Cheltenham Festival Stayers’ Hurdle tips

Cheltenham Festival is finally underway and day three features the blockbuster clash for the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle.

In total, 15 runners have been declared in this year's showpiece at 3:05pm – with last year's 50-1 winner Lisnagar Oscar looking to defend his crown.

It looked all but set to feature the third instalment of this season's blockbuster battle between Paisley Park and Thyme Hill, but the Philip Hobbs-trained seven-year-old suffered a minor muscle injury on the eve of the festival.

Thyme Hill's withdrawal has blown the contest wide open with last year's Petemps Network Final winner Sire Du Berlais, Flooring Porter and Vinndication all attracting plenty of interest.

Here is Mirror Racing's horse-by-horse guide:

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1. Paisley Park

Paisley Park was a popular winner of the Grade 1 Stayers' Hurdle as the 6-5 favourite at the festival in 2019 – rolling from the back of the field to take the lead after the final obstacle in the three-mile race.

But last year, Paisley Park finished seventh at odds of 4-6, never playing a factor. He was later diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, with Lisnagar Oscar winning the race at gigantic odds of 50-1.

2. Sire Du Berlais

The 2020 Stayers' Hurdle was not a vintage edition – in fact, the winner, Lisnagar Oscar, did not even put up the best performance in a three-mile hurdle on the day.

In fact, that honour went to Sire Du Berlais, who clocked a faster time than the Stayers' Hurdle winner when defying top-weight to win the Pertemps Final for the second year in succession, bounding up the hill in the style of a horse sure to make an impact at the highest level.

3. Flooring Porter

Flooring Porter, a 15-2 chance for the Stayers' Hurdle, is clearly improving with racing and given he is only a six-year-old remains open to plenty more progression.

However, he still needs to take a big step forward to give Paisley Park sleepless nights.

4. Vinndication

Kim Bailey is convinced Vinndication is a "Gold Cup horse" – but he is also about to give his classy chaser an alternative festival entry in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle.

Last year, he put up a mighty effort under top weight in the Ultima Handicap Chase as he failed by less than three lengths to defy his four-month absence before the festival.

5. The Storyteller

Predominantly a chaser but has done just as well over hurdles, finishing second at Leopardstown in December.

And as horse that regularly mixes it up between fences and hurdles, it can be argued that his form this season is better than anything the 10-year-old has produced to-date.

6. Lisnagar Oscar

Winner of this race in 2020 and nothing suggests he can't win it again.

There are obviously no such concerns over the reigning champion, who bounced back from two underwhelming efforts during the autumn when chasing home Third Wind, who received 6lbs, in the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock last month.

7. Fury Road

Came third in last year's Albert Bartlett and has to win a Grade 1.

However, the extra few furlongs from the recent Boyne Hurdle run, along with a strongly run race at Cheltenham will see him among the late challengers.

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