15:30 Cheltenham

Stayers Hurdle 2023 Runners

Blazing Khal

Unbeaten hurdler Blazing Khal won a brace of novice hurdles at Cheltenham last season that saw him shoot to the head of the betting for Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. However, injury struck and he wasn’t sighted again until last month, when running out a cosy winner of the Grade 2 William Hill Boyne Hurdle.

The Charles Byrnes trained seven-year-old really could be anything at this stage and he is clearly well suited by the demands of Prestbury Park.

While his first Cheltenham success was achieved on the old course, his second came this very course and distance and he made the 148 rated runner-up look ordinary on that occasion.

He again beat solid yardsticks on his reappearance at Navan and he remains relatively unexposed given that the majority of his rivals have battle scars from previous years.

This is obviously another step up the ladder and it will command much more of him. However, he looks ready to make that leap.

Teahupoo

Teahupoo only beat one rival home in the Champion Hurdle 12 months ago and he fared no better at Punchestown subsequently. Connections therefore decided to go up in trip this year and he’s looked better the further he’s gone.

The Robour owned gelding defeated Klassical Dream and Tuesday’s Mares' Hurdle heroine Honeysuckle in the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse before sauntering to a facile 15 lengths success in the Galmoy Hurdle, which stamped his ticket to this contest.

This will obviously demand much more. However, he remains completely unexposed over this trip and he could have plenty more to come.

Flooring Porter

Reigning champion Flooring Porter will attempt to land a third successive victory in this championship contest and I would not hold this years defeats against him as his season has undoubtedly been built around peaking tomorrow.

That said, Gavin Cromwell’s stable star has endured a less than ideal preparation after suffering a setback in January. However, things have reportedly gone smoothly since and he wouldn’t be running if he wasn’t 100%.

It’s hard to see Flooring Porter improving upon what he has done before, especially after such a preparation. However, a replication of his performance last year would undoubtedly put him firmly in the mix.

Home By The Lee

Many thought Home By The Lee’s shock 66/1 success in the Lismullen Hurdle was nothing more than a fluke. However, he dispelled that notion when landing the Grade 1 Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown in December and he therefore rates a leading contender in this race.

Home By The Lee had the aforementioned Flooring Porter in behind on both of those occasions and he was particularly strong in the closing stages, which bodes well given the stiff uphill finish he will encounter tomorrow.

He will undoubtedly have far more on his plate in this contest and will probably need to improve again in order to be involved in the finish. However, that is clearly a distinct possibility.

Klassical Dream

Winner of the 2019 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Klassical Dream could only place fifth when sent off the 11/4 favourite in this contest last year, but he did bounce back to land the Grade 1 Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown in the spring.

Willie Mullins stayer split Teahupoo and Honeysuckle when placing second in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle in December and he hasn’t been sighted since, which is probably by design as the Dream Well gelding runs particularly well when fresh.

Klassical Dream probably fits into the bracket of being an older horse whom may be vulnerable to younger, up-and-coming rivals. But he still warrants plenty of respect.

Ashdale Bob

Ashdale Bob placed third in the Coral Cup 12 months ago before chasing home Klassical Dream in the Grade 1 Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown.

The experienced eight-year-old has kept good company all year, placing third behind Home By The Lee and Bob Olinger in Lismullen Hurdle and fourth behind Teahupoo, Klassical Dream and Honeysuckle in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle before again finding Home By The Lee too good in the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown. 

Jessica Harrington’s charge has form that ties in with more fancied rivals in this contest and is arguably a big price in comparison. He therefore makes each-way appeal.

Paisley Park

Paisley Park boasts form figures of 1733 in this race over the last four years and he demonstrated that the fire still burns brightly when landing the rescheduled Ladbrokes Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The popular 11-year-old placed third behind Gold Tweet and Dashel Drasher in the Cleeve Hurdle this year and he will be primed to run another big race tomorrow.

It’s hard to envisage the former champ getting the better of his younger rivals. However, he is the model consistency having finished in the first three in 22 of his 26 career starts and he could easily run into the frame once more.

Gold Tweet

Gold Tweet has been splitting his time between hurdling and chasing in France and he certainly made an impression when sprinting clear to land the Cleeve Hurdle at 14/1.

That was the six-year-old’s first outing over 3 miles and he clearly relished the extra yardage. However, it probably should be noted that it wasn’t the strongest of races and his stamina will come under much greater scrutiny next week.

He is an intriguing contender whom will likely be played late.

Dashel Drasher

Grade 1 winning chaser Dashel Drasher comes into this race off the back of runner-up efforts in the Relkeel Hurdle over two-and-a-half-miles and the Cleeve Hurdle over this course and distance.

Jeremy Scott’s battle-hardened 10-year-old chased home Marie’s Rock on New Years Day before finding french raider Gold Tweet too good on Trials Day. However, he ran solid races on both occasions and he could easily run into a place.

Stayers Hurdle 2023 Tips & Prediction

Defending champion Flooring Porter naturally commands respect as he bids to land this race for a third consecutive year. However, this is the deepest Stayers Hurdle in many years and his preparation has been less than ideal.

Home By The Lee is clearly thriving this year and he should not underestimated. While the same can be said of Cleeve Hurdle hero Gold Tweet, who is a fascinating contender based on that victory.

However, BLAZING KHAL would have been a huge player in the Albert Bartlett last year and he certainly made a good impression on his reappearance at Gowran Park.

Charles Byrnes seven-year-old has significant scope for improvement and he doesn’t carry the scars that many of his rivals do.

He is already a course and distance winner and he seemingly handles any type of ground, which is advantageous given the weather forecast this week.