Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle: 16-1 chance ready to rock at the Cheltenham Festival

There are only nine weeks until the Cheltenham Festival - and with entries for the championship races filtering in each week, excitement is really building towards a brilliant week of sport.

The entries for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle and Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle have all been released this week and we’ve taken a look at the three-mile feature as we attempt to find some each-way value in a race which could be one of the highlights of the Festival.

Won in recent years by the likes of Inglis Drever, Big Buck’s and Thistlecrack, 2019 champion Paisley Park could take on the progressive Thyme Hill in a race for the ages. But is there one at double-figure odds to upset the apple cart? We’ve analysed some of the key contenders.

The pair have met twice this season and their rivalry has already breathed new life into the staying hurdling division. Thyme Hill got the better of Paisley Park in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, but Emma Lavelle’s charge exacted his revenge with a stunning success in the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot before Christmas.

The pair could clash again before the Festival in the Cleeve Hurdle later this month and at this stage, they clearly look the duo to focus on. Paisley Park heads the betting at 11-4 for the Stayers’ Hurdle, while Thyme Hill is 7-2. With Paisley Park’s heart problems hopefully behind him, it would be folly to write him off regaining his Stayers’ Hurdle crown.

Unlike the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup picture, the Irish stranglehold in the Stayers’ Hurdle market looks non-existent. In the Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle, Flooring Porter was supplemented for the Grade One prize at a cost of €10,000 but repaid the faith by taking the step up in grade in fine style to score by six lengths.

Flooring Porter, a 10-1 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 and Thyme Hill sleepless nights.

On a broader level, that contest at Leopardstown blew the bubble of Sire Du Berlais (10-1) and Fury Road (16-1) who could only finish third and fourth. Sire Du Berlais is a Cheltenham specialist, having won the Pertemps Final for the last two years, but this was a slightly disappointing effort and questions now have to be answered.

McFabulous (12-1) was very impressive in the Relkeel Hurdle at Kempton last weekend and he had previously shaped well when third behind Thyme Hill at Newbury. However, there are stamina concerns with Paul Nicholls’ charge and he was clearly suited by the flat track at Kempton on Saturday. A Stayers’ Hurdle around Cheltenham is a completely different ball game and he looks opposable despite his clear progression.

Benie Des Dieux (8-1) is as short as 4-1 with Betfred and would be interesting if connections decided to go up in trip, but surely a rematch with Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle awaits.

Ronald Pump (14-1) flew home to finish second to Honeysuckle in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse last time and he has to be of interest given he chased home Lisnagar Oscar in last year’s renewal of the Stayers’ Hurdle. Only an eight-year-old, he is arguably still yet to reach his full potential and remains a nice price for this assignment, clearly his principal spring target.

In conclusion, despite the attractive proposition of Ronald Pump, the Dan Skelton-trained Roksana looks the each-way pick at this stage of play.

The 2019 winner of the Mares’ Hurdle, she finished fourth in the corresponding race at Cheltenham last year and connections may just be swayed towards a tilt at the Stayers’ Hurdle this time around.

She was a sparkling winner on her return to three miles when successful at Wetherby in October and then finished a fine third to Paisley Park in the Long Walk. She has to make up two lengths with Paisley Park on that running, but she was given a patient ride by Harry Skelton and just failed to show the same turn of foot as the winner.

She looks set to be given a break by connections now and given she is a winner on spring ground, better or testing conditions both come as second nature to her.

A proven winner at Cheltenham, she looks an attractive price at 16-1 and rates a solid bet given her form behind the main two market leaders in the race.

To win a Stayers’ Hurdle she will clearly have to step up, but a 7lb mares’ allowance will make life slightly easier and there is plenty of juice in her price.