Three Outside Chances For The Stayers’ Hurdle At Cheltenham

The Stayer’s Hurdle one of the biggest races on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival, and takes place just 40 minutes after the G1 Ryanair Chase. Once again, a talented field of stayers’ are likely to line up for the huge race, which is run over three miles. Klassical Dream and Champ currently head the betting for the Grade 1, but the fact that only one favourite has won this race in the previous five renewals means that it could be a contest targeted by punters to get the best value. But, which outsiders could stand a chance?

Lisnagar Oscar

Lisnagar Oscar is a course and distance winner at the Cheltenham Festival, having shocked racing fans with an unlikely two-length win in this contest two years ago. The success gave Adam Wedge a first Festival win, while it was also a remarkable day for syndicate owners Racing For Fun. The 50/1 shot on that day is trained by Rebecca Curtis, and will be looking to get back into the winners’ enclosure for the first time since that famous day at the Festival.

His form since that win has been largely disappointing, as the nine-year-old was a faller 12 months ago despite being set off as a low price of 11/1. This season, he started with a decent run at Aintree when finishing third behind Brewin’upastorm. However, the wheels came off once again at Ascot in December, as he was pulled up when Champ won the G1 Long Walk Hurdle.

Paisley Park

Paisley Park delivered one of the great Festival moments in recent years when winning the Stayer’s Hurdle back in 2019 for owner Andrew Gemmell. Things haven’t been straightforward for the ten-year-old since that victory, with only one win being recorded in the past two years. That success came at Ascot in December 2020 when beating Thyme Hill by a neck in a thrilling finish. The runner-up on that occasion got revenge at Aintree in the G1 Stayers’ Hurdle, as Paisley Park was pulled up.

However, this season, there have been glimpses that the old boy is back to his best. He has finished third in each of his last three starts. Most recently, he was third in the G1 Long Walk at Ascot behind Champ. It was a much improved effort, at back at Cheltenham in March usually brings life back into the Emma Lavelle-trained horse.

Thomas Darby

Thomas Darby will be back at the Festival this March, as he looks for a first win at the showpiece event on his third attempt. Last year, he was a distance 14^th in the Coral Cup, while in 2019 he was a very decent second to Klassical Dream in the G1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. With Klassical Dream heading the betting for the Stayers’ it is worth taking a second look at Thomas Darby for the Festival this year.

He was stepped up in trip following his disappointing run in the Coral Cup last year, and stayed on strongly to finish third in the Aintree Stayers’ Hurdle just a month later behind Thyme Hill. The nine-year-old has already recorded a win over Paisley Park this year, having claimed success in the G2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in November. He followed that up with a decent showing at Ascot, but was outlasted by a commanding Champ. However, at a huge price, he could at least offer value in the Stayers’ Hurdle betting this year.