Stayers Hurdle 2025 Tips, Predictions, Preview and Odds
Our ante-post Cheltenham Festival tipster Adam O’Brien has been through the 2024 Stayers Hurdle and picked out a win and each-way betting tip for the Thursday feature race from this year’s Cheltenham Festival.
The Stayers Hurdle is often referred to as the least classy of the 4 Championship races. ‘No one wants to breed a Stayers Hurdle winner’ is regularly heard withing the sports circle but its often a race that is competitive and can throw up a big-priced winner (33/1 and 50/1 winners in 2 of the last 4 years), but on the flip side can also go to a short price favourite with lots of ability (Thistlecrack evens & Paisley Park 11/8 of late). For that reason, I think it’s a good betting race.
Stayers Hurdle Tips 2025
CIARAN: Teahupoo was my NAP of the Festival last year and he didn’t disappoint. But there is no room for sentiment in this game and his reappearance in the Hatton’s Grace was underwhelming. I don’t mind him coming straight to Cheltenham. In fact I have a long-standing belief that it isn’t the ground that is the key to him but first time out after an extended break. Add into the mix that this is the worst lineup for a Festival Championship race in my memory. Gowel Road who, as admirable as he is, was 6th in a Coral Cup last year off 142, and is 9 years old is now 4th favourite. Teahupoo Has to be a certainty right?
Well for me, at the prices, I would rather lay than play. Perhaps my hopes lie with Home by The Lee whose stamina was never in doubt but seemed to just lack the required speed to keep up. This year, he has looked better than ever and I’m taking a chance he can reverse the form from last year.
Verdict: Bet on Home By The Lee (7/1 with BetVictor)
ADAM: Not the easiest one to decide on this. Teahupoo comes into this year’s Festival off the back of the same plan that saw him take this race 12 months ago. That was 1 run in the Hattons Grace at the start of December. Something feels slightly different this year though. This season’s Hatton Grace didn’t see him to his best effect and he was downed quite easily by the speedy Lossiemouth (in what was a slowly run race).
Gordon was tempted to run him at Xmas but opted against it and stuck with the straight-to-Cheltenham plan. When talking about this horse I often think about the Jack Kennedy factor and how important he is to its success. Fingers cross Jack gets to the Festival and is fit. But that’s not certain and just adds another doubt when backing the horse.
It’s not the strongest of divisions and that’s why he’s a short enough price. There are only probably 2-3 horses that can win the race but in Lucky Place & Home by the Lee we have 2 yardsticks and challengers who can serve it up to the favourite and at the prices, I’m going to take him on.
Verdict: Bet on Lucky Place (9/1 with BetVictor)
Stayers Hurdle 2025 Each-way Tip – The Wallpark 16/1
Although having the option of the Pertemps, when it comes to JP horses, it is the owner, not the trainer that calls the tune and with Jeriko du Reponet entering plenty of notebooks with last week’s Exeter Pertemps qualification (and subsequent market support), it looks to me like The Wallpark will end up in the Stayers Hurdle. The Wallpark himself was extremely impressive in his own Pertemps qualification at Cheltenham (giving 4 pounds and a beating to current stayers 4th fav Gowel Road), and if that final was the initial plan, the fact that the jockey had no choice but to win is an indication of how well he responded to limited encouragement. Subsequently bought by JP (who is not in the process of buying duds), his latest effort at Ascot and the subsequent form of that race is certainly a worry. But I think that there is a chance that he just wasn’t in love with the track and he was certainly coming home the strongest in the race. I think Teahupoo is a vulnerable favourite and Home by the Lee has had 3 goes at the race and has never been good enough. The Wallpark, as a rapidly improving handicap hurdler, has a similar profile to Sire Du Berlais and in a weak race, I would give him a strong each-way chance.
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Stayers Hurdle Trends
Age – 10 of the last 12 winners were aged between 6 and 8.
Price – 5 of the last 12 winners were favourites, 7/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting.
Last Run – 8 of the last 12 winners won on their last run before the Stayers Hurdle, 8/12 winners had their last run with 54 days.
6/12 winners ran in the Cleeve Hurdle (Cheltenham) on their last run, 4 of the 6 won, 1 placed.
Previous Course Form – 12/12 winners had at least 1 previous run at Cheltenham, 8/12 winners had at least 1 previous win at Cheltenham.
Previous Distance Form – 9/12 winners had at least 2 runs over 23-25 furlongs, 8/12 winners had at least 2 wins over 23-25 furlongs.
Previous Hurdle Form – 11/12 winners had at least 8 previous runs over hurdles, 10/12 winners had at least 4 previous wins over hurdles.
Rating – 9/12 winners were rated 156 or higher.
Grade 1 Wins – 8/12 winners had at least 1 previous grade 1 win.
Grade 2 Wins – 11/12 winners had at least 1 previous grade 2 win.
Season Form – 11/12 winners had at least 2 runs that season, 10/12 winners had at least 1 win that season.
2025 Stayers’ Hurdle Preview: Betting Tips and Predictions
The 2025 Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival promises to be a thrilling contest, with top-class stayers competing for victory over three miles. Scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2025, this Grade 1 hurdle race is the ultimate test of stamina and jumping ability. In this Stayers’ Hurdle preview, we assess the leading contenders, offer Stayers’ Hurdle tips, and provide expert Stayers’ Hurdle betting tips to help you make informed selections.
Key Contender for the 2025 Stayers’ Hurdle
1. Teahupoo (Favorite)
Trained by Gordon Elliott, Teahupoo is currently the market leader after an impressive season. His strong performances in previous staying hurdles, coupled with his ability to handle soft conditions, make him a formidable opponent. He won the race last year and will be looking to defend his crown in 2025.
