The big race on the penultimate day of the 2017 Cheltenham Festival is the headline attraction for the stamina machines over the smaller obstacles – the Stayers’ Hurdle. This is a race over 3 miles which takes plenty of winning with 12 hurdles to be jumped in all on the New course. This is a race that the English have generally dominated.

Recent Winners

2016 – Thistlecrack EvsF

2015 – Cole Harden 5/2f

2014 – More of That 15/2

2013 – Solwhit 17/2

2012 – Big Buck’s 5/6f

2011 – Big Buck’s 10/11f

2010 – Big Buck’s 5/6f

2009 – Big Buck’s 6/1

2008 – Inglis Drever 11/8f

2007 – Inglis Drever 5/1

Guide

If the betting is to be believed then this race is all about the favourite Unowhatimeanharry. Harry Fry’s stayer is the clear market leader and looks set to continue the British dominance in the race. Former champion hurdler Jezki looks Ireland’s best hope while former winner Cole Harden is back to reclaim his crown.

Betting

We all saw what happened to Douvan in the Champion Chase and, whilst we don’t have quite as hot a favourite here, there are plenty of people relying on Unowhatimeanharry who is bidding to make it 9 wins from 9 starts for trainer Harry Fry.  He won the Albert Bartlett last term and has beaten many of today’s rivals already this season but I’m not 100% certain he’s a better horse on this better ground.  He never wins his races by this much and should prove hard to beat again but his price is a little tight for me to get involved.

His main rivals are likely to be Cole Harden, a former winner of this, and Jezki who himself is a former Festival winner having landed the 2014 Champion Hurdle.  The one I want on my side is the former, whose trainer Warren Greatrex is making very positive noises about his chances.  He is a spring horse who comes into himself on this ground and at this track so conditions are perfect for this pacepusher.  Whilst he had no apparent excuses last year, I do feel that Thistlecrack was a class above anything appearing here so he should get closer than the distant 4th he finished 12 months ago.  He’s yet to win this year on soft ground but looked to be coming back to something like his best last time out when finishing not far behind Unowhatimeanharry, albeit receiving 8lbs from the winner.

Jezki is less appealing and appears more of a speedster.  He’s won over 3 miles when beating Hurricane Fly on a flat track but the pace will be something else today and on a stiffer track, I feel Jezki is a non stayer.  I am also steering clear of any Willie Mullins horse at the Festival until his string show signs of a return to form so that rules out the next 2 in the betting, Nichols Canyon and Shaneshill, as well as Clondaw Warrior.

Next in the betting lists is my 2nd selection for this horse, Ballyoptic.  He’s had a recent wind operation and connections feel that, before the operation, wind caused him to finish races off weakly including falling twice.  One of those falls was when level with today’s favourite in the Long Walk off level weights.  He’s also finished behind Unowhatimeanharry on his other 2 more recent starts, but this better ground may eke out improvement coupled with the first time tongue tie.   He’s another horse who likes to race prominently and I’m hoping the selections will make this a true test of stamina and prove difficult to pass.

Snow Falcon is another who could run a big race and should appreciate the fast pace and good ground and West Approach is represented by Thistlecrack’s connections in a bid to repeat last year’s feat.  Zarkandar, Lil Rockerfeller, Agrapart and Dedigout make up the field but I’ll be surprised if any of them manage to make the 3.

Tips

Back Cole Harden (e/w) for a 1.5pt stake at 8.50 Coral (¼ odds 1-3 BOG)

Back him here:

Back Ballyoptic (e/w) for a 1pt stake at 15.00 Bet365 (¼ odds 1-3 BOG)

Back him here:

BIG RACE OFFERS

BETFAIR

NEW CUSTOMERS – DAY THREE

UNOWHATIMEANHARRY TO WIN THE STAYERS HURDLE – A HUGE 10/1

OFFER ENDS – THURSDAY 16th MARCH AT 15.30.

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PADDY POWER

NEW CUSTOMERS

UNOWHATIMEANHARRY TO WIN THE STAYERS’ HURDLE – A HUGE 10/1

15:30 Thursday

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