Big Buck's and Flooring Porter both won their first Stayers' Hurdles aged six
Favourite Teahupoo is contesting this race for the fourth time
Recommended bet: Kabral Du Mathan to win
It is day three of the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday and the attention turns to stamina with the Stayers' Hurdle over three miles the feature contest as the action switches to the New course for the remaining two days.
Last year's one-two Bob Olinger and Teahupoo are back for another go in the Stayers' as they face some exciting young challengers.
The latest Stayers' Hurdle odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Setting the scene
Teahupoo dominates the Stayers' Hurdle betting once more as he belatedly looks for his second win in the race.
He looked set to go back-to-back last year only for Bob Olinger in the same Robcour colours to take over up the run-in. The reigning champ is a perfect 4-4 at Cheltenham but is now 11-years-old and just one horse in four decades has scored after turning 11.
Six and seven years of age tends to produce winners and, in that regard, rising stars like Impose Toi, Honest Policy, Kabral Du Mathan and Ma Shantou are sure to be popular.
Ballyburn ran Teahupoo close in the Hatton's Grace over 2m4f on their seasonal comeback but it was much more clear-cut over this trip at Christmas.
Home By The Lee is taking part in this race for the fifth time and joins former King George winner Hewick and Bob Olinger in forming a trio of 11-year-olds.
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Big race stats
Nine of the last 12 winners have been aged six or seven.
Since 1972 only eight horses aged nine or older have won, with seven of those boasting previous Festival-winning form.
There have been three winning favourites in the last 10 years, six at odds of 10/1 or shorter.
Gordon Elliot has won two of the last three and had the runner-up last season.
Emma Lavelle won with Paisley Park in 2019 after taking the Cleeve Hurdle and attempts the same feat now with Ma Shantou.
Prediction
Teahupoo is the standard-bearer here but he is having his fourth start in the race and it is somewhat disappointing that he has been beaten twice in it.
Bob Olinger was too strong last year but the age stats count heavily against him and we have only seen him once since last March when beaten by Teahupoo at Christmas.
Honesty Policy (Gordon Elliott) and Impose Toi (Nicky Henderson) are contenders for owner JP McManus but have both shown fallibility this season as well as talent.
Ma Shantou won the Cleeve Hurdle here on Trials Day in January by seven lengths and the last three horses that did that won this race in March.
However, Dan Skelton has consented to run his exciting six-year-old Kabral Du Mathan here despite long suggesting he might wait for Aintree.
He has looked a possible star in the making in two runs since joining this trainer, most recently romping to victory in the Relkeel Hurdle here on New Year's Day.
Drying ground is a plus for him and the fact his trainer opted for this race is a big boost of confidence.
Back Kabral Du Mathan to win the Stayers' Hurdle (3.20pm) at 3/1
The latest Stayers' Hurdle odds are available on LiveScore Bet
