Gold Cup contender Champ a surprise inclusion among 51 Stayers' Hurdle entries

Gold Cup hope Champ was a surprise inclusion among 51 entries for the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The nine-year-old, who won the RSA last season, holds an entry in the Gold Cup and his trainer Nicky Henderson said this week he had considered sending him to a conditions hurdle as a prep.

The race may be a decider between Thyme Hill and 2019 winner Paisley Park, who finished second behind his rival in the Long Distance Hurdle but made amends with success in the Long Walk Hurdle.

Sam Spinner, runner-up behind Paisley Park in the Grade 1 two seasons ago, won three novice chases the following season before sustaining a fractured pelvis and has struggled for form in two starts this campaign.

"He's fine at home," said trainer Jedd O'Keeffe. "He's had some time off after his last run at Newbury as an old foot injury has flared up. Due to that injury, the plan is to stay over hurdles this season.

Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle
Sponsors: 3 Paisley Park, 7-2 Thyme Hill, 5 Champ, 7 Benie Des Dieux, 10 Sire Du Berlais, 12 Fury Road, McFabulous, 14 Flooring Porter, Roskana, 16 If The Cap Fits, Next Destination, Pauls Saga, Ronald Pump, 20 bar.

"I think we're going to struggle to get a run into him before the race, so he will be going to Cheltenham fresh. We thought about the Rendlesham Hurdle [February 20] but it might just come too soon.

"He's a talented horse and he's run well in the race before. He was fifth in 2018 and then a good second the following year. He has solid form at Cheltenham so hopefully he can get there in one piece."

The Rebecca Curtis-trained Lisnagar Oscar struck at 50-1 in last season's race and he is entered alongside runner-up Ronald Pump and third Bacardys, who are among 20 Irish-trained entries. They include Pertemps winner Sire Du Berlais and The Storyteller.

Watch Lisnagar Oscar's shock Stayers' Hurdle success

Paul Nicholls is the leading trainer in the race with four wins courtesy of Big Buck's and he has entered Next Destination and McFabulous, winner of the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Kempton last Saturday.

Three former winners in Mares' Hurdle

The trio of Benie Des Dieux, Roksana and Honeysuckle, winners of the last thee runnings of the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, were among 26 entries for the Grade 1, which has been won nine times by Willie Mullins.

Benie Des Dieux fell at the last when in command in 2019 before finishing second last season and has not run since. She is among six entries for Mullins, including last season's festival winner Concertista.

Honeysuckle, who holds an entry in the Unibet Champion Hurdle, took her Grade 1 tally to five for Henry de Bromhead and remained unbeaten when winning the Hatton's Grace Hurdle in November.

Honeysuckle (right) and Benie Des Dieux (left) could be set to clash again in the Mares' HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

The seven-year-old was among nine provisional runners for the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (3.15) at Leopardstown on February 6, the opening day of the two-day Dublin Racing Festival.

A Plus Tard and Minella Indo have entries for the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3.40) the following day, which is one of eight Grade 1s set to take place at the meeting. The track also stages the Flogas Novice Chase (3.10), which could feature Envoi Allen and Asterion Forlonge.

Read more:

Confirmed runners and riders for the Classic Chase at Warwick on Saturday

Newcastle and Lingfield cancelled – plus the latest prospects for the weekend

'It will keep happening' – jockeys' chief fires warning over weighing-in errors

Leicester's vaccination hub aiming for 1,500 jabs a day in Covid-19 response

Get clued up with the latest Cheltenham Festival tips and odds with our free microsite. The best Cheltenham betting advice and exclusive free betting offers all in one place.