Mick Fitzgerald, former jockey and presenter of Sky Sports activities Racing, took an knowledgeable take a look at 4 of the primary contenders for the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham Competition.
Flooring Porter did not see one other contender eventually yr’s renewal, nevertheless it seems to be like a more durable job this time round with a number of attention-grabbing contenders in opposition.
Former RSA winner Champ is again on the hurdles and seems to be a key participant, together with the likes of Stayers’ champion Hurdle Paisley Park and Aintree Thyme Hill winner.
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a hero
When Champ received the Lengthy Stroll Hurdle in Ascot, I assumed, ‘There’s the Stayers ‘Hurdle’ winner. I feel everybody thought so, as you had Thyme Hill and Paisley Park behind him who’re two confirmed residents of this firm.
I do not know what was the reason for his defeat final time as I assumed the whole lot went effectively at Cheltenham at Cliff Hurdel.
He jumped effectively, was relaxed after which acquired hit, which was a scratch on his head. Champ’s report at Cheltenham is excellent.
He completed second within the Ballymore race, received the RSA Novices chase, and his solely flash was on the Gold Cup final yr, not chasing the primary fence.
You need to write off that efficiency, and if he brings his recreation “A” to the pageant, who is aware of what may occur.
power level – His win at Ascot within the Lengthy Stroll was a really sturdy kind.
weak point level – There isn’t any apparent excuse as to why he acquired hit on Cliff Hurdel.
flooring porter
Flooring Porter received the race final yr and it is laborious to say, primarily based on a few of his degree, that he would not should be the favorite.
He was not out of the highest three and received 4 instances in six video games final season, and was given a incredible trip by Danny Mullins when he beat Sire Du Berlais and Paisley Park within the race final yr.
He could not match that consistency in kind this time round however was nonetheless higher when he fell on the Lismullen Hurdle in Navan after which maybe wanted a confidence increase when he completed runner-up with Klassical Dream in Leopardstown over Christmas.
Klassical Dream was within the race that day and Gavin Cromwell may have his counter set to a repeat efficiency from him at Stayers’ Hurdle.
This seems to be essentially the most open of the pageant’s championship races, and if he is again to his finest, he’ll be the one they will all must beat – nevertheless it’s not a straight trip.
power level – He was a superb race winner final yr.
weak point level – Can or not it’s introduced again to the identical peak degree it was 12 months in the past?
paisley park
Paisley Park was clearly a disappointment to the West Yorkshire Heerdel on his re-run, and his long-distance race efforts at Newbury and Lengthy Stroll at Ascot instructed the time might need been good.
Nonetheless, what he did at Cheltenham final time at Cliff Hurdel was extraordinary. He gave all these horses which are getting forward and nonetheless successful, and that was superb.
He wore his tongue tie on the Lengthy Stroll for the primary time when he completed third in opposition to Champ however whether or not he simply acquired used to it or no matter, it was an incredible efficiency final time round.
He used to hit a little bit of a flat spot in his races however lose that quantity of floor within the Cleeve Hurdle and nonetheless win the way in which he left you breathless.
He might need been happier as a result of he got here from behind and handed the horses on the finish of the motion, however what we noticed is that on this kind he is positively not a rear quantity.
power level – He’s a fierce rider and a former race winner.
weak point level – Are you able to assure its efficiency and which one you’ll get?
hill zaatar
Thyme Hill has not run for the reason that Lengthy Stroll Hurdle as he was a superb second after Champ and that effort got here on the again of a disappointing streak in France on heavy floor in opposition to the perfect French gamers.
It by no means actually suited him when he first went to the yard, and I feel it is best judged on his win at Aintree final yr when he beat Roksana.
He is an excellent hurdles jumper, he is getting into the race recent and I feel he is betting on each path, the probably winner of the race.
He confirmed he can go on very effectively when he beat Paisley Park within the long-distance race in Newbury final season and sadly needed to miss the pageant final yr after a cramp shortly earlier than the race.
It seems to be like Philip Hobbs has particularly directed his preparations to tilt the Stayers this time round and he’ll do it for me.
power level – He entered the race recent and was solely overwhelmed a size and a half by a Monkfish at Albert Bartlett.
weak point level – If he turns laborious it might not swimsuit him.