2024 Stayers' Hurdle News - Key quotes from connections

Gordon Elliott talks about Teahupoo and defending champion Sire Du Berlais

Teahupoo went close last year when not everything went according to plan in the race. We deliberately kept him fresh for this after the Hatton's Grace and didn't go to Leopardstown at Christmas or the Galmoy with him. Conditions will suit and he seems in great form. We're very hopeful and I have nothing to report but positives.

Sire Du Berlais is a horse of a lifetime and what he did last year was unbelievable. It's a massive ask for him to do it again, but he is starting to come to himself over the last few weeks and I've been happy with his work recently. This is his time of year and this is his track.

Fergal O'Brien discusses the chances of Crambo

The Cleeve was the obvious place to go after Ascot but it took him a couple of weeks to get over the Ascot race and two weeks after that would have been too soon. It was definitely the right decision. He's had a couple of away days and we're very happy with where he is.

I think he probably got a lot of confidence out of Ascot. He's very versatile and I think he'll love Cheltenham. I've no concerns about the ground, track or anything else, the opposition would be my only concern.

You cannot write the likes of Paisley Park, Dashel Drasher and Noble Yeats off because they are all so tough and have been there year after year. We just hope that Crambo has got the younger legs and comes out on top.

Noble Yeats trainer Emmet Mullins speaks to the press

He was second at Limerick over Christmas but he probably wasn't back in training long enough and that seemed to take its toll late on in testing conditions. He definitely took a step forward next time out when winning the Cleeve and hopefully he's improved again.

Paul Townend talks about his ride, Sir Gerhard

He’s a two-time Cheltenham Festival winner but has to prove he stays three miles. He has won a Gallagher Novices' Hurdle here on very heavy ground and stayed well that day. He didn’t look to stay over three miles over fences here last year, but he had a terrible prep for the race and I felt jumping fences wasn’t easy for him and that contributed to him not getting the trip. 

I think he will get three miles. The way he raced at Punchestown the last day filled me with confidence that he is settling much better and that will help him get the trip. He's a high-class horse but there is a lot of ifs, buts, and maybes there.

Gavin Cromwell on former two-time winner Flooring Porter

He's schooled well over hurdles and seems in good nick. He didn't have a good prep last season for this race as he picked up an injury at Christmas but everything has gone smoothly this time around. He could have run in the interim but we decided to go here fresh and thankfully we've had a clearer run with him this time.

Assistant trainer, Barry Fenton talks up Paisley Park's chances

He's felt good in his work all season. He might have lost a little bit of speed but you can't knock him and if he runs like he has all year you'd love to think he'd be in the shake-up.

I don't think the conditions bother us either way at this stage, he's experienced everything before and there are no great surprises among the opposition. I've never been involved with a horse like him before and I don't think I'll find another like him. He's lovely to deal with but as tough as nails behind it all.

Jeremy Scott with a few words on Dashel Drasher

I'm glad it's soft ground but I'd have loved to have been running on Tuesday when the rain had just fallen. It's fine-margin stuff and we arrive there in good form and we'll give it our best shot. We're probably slightly better prepared than last year but we've not been able to beat them off level weights so far this season, so it's going to take a stellar performance.

Buddy One's trainer, Paul Gilligan talks to the press

He just seems to come alive at Cheltenham, he's a different horse. He's been here twice and he seems to know where he is. He ran great in the Martin Pipe when third last season. He needs to step up but it's horses for courses and hopefully he can acquit himself well.