Stayers Hurdle Preview

The 2025 Cheltenham Festival is almost upon us, with ante post markets shaping up nicely as we draw closer to final declarations.

With top trainers like Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins having opened their doors to the media in the traditional pre-festival stable tours, we have decided that now is the time to preview the big races at the Festival.

The fourth of our preview series looks at the Stayers' Hurdle contest on day three, with all pricing coming from our friends at Betway who offer punters a £30 free bet and 100 free spins offer.

The Stayers' Hurdle looks set for a repeat of the 2024 edition according to the current odds, with Gordon Elliott-trained winner, Teahupoo (10/11) back to defend his title.

The French-bred 8-yo has raced twice since taking that victory, winning the Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown in May, when 6.5 lengths clear of Asterion Forlonge, before returning to action in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, finishing second to Lossiemouth. He has looked good in training since that run and with Jack Kennedy expected to return onboard, it is difficult to see him beat here.

Home By The Lee (6/1) leads the chasing pack, with JP O'Brien's runner finishing behind the favourite on two occasions. However, after a poor run in France, he beat Bob Olinger twice, firstly in the Grade 2 - Lismullen Hurdle, then in the Grade 1 - Savills Hurdle at the turn of the year. Has shown improvement, but may have to play second fiddle once more.

Lucky Place (7/1) is Nicky Henderson's sole entry into this contest and goes into this race off the back of successive Grade 2 victories, including the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, beating Gowel Road by three-quarters of a length. He steps up to this level for the first time, but could make an impression if the recent form and improvement continues.

After some solid performances, The Wallpark (10/1) was thrown into the deep end at the end of last year, with mixed results. A win in a Class 2 - Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham saw them beat Gowel Road by 2.5 lengths, before Gordon Elliott's charge found the jump to Grade 1 level, a little too strong, when placing fourth (of ten) in the Long Walk Hurdle, but only 3.5 lengths behind winner, Crambo.  Arguably more to come and worthy of some each-way backing.

Behind those, Gowel Road (12/1) will be looking to build upon his Cleeve Hurdle victory at the end of January. He has run nine times around Cheltenham, winning twice and placing second on four occasions. Rocky's Diamond (14/1) could push for places, with Declan Queally's runner finishing third in the Grade 1 - Savills Hurdle, before dropping down a level and winning the Galmoy Hurdle. At 5-yo, plenty of improvement is expected, although this contest may just come too soon.

Further down the betting, Langer Dan (16/1) also has an entry to the Coral Cup, which he has won the last two years, but recently form has taken a dip, finishing fifth last time out in a Class 2 contest and some 45 lengths adrift. Mystical Power (also 16/1) is another whose form has tailed off, having won consecutive Grade 1 contests in 2024. A return to that form would bring into contention but that is unlikely after recent performances.

The rest are 20/1 bar