Fowler on the Festival: Time for Tea to make it two Stayers Hurdle triumphs

(Featured image: Alamy Images)

Written by: Harry Fowler

There are now less than two weeks to go until the 2025 Cheltenham Festival and Odds Now have enlisted the help of national hunt enthusiast Harry Fowler to keep you abreast of all the key developments.

Catch Harry’s column every week between now and the roar to stay on top of the big stories and market moves from horse racing’s most anticipated meeting.

Stayers’ Hurdle 2025 Preview and Betting Guide

The 2025 Cheltenham Festival is fast approaching, and one of the big championship races of the week is the Stayers' Hurdle, set to take place on the Thursday of the Festival, March 13th.

The three-mile distance, combined with the challenging Cheltenham track, demands not just speed but also the ability to dig deep over the long haul, it's often a race that rewards consistent and tough horses.

Teahupoo this year is looking to go back-to-back in this race and is currently an even money favourite to do so. He certainly looked the real deal last season, and we are soon to see if he can replicate that.

I do believe he should’ve won this race in 2023 too, when he finished an agonising third behind a 10-year-old winner in 33/1 Sire Du Berlais and the 11-year-old Drashel Drasher 40/1 in second. 

We have only seen him once this season, when second to Lossiemouth in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse. After the race there were, and still are, plenty that doubt him retaining similar ability as last season because of that run. I think that is a serious stretch though.

We found out nothing in the Hatton’s Grace. That run is a prep run with this race in mind, it’s a trip too short, was on ground too quick and they went so slow all the way around, unitl a sprint finish vs Lossiemouth, who looks like she could end up in the Champion Hurdle.

Teahupoo is a worthy favourite to retain his Stayers Hurdle crown
Teahupoo is a worthy favourite to retain his Stayers Hurdle crown (Alamy)

Ruby Walsh was even in commentary telling Paul Townend to hold onto Lossiemouth as long as possible to make it a sprint and not play into Teahupoo’s staying hands.

By no means am I saying that I think he is unbeatable as this is a tough race to win. But that run shouldn’t be the reason to take him on. Not many horses would come to Cheltenham off the back of a run in early December that wasn’t his race at all, yet it’s the nature of the division and what it takes out of these horses.

Home By The Lee is one that is looking to once again take on Teahupoo and is around 6/1 at the time of writing.

He has been to Cheltenham for the last three years in the Stayers and his best effort to date was the third last season, behind Teahupoo. We have seen the horse twice this term and has won both of his races, with jockey JJ Slevin and trainer Joseph O’Brien both making clear they feel he is in the best form of his career.

Slevin has even suggested he has got it wrong previously in the Stayers in terms of tactics and will be doing things differently in the 2025 renewal.

Lucky Place is another up near the top of the market and according to the market, he is the UK’s main hope at around an 8/1 chance generally. I think that is short enough, to be honest.

He has run well this season and has looked like he will get the three miles but think it’s a tough enough ask against some real hardened stayers. Trainer Nicky Henderson has made clear his thoughts that he has a great chance here but I think he's plenty short enough on the formbook.

Now, Langer Dan is a horse that has the whole of the racing industry confused. Does he really hate the winter? I'll let you make own mind up...

The last couple of years, he has been mopping up in the handicaps whereas this year he is coming here, so it only matters how he runs on March 13th, ultimately.

I have seen many suggestions that Dan Skelton was trying to go back to the Coral Cup again this year, but I don't think he's foolish enough to have ever thought he can fool the handicapper again.

Last season, it was all about the fact he had bled or had ulcers in races leading up to the festival. This year, no such excuses and he has just run badly, plain and simple.

Assuming he is back to his best this month, and he likes the weather on the day, last year's runs at Aintree and Sandown would put him in with a great chance on form. I think without running well prior though, it’s a lot to ask to beat stayers like Teahupoo. 

The Wallpark is entered here and the Pertemps, and I do think he will end up in this race.

He is now fourth in the market for this, and fourth in the market for a Championship race should really be taking his chance. He was last seen at the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot where he finished an eyecatching fourth, coming from miles back that day. He will need to take a big step forward to win this race but as his position in the market suggests, he has a place chance.

Harry Fowler's Stayers Hurdle 2025 prediction

1st - Teahupoo

2nd - Home By The Lee

3rd - Langer Dan

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