The big race on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival offers the staying hurdlers the chance to claim the spotlight over the 3m distance in the Stayers Hurdle. The roll of honour for this race down the years has included some huge names but this looks a more open renewal.
New Customers can get Supasundae at an enhanced 60/1 to win the Stayers Hurdle. Max Stake £1. Winnings paid in free bets. Full T&Cs Apply. 18+|Gamble Aware.
Favourite
This year’s running of the Stayers Hurdles looks to be ultra-competitive, perhaps hardest of all 4 of the Championship races to find the winner. The favourite is the likeable Sam Spinner who has won his last 2 starts including a 3 length victory over L’Ami Serge in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. There’s no doubt he’s improving but I have some concerns over his running style (wants to make all) & track suitability. I wouldn’t put anyone off backing him but I’d prefer to be looking at the ‘without Sam Spinner’ markets in an attempt to find a winner.
Preview
Traditionally, this race is won by a horse in the top 6 in the betting but there’s been only 1 winning favourite in the last 5 years. Yanworth & Supasundae are both interesting contenders, with the former returning to hurdles after a questionable start to the chase career. Yanworth is 8 from 10 over hurdles, with his 2 defeats being at the last 2 Festivals. Last year, he struggled with the pace of the Champion Hurdle & a step up in trip suited when overcoming Supasundae over this trip on his only try at 3 miles. I do, however, fear that the likely strong pace & expected heavy ground may make this a true test of stamina, and one he may not cope with. Again, he has a chance but 6/1 is just a little skinny with the doubts.
New Customers can get Yanworth at an enhanced 60/1 to win the Stayers Hurdle. Max Stake £1. Winnings paid in free bets. Full T&Cs Apply. 18+|Gamble Aware.
Supasundae, meanwhile, has twice run over 3 miles finishing 2nd on both occasions (once to Yanworth, the other to Apples Jade) but there are similar doubts to Yanworth, particularly on the ground. Unowhatimeanharry was odds on for this last year but could only finish 3rd; surely his best chance has gone & the Stayers isn’t a race that is normally won by a horse who finished down the field 12 months ago. L’Ami Serge should go well but isn’t strong in a finish whilst the lack of a run will prove the undoing on Penhill.
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Betting
At a bigger price, Wholestone might be the one considering his track record but he has been deserted by Daryl Jacob. This leads me to taking a chance on the Irish challenger, Bacardys.
He’s had a rather unorthodox preparation but this type of race could be right up his street. A 2nd season hurdler, he’s been campaigned over fences but reverts to hurdles where his best form is. Last term, he won the Deloitte, before being badly hampered in the Neptune here where he was subsequently pulled up. He rounded off his campaign with a win in the Irish Champion Novice Hurdle over two & a half miles where he was settled out back & crept into the race slowly.
He has long been thought of as a stayer; his jockey said after the Deloitte that 3 miles might be his best trip. With chinks in the armour of the other leading contenders, I’ll side with this horse who probably comes here with the most unexposed profile.
Tips
Back Bacardys in the ‘w/o Sam Spinner’ market (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 8.50 Bet365 (¼ odds 1-3)
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