Find the best tips and picks for the Cheltenham Stayers' Hurdle from our experts. Discover winner and each-way predictions to add to your betslip.
Our racing experts have provided their Cheltenham betting tips for the Stayers’ Hurdle. Simply add them to your betslip, or access real-time updates with the Betway app – available on the Play Store and the App Store.
Stayers’ Hurdle tips and predictions
Thursday afternoon is highlighted by a trio of Grade 1 contests, the middle of which is the Stayers’ Hurdle, the third of Cheltenham’s crown jewels.
It will see last year’s one-two, Bob Olinger and Teahupoo, engaging once more in battle but, this time, with some up-and-coming pretenders bidding to overhaul them.
Bob Olinger and Teahupoo fought out the finish last year and are back for more, but they are opposable. The former is unbeaten at Cheltenham with three Festival successes on his CV but he is one of only two horses aged 10+ to win this race in 40 years. Time is against him now.
Teahupoo in 2024 became the first horse since 1981 to win this race having previously been beaten in it. He is in cracking form this season in Ireland and rates a danger.
He should go close but the market has not missed him and he probably should have more than one win in this from three attempts, were he a genuine dominant force in the division. He may find something too strong again.
Home By The Lee – running in a fifth Stayers’ Hurdle – has time against him too, as do the likes of Hewick and Doddiethegreat, while Ballyburn went close against Teahupoo in the Hatton’s Grace (2m4f) on reappearance this season but then could not get near him over 3m in the Christmas Hurdle last time. He has stamina to prove.
NAP: Kabral Du Mathan @ 4/1
Dan Skelton spent much of the winter suggesting KABRUL DU MATHAN was more likely to skip Cheltenham and go to Aintree, but he could not resist a trip to Gloucestershire in the end.
Recruited from Paul Nicholls’ yard last summer, Kabral Du Mathan is 2-2 for his new stable and looks highly progressive.
He easily landed a Haydock handicap off a mark of 140 in November and burned off his rivals with ease in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
He was not stopping late on and this talented six-year-old could improve generously now upped in trip.
Five six-year-olds have won this since 2005, with Big Buck’s (four) and Flooring Porter (two) becoming multiple winners. Kabral Du Mathan has the potential to become a dominant force on the evidence of this season.
Next Best: Ma Shantou @ 6/1
The last three horses to win the Cleeve Hurdle by seven lengths or more went on to land the Stayers’ Hurdle in the same season, and MA SHANTOU will attempt to achieve this feat for Emma Lavelle and Harry Cobden following his seven-length defeat of Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle winner Impose Toi on Trials Day at Prestbury Park in January.
That Nicky Henderson inmate was on a three-race winning spree but had no answer late on. Paisley Park enjoyed a sublime six-to-seven-year-old season for Lavelle that ended with Stayers’ Hurdle glory seven years ago and Ma Shantou has a similar profile.
He can confirm Cleeve dominance over Impose Toi and looks a significant threat to the likes of Kabral Du Mathan and Teahupoo with his stamina so well advertised by that effort.
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