This race will take place on day three of the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday 13th March
Lucky Place is one that we're looking to back against Teahupoo
Expired
Teahupoo ridden by Jack Kennedy jump the final hurdle and go on to win the Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle. (Getty)
The oldest of the four Championship races at the Cheltenham Festival is the Stayers' Hurdle. The feature race on day three of the meeting was first run in 1912 and Teahupoo will bid to become the seventh back-to-back winner when he returns to Prestbury Park in March.
Here's our free guide to the 2025 Stayers' Hurdle, featuring the latest odds, expert analysis and our best betting tips.
*Note - Best bets won't be finalised until the field has been confirmed*
2025 Stayers' Hurdle Odds
Name
Odds
Teahupoo
11/10
Home By The Lee
7/1
Lucky Place
9/1
The Wallpark
12/1
Rocky's Diamond
16/1
Bar
20/1
2025 Stayers' Hurdle Tips - The Defending Champion
Having finished third behind stablemate Sire Du Berlais on his first crack at the Stayers' Hurdle in 2023, Teahupoo made no mistakes last year. Gordon Elliott's star was backed into 5/4 on the day and proceeded to thrash the likes of Flooring Porter and Home By The Lee without fully extending himself.
On the back of that unbeaten campaign, punters may have been slightly disappointed to see Teahupoo beaten on his reappearance in the Hatton's Grace. Lossiemouth is, however, a top-quality mare and the race was run to suit her, so I doubt Elliott will have lost much sleep after that defeat.
Like last year, Teahupoo was put away for the Stayers' following that outing at Fairyhouse and he's continued to shorten in the betting ever since. According to the betting, a second Cheltenham Festival win is Teahupoo's for the taking.
2025 Stayers' Hurdle Tips - The Chasing Pack
There are, however, a couple of angles you could take when looking to oppose the favourite. Home By The Lee might be ten, but he returns to Cheltenham in the form of his life and has performed well in previous renewals of this race. The nine-year-old Gowel Road has also taken his form to a new level this term and Nigel Twiston-Davies' Cleeve Hurdle winner does his best work at this venue.
On ratings alone, Langer Dan should be the second-favourite. Dan Skelton's star comes alive in the spring and two victories in the Coral Cup prove he can handle the track. Crambo and Hiddenvalley Lake have disappointed since fighting out the finish in the Long Walk, but both are classy on their day and neither can be overlooked lightly.
The Wallpark has done nothing but progress this term and finished his race off brilliantly to place fourth in the Long Walk. Gordon Elliott's star is qualified for the Pertemps Final, but would be a lively contender if he turned up here. As would Rocky's Diamond, who thrust himself into Cheltenham Festival contention with a third-place finish in the Christmas Hurdle and a victory in the Galmoy, having started the season rated just 123.
Nico de Boinville riding Lucky Place (yellow/blue) clear the last to win The Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham. (Getty)
2025 Stayers' Hurdle Tips - Best Bet
LUCKY PLACE (9/1) is another young stayer that is firmly on the upgrade. Nicky Henderson's six-year-old is unbeaten in two starts this season, having won a competitive renewal of the Ascot Hurdle on his reappearance, before seeing off future Cleeve Hurdle winner Gowel Road to land the Relkeel on New Year's Day.
Considering there was a black cloud hanging over Seven Barrows in March of last year, Lucky Place's run in the Coral Cup has to be regarded as a monstrous effort. He was the only Nicky Henderson horse during the entire meeting to mount a challenge, staying on from well off the pace to finish fourth behind Langer Dan.
Lucky Place's novice form has a nice ring to it. Henderson's six-year-old was narrowly beaten by Mares' Novices' Hurdle winner, Golden Ace at Taunton, and came close to upsetting hot-favourite Gidleigh Park in the Classic Novices' Hurdle here at Cheltenham.
With his form this season franked, and the promise of more progression to come, Lucky Place could be the biggest danger to Teahupoo, providing he - and his trainer - arrives at Cheltenham in fair fettle.
Verdict
Teahupoo will clearly take the world of beating as he tries to defend his Stayers' Hurdle crown, but I like the claims of Lucky Place in opposition.
I fancy there's plenty more to come from him, but I won't part with my cash until the declaration stage. Money will likely come for Teahupoo, The Wallpark (if declared) and Langer Dan, so I could see Lucky Place going off at longer than his current price of 9/1. He's certainly an each-way contender.
Best Bet1: Lucky Place 2025 Stayers' Hurdle @9/1 at BoyleSports - 5 Units
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