Who wins the Stayers' Hurdle? Our experts provide their 1-2-3 for an open race

The Stayers' Hurdle is arguably the most open Grade 1 of the Cheltenham Festival and has thrown up several big-priced winners in recent years. Six tipsters have had their say on the day three highlight . . .

Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle racecard and betting

Ben Hutton

1 Lisnagar Oscar
2 Indefatigable
3 Thyme Hill

The market principals have all been beating each other and it may pay to take a chance on 2020 winner Lisnagar Oscar. He showed some sparkle when third on good ground in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January, and could be capable of significantly better when back on a slower surface. The mare Indefatigable saves her best for Cheltenham and is another interesting outsider, having proved her stamina for 3m at Wetherby in October.

Paul Kealy

1 Flooring Porter
2 Klassical Dream
3 Thyme Hill

The jury's out on whether Flooring Porter would have beaten Klassical Dream had the latter not stolen a march at the start at Leopardstown, but there's no doubt he's still every bit as good as last year. One of the younger horses in the race, Flooring Porter is still the one to beat after Klassical Dream's flop last time. With ten-year-olds having such a bad record, Thyme Hill is next.

Gavin Lynch

1 Flooring Porter
2 Klassical Dream
3 Thyme Hill

As Del Boy might say, it could be deja-vu all over again here. Provided he gets a decent start, last year's winner Flooring Porter should be very difficult to peg back. Klassical Dream is much better than he showed at Gowran last time and rates the main danger.

Andrew Mount

1Thyme Hill
2 Flooring Porter
3 Klassical Dream

Ten-year-olds Paisley Park and Champ may lose out to younger legs, with best-fresh eight-year-old Thyme Hill the pick. He's yet to be beaten by another British-trained runner in two previous Cheltenham Festival outings and can give the Irish a run for their money, as he did when a close-up fourth to Monkfish in the Albert Bartlett in 2020. Flooring Porter and Klassical Dream are feared most.

Tom Park

1 Klassical Dream
2 Sire Du Berlais
3 Champ

This has turned into a really muddling race after a number of the leading contenders fluffed their lines. As a result, last season's winner Flooring Porter is now favourite by default, despite being beaten by Klassical Dream on two occasions. I suspect if Willie Mullins isn't happy with Klassical Dream he won't run, but I'd fancy him if he does turn up. The 33-1 non-runner no bet about Sire Du Berlais is far too big given his festival form, and he boasts good each-way value.

Maddy Playle

1 Paisley Park
2 Flooring Porter
3 Thyme Hill

A wide-open division in which 2019 winner Paisley Park appears to hold every chance after his barnstorming win in the Cleeve Hurdle. That was an exceptional performance and, although unreliable, he clearly has the talent to win this race again given his love for the track and seemingly bottomless stamina. Last year's winner Flooring Porter shouldn't be far away, but he could set it up for Emma Lavelle's charge.

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