Cheltenham Festival 2024: Betting Trends for the Stayers’ Hurdle

Punters held the upper hand on the opening day of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, with several well-backed horses costing the bookmakers a sizeable payout.

With Day Two featuring some short-priced favourites, bettors could be in clover by the time the prestigious meeting reaches the halfway point.

The standout race on Thursday is the Stayers’ Hurdle, which could be one of the most competitive of the main championship races this week.

We have studied the recent record books to uncover some key betting trends that we think will help you pick the winner of this year’s big race.

• 9/10 of the last winners were aged 6-8.
• 7/10 winners previously ran at the Festival.
• 3/12 winners were favourites.
• 5/12 winners ran in the Cleeve Hurdle.
• 7/12 winners had at least one previous win at Cheltenham.
• 9/12 winners had at least one previous Grade 1 win.
• 11/12 winners had at least two runs that season.

Younger horses have dominated the Stayers’ Hurdle in recent times, with the six to eight age group winning nine of the last ten renewals.

The top two in the market on horse racing betting sites – Teahupoo and Crambo - fall into that category and it would be no surprise to see one of them emerge victorious.

Teahupoo was third in this race last year, but looked much improved when winning the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December.

Although the seven-year-old runs well when fresh, 11 of the last 12 winners had at least two runs the season they won the Stayers’ Hurdle.

On that basis, Crambo could be the value bet having showcased his credentials by winning the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December.

He travelled and jumped superbly on his third run of the season, and trainer Fergal O’Brien believes he has the talent to follow up in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

The Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January is generally a useful form pointer for this race, which brings Noble Yeats and Paisley Park into the equation.

They finished first and second on that occasion and could give each-way punters on betting apps a good run for their money at bigger odds.

Sir Gerhard is also worth monitoring in the betting after producing an impressive performance on his return to hurdles at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve.

• Teahupoo – 7/4
• Crambo – 9/2
• Noble Yeats – 13/2
• Sir Gerhard – 7/1
• Flooring Porter – 10/1
• Home By The Lee – 11/1
• Paisley Park – 12/1
• Sire Du Berlais – 14/1
• Buddy One – 18/1
• Dashel Drasher – 22/1
• Asterion Forlonge – 50/1
• Janidil – 50/1