noble Yeats continued to look regressive. He remains 66/1, but that looks miles too short.
New Year’s Day – Relkeel Hurdle @ Cheltenham
Nicky Henderson’s Lucky Place continued his progression by claiming a second Grade 2 in a row in landing the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. However, this was an improved effort compared to his narrow success in a bunched finish to the Ascot Hurdle in November as he was conceding weight in penalties all round here.
By giving useful handicapper Gowel Road 6lb and a ¾-length beating, he produced a career best and is clearly capable of more having just turned six. He is now 14/1 from 33s given that the Coral Cup fourth has clearly improved since last season, though there is still plenty to find on bare figures, especially with the runner-up absent from ante-post Stayer’ Hurdle markets.
Indeed the only other participant in this race to be widely backable for the contest is Langer Dan. His terrible record before the Festival continued as he trailed home last of five finishers, but his ability to peak in the spring means bookmakers have been cautious in easing him out. He can now be backed at 33/1 from 25/1 if recent form can be dismissed, which it likely can.
Other Market Moves
Results over Christmas only strengthened Teahupoo’s position at the head of the market even further. The 2024 winner is now 13/8 from 7/4 with SkyBet and as short as 11/10 with Paddy Power and Betfair.
However, the most substantial change towards the top of the Stayers’ Hurdle betting was the general reintroduction of Ballyburn. Last year’s disdainful Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle winner was himself swiped away in the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase by the hugely impressive Sir Gino, and any more upsets over fences pre-Cheltenham could spawn a rethink as to his target. Should a redirection over hurdles occur, he is 7/1 to stake a claim to the Stayers’ event.
Stayers’ Hurdle Ante-Post Movers
Home By The Lee ↑ 10/1 from 25/1
Lucky Place ↑ 14/1 from 33/1
Teahupoo ↑ 13/8 from 7/1
Ballyburn (NEW) → 7/1
Rocky’s Diamond (NEW) → 50/1
Bob Olinger → 66/1
Noble Yeats → 66/1
Langer Dan ↓ 33/1 from 25/1
Hewick ↓ 50/1 from 33/1
Sandor Clegane ↓ 66/1 from 50/1
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