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Boxing Cheltenham Stayers Hurdle Odds: Ante Post Tips, Preview
2022 Stayers Hurdle crown wide open and ripe for a Sporting upset
There have been plenty of shocks over the years in this Grade 1 stamina test, with Anzum at 40/1 in 1999 and Lisnagar Oscar at 50/1 in 2020 both providing bookmaker friendly results.
The 2022 has the look of a real minefield, with no standout contender at this stage and the former champion Paisley Park reportedly going over fences after a disappointing start to the season.
There is no sign of a future superstar like Baracouda or Big Bucks who both dominated the division for several years, and punters are advised to search for a big priced winner. Here at bettingexpert we have taken a look at the principal contenders at this stage, and recommend a wager on the 20/1 chance
Sporting John
1 – Klassical Dream
Willie Mullins fragile 7-y-o has won 5 of his 12 starts over hurdles, and shot to prominence when winning the 2019 Supreme Novice at the Festival under a confident ride from Ruby Walsh. He backed that up with a Grade 1 win at Punchestown the following month, but things have not gone at all smoothly since with numerous issues keeping him off the track.
He returned from 15 months off to win the Grade 1 Irish Champion Stayers hurdle in April 2021, stepping a mile up in trip for the first time and seeing it out well. He has yet to reappear this season and clearly has been extremely tricky to train, so there have to be huge doubts about him (particularly at the current top price around 5/1).
2 – Buzz
Nicky Henderson’s progressive performer stays extreme distances on the flat (winner of the 2m2f Cesarewitch in October), and he has returned better than ever over hurdles this winter. He barely came off the bridle to win a Grade 2 at Ascot in November, always cruising under confident Nico de Boinville over that 2m3f trip.
Soft ground suits him ideally, but he is not short of speed relatively speaking (took a keen grip in early days) and has to be a very doubtful stayer up the hill over this stamina sapping three mile trip, Overall he makes no appeal at the current price around 8/1, and might be one to lay a place on the betting exchanges.
3 – Thyme Hill
Phillip Hobbs very useful stayer has a bit to prove now after running very poorly sent over to Auteuil in November, finishing railed off in fifth after 7 months on the sidelines. Perhaps there was a valid excuse for that lamentable comeback, and the stable is certainly in much better form now so his next run will tell us a lot more.
The 7-y-o has won 5 of his 8 starts over hurdles, stays really well and has plenty of Cheltenham experience in the book (third in the 2019 Champion bumper, fourth in the 2020 Albert Bartlett). He won the Grade 1 Aintree Stayers hurdle last season after missing the Festival with a minor injury, and would certainly have leading claims if he can be nursed back to his very best form.
4 – Flooring Porter
Gavin Cromwell’s 6-y-o has won 6 of his 17 starts over hurdle so far, being kept busy in Ireland before landing the 2021 renewal of this valuable prize. He is a bold frontrunner with a high cruising speed, handles all types of ground and has an excellent attitude under pressure.
However, he did get the run of a substandard race last year (favourite Paisley Park laboured and not done anything for the form since), and he took a horrible fall when making his seasonal debut at Navan in November. It remains to be seen how he comes out of that nasty experience, and he is another one at the top of the market with plenty of questions to answer.
5 – Sporting John
Phillip Hobbs 6-y-o is completely unexposed granted a proper test of stamina at this three mile trip, and could be the one to side with given all the doubts about those ahead of him in the current ante-post market. He failed to jump fluently over fences last season (despite winning a Grade 1 Novice Chase at Sandown in February), and a return to hurdles certainly looked the right call when he won a competitive handicap at this track in October.
That win is clearly a long way off top class form, but he saw out the trip really well under a confident ride from rear by Tom O’Brien and that was his first attempt at this trip over hurdles (two previous runs came over fences at high level). The best price offered of 20/1 makes plenty of appeal given this race is likely to be his target, and he has much more upside after just ten career starts under Rules so far.
Cheltenham Stayers Hurdle 2022 Odds
| Horse | bet365 | Skybet | Paddy Power | William Hill | Betfair | BetVictor | Unibet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klassical Dream | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 6.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 |
| Buzz | 7.50 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 6.50 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 6.50 |
| Thyme Hill | 9.00 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 7.00 | 8.00 | 7.00 | 8.00 |
| Flooring Porter | 12.00 | 11.00 | 11.00 | 8.00 | 11.00 | 9.00 | 8.00 |
| Galopin Des Champs | 9.00 | 11.00 | 15.00 | 11.00 | 15.00 | 11.00 | 9.00 |
| Sire Du Berlais | 17.00 | 17.00 | 17.00 | 17.00 | 17.00 | 15.00 | 15.00 |
| Ronald Pump | 17.00 | 17.00 | 17.00 | 17.00 | 17.00 | 17.00 | 15.00 |
| Abacadabras | 21.00 | 21.00 | 21.00 | 21.00 | 21.00 | 21.00 | 21.00 |
| Champ | 21.00 | 21.00 | 21.00 | 21.00 | 21.00 | 21.00 | 21.00 |
Cheltenham Champion Hurdle odds as at 2pm December 7th 2021. Odds may now differ.
