Grade One Stayers’ Hurdle Guide 2023

Experienced 11-year-old who was second to Flooring Porter in this contest two years ago and won Grade One Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree at the end of last season but signs of decline have crept in this season, not finishing above fourth since Aintree success.

Fourth in the Boyne Hurdle, with favourite here Blazing Khal winning and it would be difficult to see him spring a surprise here at around 66/1.

Experienced 11-year-old for Emma Lavelle who has won this race before and claimed multiple grades successes throughout his career. Has finished third in the last two renewals in this race as well and many would love him to bolt up the hill and win again here.

Claimed Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton a couple of races ago to show the ability is still very much there and was third in the Cleeve Hurdle here 47 days ago so can again enter calculations which would make the Cheltenham crowd extremely happy.

Top hurdler for Willie Mullins who returns after 102 days off following his second-place finish to Teahupoo in the Hatton’s Grace in December last year.

Not at his best when fifth in this contest last year but bids for a seventh grade one victory of his career here so clearly capable of better than he shown last year.

His Champion Stayers Hurdle win at Punchestown last April further boosted graded credentials and can go close if returning to his best here.

Ten-year-old hurdler/chaser who arrives in good placing form, second in the Relkeel Hurdle won by Marie’s Rock before second again behind Gold Tweet in Cleeve Hurdle last time out. This is a bigger test with top-class hurdlers involved again here.

Won’t mind the trip and hasn’t been out of the places for a while so not completely ruled out but this is harder for the ten-year-old gelding.

Eight-year-old Joseph O’Brien gelding who arrives here in the best form of his career, winning the Grade Two Lismullen Hurdle ahead of some of these in November at Navan over 2m 4f before scoring again next time out at Leopardstown in the Christmas Hurdle, beating Ashdale Bob by three lengths.

Finished sixth in this last year so O’Brien will be hoping for a better run this time around and he could not be coming here in better form so must be respected.

Eight-year-old hurdler who absolutely loves Cheltenham, winning the last two editions of this race by just under three lengths last year and by just over three lengths the year prior.

Followed previous win here with second place in Grade One Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree before a couple of needed runs towards the end of last year at Navan (fourth) and Leopardstown (fourth in Christmas Hurdle).

Last couple of runs can be forgotten as he probably needed runs and he’s bidding for a hat trick in this contest and cannot be dismissed.

Decent hurdler who has put up some fairly good form of late, not finishing outside the top four on his last seven runs over hurdles.

They include third in the Coral Cup at last year’s festival, second behind Klassical Dream in the Champion Stayers Hurdle, third in the Lismullen Hurdle and second behind Home By The Lee in the Christmas Hurdle last time out.

Would be tough to win this year’s Stayers’ Hurdle with so many in with a chance but that form has been good and must be respected.

Top-class unbeaten hurdler, winning all four starts over hurdles at Galway, Cheltenham (twice) and Navan last time out.

Winner of a couple of grade two’s here over 2m 5f and 2m 7f before returning after 14-month absence to win Grade Two Boyne Hurdle at Navan 32 days ago, beating Meet And Greet by three lengths.

This feels like quite an open Stayers’ Hurdle contest but Blazing Khal sits as the current favourite and it’s easy to see why judging off his runs over hurdles, and a bold bid is expected from the seven-year-old.

Decent performer in France over fences and hurdles before English debut in the Cleeve Hurdle last time out in January at grade two level, staying on well to beat Dashel Drasher by three lengths with Paisley Park in third.

Extra trip seemed to suit him a bit more which is ideal coming into this contest so is fairly unexposed over this sort of distance so not discounted.

The first of Gordon Elliott’s two entries for this contest is Teahupoo, winner of several graded wins but most recent form has been the most impressive of his career so far.

He was last of ten in the Champion Hurdle here last year and last of six in the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown next time out, before winning the Hatton’s Grace at 20/1 and a grade two last time out at Gowran Park.

That run in the Hatton’s Grace was his career-best to date, beating a few rivals in this contest and a good run from Elliott’s gelding is expected after those successes.

French six-year-old hurdler who comes here off the back of career-best Grade Two Prix Olry Roederer 2m 5f hurdle victory over Anouma Freedom by nine lengths. Hasn’t performed in runs over this trip over in France in graded company, however.

May be easier to look elsewhere, with this runner inexperienced over this course and distance.