The Stayers’ Hurdle (3.20) offers a conflict of the generations, with an outdated guard that features the previous two winners of the race taking over a new wave of challengers, out to set up a new order within the staying division.
For the fourth yr in succession, Teahupoo is ready to begin favorite for the race and undoubtedly units the benchmark to which the young pretenders should attain.
He failed by simply three-quarters of a size on his first stab on the race in 2023, was a dominant three-and-three-quarter-size victor the next yr and discovered solely Bob Olinger, who carries the identical Robcour silks of proprietor Brian Acheson, too robust final yr.
Furthermore, he comes into this yr’s race off the back of a devastating seven-size defeat of Bob Olinger within the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown, and Father Time seems to be taking part in catch up.
Teahupoo: received the Stayers’ Hurdle two years in the pastCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/images)
“Teahupoo is a horse of a lifetime,” mentioned his coach, Gordon Elliott. “He keeps coming back year after year and seems to be getting better. He’s still only nine and he really impressed me with the way he won at Leopardstown over Christmas. Everything has gone well with him in the lead-up to the race so, hopefully, he will go close. It will take a good one to beat him.”
Elliott can be answerable for one among two six-yr-olds within the race, with Teahupoo’s stablemate Honesty Policy no back quantity on his first tilt on the Stayers’ Hurdle crown.
“Honesty Policy is the improving young stayer in the field and I think he will step up on what he did in the Long Walk,” mentioned his coach. “That was a great start to his campaign and I think there could be plenty more to come from him.”
One of three 11-yr-olds within the line-up, Bob Olinger comes alive at Cheltenham and defends an unbeaten report on the monitor as he bids for back-to-back wins within the race.
Bob Olinger and Rachael Blackmore after final yr’s Stayers’ Hurdle winCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/images)
Admittedly, he was fortunate to land the 2022 Turners Novices’ Chase when Galopin Des Champs got here down on the final, but there’s been no fluke about his three wins over hurdles at Cheltenham.
He was crushed on each his begins final season earlier than placing Teahupoo to the sword at his favorite stamping floor 12 months in the past and, even on the age of 11, he should be feared when it comes to Cheltenham in March.
“He’s been a legend for us and was really good last year,” mentioned coach Henry de Bromhead. “He ran well at Leopardstown over Christmas and has been really well since. We said we’d keep it to one run before Cheltenham and really focus on here. He loves Cheltenham and is pure class.”
What they are saying
Nicky Henderson, coach of Doddiethegreat and Impose Toi
Impose Toi has accomplished nothing mistaken all season and what he actually needs is nice floor. He does not want any rain. I assumed his run on trails’ day was completely okay. It was horrible floor that he’d have hated and he was giving six kilos away to the winner. We can flip a good bit of that round I feel. Doddiethegreat got here to himself presently final yr. He all of a sudden bloomed and I fancied him a bit for the Pertemps. I’m not going to inform you I fancy him to win the Stayers’ but I do fancy him to run very effectively.
Christian Williams, coach of Gwennie May Boy
I’ve solely had him a few weeks but he got here with the Stayers’ Hurdle entry. The homeowners have been eager to run and he appears in good coronary heart.
Shark Hanlon, coach of Hewick
He’s in nice type and I’m anticipating a huge run from him with Paddy [Hanlon] driving. The floor was method too tender at Newbury in November. He ran very effectively to the second-final and then his wind caught him out on the tender floor. We did a little wind operation on him after that and I feel it is labored. Hopefully, we’ll have good floor and go there with extra confidence in his wind.
Dan Skelton, coach of Kabral Du Mathan
I’m actually wanting ahead to operating Kabral Du Mathan within the Stayers’ Hurdle. The climate and the bottom has come proper for him. I used to be toying with lacking Cheltenham and going to Aintree, but that was provided that we could have gone to Fontwell en route but that didn’t occur, so I’m very blissful to be right here. I’m delighted together with his work. I might solely be right here if every little thing was proper for him and it seems like it’s.
Emma Lavelle, coach of Ma Shantou
At some stage the youthful horses are going to have the legs of the older brigade, but it is simply a case of if it is this yr or subsequent. Strictly on rankings, we’d like to discover one other ten kilos, but he loves the monitor and you do not know how a lot you have received left with him. He’s hit the road stronger every time he is been to Cheltenham and, each time Harry Cobden has ridden him, he is at all times mentioned that there is a lot left. There’s similarities to the season Paisley Park received it. Ma Shantou has climbed the ranks like Paisley did but on paper this appears to be like a stronger discipline to the one Paisley received. We’d love to be in there preventing it out on the final as a result of this horse is a battler. If he can, he’ll.
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