Teahupoo tops 20 in the hunt for Stayers’ Hurdle honours

Defending champion Teahupoo heads a list of 20 remaining entries in Thursday’s Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham as he looks to join an illustrious list of multiple winners.

Big Buck’s leads the way with four wins in the three-mile Grade One, Inglis Drever claimed three victories and the likes of Crimson Embers, Galmoy, Baracouda and Flooring Porter did not stop at one success.

Teahupoo powered up the Prestbury Park hill to deny Flooring Porter 12 months ago and followed up with an equally dominant display at the Punchestown Festival.

This season, he has again had just a solitary previous outing, when finishing second to Lossiemouth in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse at the start of December.

His trainer Gordon Elliott, who also struck with Sire Du Berlais in 2023, is set to field another fancied runner in The Wallpark, who was bought by JP McManus before his run of four straight wins ended with fourth place in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Crambo retained his title that day by edging out Hiddenvalley Lake but Fergal O’Brien’s charge must now prove he can handle the undulations of Cheltenham, having finished ninth here last year and a well-beaten fifth of six in the Cleeve Hurdle.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Gowel Road and the Paul Nicholls-trained Monmiral finished ahead of Crambo here on Trials Day and are in line to reoppose.

Nicky Henderson claimed this prize with Rustle in 1989 and Bacchanal in 2000 and will try to add to his tally with Lucky Place, who was fourth in the Coral Cup as a novice last season and has made good progress this term.

He steps up in trip after picking up Grade Two wins in the Ascot Hurdle and the Relkeel at this course, getting the better of Gowel Road here on New Year’s Day.

Joseph O’Brien’s Home By The Lee was third behind Teahupoo at Cheltenham and Punchestown last year but is unbeaten this winter, scoring at Navan and in the Grade One Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown, with Bob Olinger back in second on both occasions.

Dan Skelton is hoping the Cheltenham Festival can again bring out the best in dual Coral Cup winner Langer Dan after a disappointing campaign so far.

Ladbrokes ambassador Skelton said: “The thing that people ask me most in the build-up to the festival is ‘how’s Langer Dan?’.

“He’s got his own following for a lot of reasons. But, yeah, people who know their racing, that’s the first thing they ask me around Cheltenham – which is quite entertaining really.

“I wish he knew that everyone was so interested in him…he might start showing a bit more! We’ll see; hopefully he comes alive next week, as he normally does, but with his work at home, we just have to trust him.”

Last year’s Supreme runner-up Mystical Power, who went on to secure Grade One success at Aintree and Punchestown as a novice but has flopped twice this term, could represent Willie Mullins, along with outsider Winter Fog.

Galmoy Hurdle winner Rocky’s Diamond is still engaged for Declan Queally, along with Kerry Lee’s Nemean Lion, who completed a hat-trick this term with a gutsy strike in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.