Cheltenham Festival dark horses: Stayers' Hurdle

Teahupoo has a stranglehold on the Stayers' Hurdle market for the day three feature at the Cheltenham Festival, but should Gordon Elliott's 2024 winner fluff his lines, it's a wide open betting heat behind him.

Despite the Stayers' division often being labelled as weak in recent seasons, Flooring Porter is the only horse since Big Buck's won his fourth in 2012 to defend his crown.

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Below are three possible dark horses that might lay claim to Teahupoo's crown.

Nemean Lion

Current odds: 20/1

Kerry Lee's charge is fresh off winning the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell over 2m3f on soft ground in February, landing that Grade 2 contest gamely from Steel Ally, who had travelled like the winner for a long way.

That made it 3-3 lately for Nemean Lion since mid-December, adding to wins at Hereford and Windsor.

He didn't have the class for the Champion Hurdle last March, beating only two home, and his only other Cheltenham run saw him finish fifth in the Greatwood Hurdle in 2023.

He has yet to take the three-mile test offered here, but his gutsy attitude displayed at Fontwell could serve him very well indeed and he's got his chance to shine in current mood.

At trips in and around two-miles and just more, it's become evident that Nemean Lion has come up just shy of Grade 1 level, but this new distance could yet unlock the sort of progress required to prevail in the upper echelons.

Bob Olinger

Current odds: 50/1

Henry De Bromhead's record at the Cheltenham Festival needs little in the way of introduction and the Waterford handler needs only the Stayers' Hurdle to complete his set of the crown jewels in the Cotswolds.

Bob Olinger was a Festival winner in 2021 and 2022 and also won the Relkeel Hurdle on New Year's Day in 2024 on his most recent visit. He's a perfect 3-3 at Prestbury Park.

He remains unexposed at three-miles and was last spotted finishing second to Home By The Lee over this sort of trip at Leopardstown in December.

De Bromhead insists the spring festivals are a key aim this term after Bob Olinger was narrowly denied in last year's Aintree Hurdle (2m4f) and he would have solid claims at a chunky price in this contest.

Franciscan Rock

Current odds: 40/1

Mouse Morris has got improved performances from Franciscan Rock this season. The Fame And Glory gelding won three-milers at Punchestown and Clonmel before Christmas and then went to Gowran Park for the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle in January.

He was third behind Rocky's Diamond in that contest and perhaps the extreme conditions underfoot weren't optimal.

He ran fifth in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham over 2m5f last March and was sixth behind Teahupoo in the Champion Stayers' at Punchestown.

If he can bring his improved form to Cheltenham he could threaten the places and it has to be noted he is only recently turned eight years old, so further progress cannot be overlooked for a horse with limited experience in Grade 1 company.

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