*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Sire Du Berlais bids to bring up a hat-trick of lucrative spring Festival victories when he takes on eight rivals in the Champion Stayers Hurdle.
Gordon Elliott’s veteran gelding was a shock 33/1 winner of the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham before confirming the form with an emphatic success in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree earlier this month.
Promising stablemate Teahupoo heads the field on ratings for Thursday’s 17:25, however, while Willie Mullins is represented by the winner of the last two renewals, Klassical Dream, as well as Asterion Forlonge, Monkfish and Whatdeawant.
Champion Stayers Hurdle odds can be found on the Paddy Power website, Paddy Power app or via our snazzy betting widgets, otherwise Timeform’s horse-by-horse guide to the runners and betting tips from the racing boffins are below.
Champion Stayers Hurdle tips
Timeform: TEAHUPOO wasn’t seen to best effect when a close third to Sire Du Berlais in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and, still unexposed as a stayer, he is taken to emerge on top this time. To his credit, Sire Du Berlais subsequently produced another career-best when following up at Aintree and he won’t go down without a fight. Klassical Dream can be expected to make a bold bid to win this race for the third consecutive, while stablemate Monkfish is a fascinating contender.
Champion Stayers Hurdle runners
Ashdale Bob
Trainer: Mrs J. Harrington Jockey: Keith Donoghue Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Smart hurdler. Twelve runs since last win in 2021. Pulled up in Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft, 25/1) 42 days ago (race won by Sire Du Berlais), folding in the home straight. Others preferred.
**
Asterion Forlonge
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Mr P. W. Mullins Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs
High-class chaser. Made it 3-5 in this sphere when landing the 6-runner Ballybin Hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, soft, 11/8) 17 days ago by ½ length from Monkfish, driven out. Townend prefers Klassical Dream.
***
Klassical Dream
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs
High-class hurdler. 34 lengths ninth of 11 to Sire Du Berlais in Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft, 15/2) 42 days ago. Has won the last two runnings of this and likely to make a bold bid to defend his crown.
***
Meet And Greet
Trainer: Oliver McKiernan Jockey: Phillip Enright Age: 7 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Smart hurdler. Creditable 17¼ lengths fourth of 10 to Sire Du Berlais in Liverpool Hurdle (16/1) at Aintree (24.7f, good) 12 days ago. No more than an each-way squeak.
**
Monkfish
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: D. E. Mullins Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Top-class chaser. ½-length second of 6 to Asterion Forlonge in Ballybin Hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, soft, 11/4) 17 days ago, keeping on well. Good chance he’ll reverse those placings with his stablemate back up in trip here.
***
Sire Du Berlais
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: M. P. Walsh Age: 11 Weight: 11st 10lbs
High-class hurdler. 8/1, career best when winning 10-runner Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree (24.7f, good) 12 days ago by 3¼ lengths from Marie’s Rock, staying on strongly. Clearly at the top of his game.
****
Summerville Boy
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: Rachael Blackmore Age: 11 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Smart hurdler. Won 5-runner minor event hurdle at Thurles (23.2f, soft, 4/1) 40 days ago by 4½ lengths from Asterion Forlonge. This is much tougher.
**
Teahupoo
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Jordan Colin Gainford Age: 6 Weight: 11st 10lbs
High-class hurdler. Creditable ¾-length third of 11 to Sire Du Berlais in Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft, 9/4) 42 days ago, faring best of those held up. Big player.
*****
Whatdeawant
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: S. F. O’Keeffe Age: 7 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Useful hurdler. 13/2, third of 8 in novice chase at Gowran (20f, heavy) on debut over fences 152 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Appears to be the least-fancied of the Willie Mullins-trained quartet.
**
Punchestown Tips Today
- Horse Racing tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s top Thursday picks at Punchestown
- Horse Racing tips: Ruby Walsh’s Day 3 Punchestown fancies on Thursday
Read More
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
- Punchestown Festival 2023 dates, race times and day-by-day schedule
- Punchestown Festival 2023 going and weather forecast for today’s races
- Punchestown Festival Live Stream: Watch every race for FREE with Paddy Power
The Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
