2023 Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival: the runners, the odds, the verdict

Flooring Porter chases a slice of Cheltenham Festival history as he bids for a third consecutive Stayers' Hurdle (3.30) on Thursday. The showpiece event on day three of the festival looks a cracker and you can get our-runner-by-runner guide below . . .

3.30 Cheltenham (Thursday, March 17): Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle

1 Ashdale Bob

Second to Home By The Lee in the Christmas Hurdle but may find a few too good here

Trainer: Jessica Harrington
Jockey: Keith Donoghue
SP forecast: 25-1

Ashdale Bob15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Keith Donoghue Tnr: Mrs John Harrington

2 Blazing Khal

Defied long absence in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle and has the potential to be a major player

Trainer: Charles Byrnes
Jockey: Philip Byrnes
SP forecast: 11-4f

Blazing Khal15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Philip Byrnes Tnr: C Byrnes

3 Dashel Drasher

Creditable second in Cleeve Hurdle over course and distance but it's likely he will again come up short

Trainer: Jeremy Scott
Jockey: Rex Dingle
SP forecast: 25-1

Dashel Drasher15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Rex Dingle Tnr: Jeremy Scott

4 Flooring Porter

Has won the last two runnings and will be tough to catch if producing his peak form

Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Jockey: Danny Mullins
SP forecast: 11-2

Flooring Porter15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Danny Mullins Tnr: Gavin Cromwell

5 Gold Tweet

French raider who won the Cleeve Hurdle over course and distance on first British start; could be involved

Trainer: Gabriel Leenders
Jockey: Johnny Charron
SP forecast: 10-1

Gold Tweet15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Johnny Charron Tnr: Gabriel Leenders

6 Henri Le Farceur

Nine-length win in French Grade 2 last time but improvement very much needed on first British start

Trainer: Hugo Merienne
Jockey: Felix De Giles
SP forecast: 25-1

Henri Le Farceur15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Felix De Giles Tnr: Hugo Merienne

7 Home By The Lee

Improved this season, winning the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle, and is firmly in calculations

Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Jockey: JJ Slevin
SP forecast: 6-1

Home By The Lee15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: J J Slevin Tnr: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

8 Klassical Dream

Six Grade 1 wins; fifth in this last year and may again be vulnerable to stronger stayers

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Paul Townend
SP forecast: 8-1

Klassical Dream15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Paul Townend Tnr: W P Mullins

9 Paisley Park

Below par in the Cleeve but third in last two runnings of this and each-way claims once more

Trainer: Emma Lavelle
Jockey: Aidan Coleman
SP forecast: 14-1

Paisley Park15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Aidan Coleman Tnr: Emma Lavelle

10 Sire Du Berlais

11-year-old who hasn't been at his best lately but has an excellent record at Cheltenham Festival

Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Mark Walsh
SP forecast: 50-1

Sire Du Berlais15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Mark Walsh Tnr: Gordon Elliott

11 Teahupoo

Easily won the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran last time and he's a leading contender

Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Davy Russell
SP forecast: 3-1

Teahupoo15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Davy Russell Tnr: Gordon Elliott

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The verdict

On form there is no standout candidate and at big odds a chance is taken on SIRE DU BERLAIS, who has an excellent festival record.

Sire Du Berlais15:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Mark Walsh Tnr: Gordon Elliott

Read these next:

Paul Kealy's guide to the favourites at the Cheltenham Festival 

Who will win the Cheltenham Gold Cup based on previous trends? 

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