13 have been declared for the Stayers' Hurdle 2024, including two-time winner Flooring Porter.
15:30 Cheltenham
As expected, we will get a great renewal of the Stayers’ Hurdle on Thursday, with last year’s runner-up Teahupoo and former winners Paisley Park and Flooring Porter set to do battle.
Long Walk Hurdle winner Crambo is also featured in the field and adds further depth to what is an intriguing race on paper. Let's look at six of the race's leading protagonists.
Stayers’ Hurdle Runners
Teahupoo - 15/8
A cracking horse for Gordon Elliott and the current favourite. He has won nine of his 14 starts and finished a creditable second in this race last year (promoted from third).
The seven-year-old looked as good as ever when winning the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle for the second year in a row. He will run well, but I suspect he might find one or two too good.
Crambo - 11/2
Established himself as a top-class staying hurdler when he defeated Paisley Park in a thrilling finish to the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle when last spotted. I liked the way he travelled and jumped throughout the race that day before knuckling down to take the spoils.
That was his seventh career win in just 10 career starts, and the stiff finish at Cheltenham will suit his accustomed late surge, so there’s plenty to like about his credentials. He is open to even greater improvement over this distance and has excellent claims.
Noble Yeats - 7/1
An ultra-tough stayer who will arrive in the race on the back of a gutsy success in the Cleeve Hurdle over course and distance in January. The nine-year-old has won and finished fourth in the last two editions of the Grand National, as well as finishing a fine fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup at this meeting last year.
An end-to-bed gallop will play to his strengths, and if he’s within striking distance in the home straight, not many horses will be hitting the line stronger than him. He is an interesting runner and could be a solid each-way option in an open renewal at very appealing odds.
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Sir Gerhard - 10/1
It is eye-catching for a two time Cheltenham Festival winner (2021 Champion Bumper & 2022 Ballymore) and a horse trained by Willie Mullins to have such a long price.
After winning the Wednesday opener two years ago, the son of Jeremy had an interrupted novice chase season last year, running once before being entered into the Brown Advisory (9th of 10).
A doubtful stayer for the feature race on Thursday.
Flooring Porter - 11/1
A very high-class staying hurdler, who won this back-to-back in 2021 and 2022. He was far from disgraced in finishing fourth last year and returns to this sphere after only finishing third in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase last time out.
He did, however, enhance his good record at this course when successful on his chase debut and simply cannot be discounted in a race he is all too familiar with. I would personally have him in single-figure digits given his track record around Prestbury Park, particularly in this race.
If he can recapture the brilliance we know he is capable of delivering, there’s every possibility he could win this race for the third time. The nine-year-old makes plenty of each-way appeal.
Paisley Park - 14/1
Winner of the race in 2019 and has proved this season that age is just a number. The veteran’s longevity cannot be disputed; he has been narrowly denied in all three starts this season, including in the Cleeve Hurdle here last time out, where he only just failed to reel in Noble Yeats.
He is tied in closely with the latter and also Crambo, who narrowly beat him at Ascot, and there’s still life left in the old dog, who deserves a change in fortune. He is a brilliant stayer who has the heart of a lion and will not go down without a battle.
Stayers’ Hurdle Tips & Prediction
I really like the chances of the Fergal O’Brien-trained CRAMBO (tipped at 11/2) on the back of his victory in the Long Walk Hurdle. The fact he was up against established top-class staying hurdlers and was triumphant at the first time of asking was a testament to his natural ability and class.
There aren’t many stronger horses than Paisley Park in a finish, but he got the better of the former of this race last time out, and, with this uphill finish in his favour, he gets the vote to take Thursday’s feature race and showcase to all that he’s the new stayer on the block. Great chance.
Crambo, 1pt WIN, 11/2
The dual winner of the race, FLOORING PORTER (tipped at 12/1) returns to hurdles in search of a third win in the race after his chasing campaign was put on hold and has valid claims. The nine-year-old is still capable of high-class form, given that he beat Broadway Boy on his chase debut at the course and has often proved how difficult he is to beat when at his best.
With a record at Cheltenham that reads 1141, and although this will be his first start over hurdles since finishing ninth in the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil in May, his preparation this season has been a lot smoother, which bodes well for next week's task. I can see him running a hell of a race, and therefore he is worth a punt at attractive odds.
