2026 Stayers Hurdle

[BuckingThe Trend]

I was a strong backer of Jasmin De Vaux for this so keeping it simple I have to be a strong backer of Honesty Policy. He's only 5 and looks the real deal to me.

 

[Black Dog]

Anyone have views on Kabral du Mathan making up into a Stayers candidate. The division does not look overly strong.

I'd be fairly confident that'll be the plan. They certainly weren't trying to preserve his handicap mark on Saturday weren't they. Ridden right out to see what he could do.

 

[Black Dog]

I'd be fairly confident that'll be the plan. They certainly weren't trying to preserve his handicap mark on Saturday weren't they. Ridden right out to see what he could do.

Top price of 20/1 with cash out is fair enough I reckon. If the improvement continues as he goes up in trip,he'll definitely be a player in a division that can lack depth.

 

[isitmarchyet]

Anyone have views on Kabral du Mathan making up into a Stayers candidate. The division does not look overly strong.

From the Racing Post

Kabral shows his potential

Handicaps appear to be a thing of the past for Kabral Du Mathan, who powered away to a 12-length victory in the 2m3f hurdle to ignite ambitions at the Cheltenham Festival.

After the impressive victory, the five-year-old's new trainer Dan Skelton said: "We're lucky to have inherited him in such good shape and hopefully he's a horse who can continue to progress as he goes up in trip.

"I think he'll go to the Relkeel and if he did well in that he'd go straight to Cheltenham. I think he's a potential Stayers' Hurdle horse."

 

[Prestbury]

From the Racing Post

Kabral shows his potential

Handicaps appear to be a thing of the past for Kabral Du Mathan, who powered away to a 12-length victory in the 2m3f hurdle to ignite ambitions at the Cheltenham Festival.

After the impressive victory, the five-year-old's new trainer Dan Skelton said: "We're lucky to have inherited him in such good shape and hopefully he's a horse who can continue to progress as he goes up in trip.

"I think he'll go to the Relkeel and if he did well in that he'd go straight to Cheltenham. I think he's a potential Stayers' Hurdle horse."

Will he stay the stayers hurdle trip? Not a great deal of encouragement in his pedigree - none of his half siblings went anywhere near 3m and the sire doesn't seem to throw 3m winners either...

 

[Eggs]

Anyone have views on Kabral du Mathan making up into a Stayers candidate. The division does not look overly strong.

…..Coral/Ladbrokes clearly think so as they have him as low as 8-1. 20-1 available with cash-out.

 

[Runragged]

Interesting on Kabral. Couldn't understand why Skelton was riding him out so vigorously with the race comfortably won. Could of just coasted home, gone up a few pounds and been a strong candidate for either the handicaps at the Festival.

Wodhooh was good and to me needed all of the trip, a couple of times potentially coming off the bridle. However, the Mares hurdle on the New course will play to her strengths and is already 2/2 there. Stayers on same track but think she would have to show she is even better at 3m to go that route. Potters Charm showed a bit more after falling on debut though got left behind a little easily by Wodhooh and Celtic Dino. Don't think he will be anywhere near that level.

 

[Cheltenham Novice Chase]

It seems Nichols has lost quite a few young horses to other trainers. KDM to Skelton, OPS, who won at Kempton today, to Nicky Henderson just off the top of my head. What is going on?

 

[Cheltenham Novice Chase]

It seems Nichols has lost quite a few young horses to other trainers. KDM to Skelton, OPS, who won at Kempton today, to Nicky Henderson just off the top of my head. What is going on?

And Act of Innocence has gone from Nichols to Henderson. That’s three!

 

[riccirich]

It seems Nichols has lost quite a few young horses to other trainers. KDM to Skelton, OPS, who won at Kempton today, to Nicky Henderson just off the top of my head. What is going on?

He's absolutely shit, and has been for a while. Still thinks eras of dominance run in cycles and patiently waiting for his time at the the top again, rather than realising he needs to make serious changes because the reason the likes of mullins are at the top is because he's become a far far better trainer than him.

 

[Lobos]

Teahupoo, meanwhile, is on course to bid for a hat-trick of wins in the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday, having been foiled 12 months ago by Lossiemouth.
Elliott said: “Teahupoo will definitely go, he’s in great form. I was thinking of going to Ascot for the Long Walk, but with the way the ground is we should be going to Fairyhouse.”

 

[Lobos]

John ‘Shark’ Hanlon will campaign Hewick with Cheltenham’s Stayers’ Hurdle in mind before making a decision on whether he will tackle the Grand National for a second time.

The 10-year-old was eighth on his first attempt at Aintree last year but will be switched to hurdles for now with Newbury’s Long Distance Hurdle on Friday next on the agenda for the 2023 King George winner.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

Impose Toi vs Strong Leader vs Hewick so far in the Long Walk.

I'm really hoping Impose Toi can make that step up.

 

[Deleted member 4957]

This will go against everything that’s been seen and happened recently but I’ve been pressing Wodhooh at 25s here.
Elliott not dismissing the option and although a Mares Hurdle bid is much more likely if one of the Mullins 2 milers puts up a serious performance in the coming weeks it may push Lossie to the another Mares and change Elliott’s mind on his mare.
#crystalballshit

 

[Lobos]

There may be a little more hope for you Ista if time runs out to get BDA over a fence. She could go Mares Hurdle.

 

[ComplyOrDie]

There may be a little more hope for you Ista if time runs out to get BDA over a fence. She could go Mares Hurdle.

Problem with BDA is that she's not proven it at Cheltenham.

No doubt she's talented, given some of her performances away from the track but turning up to Cheltenham and not winning is far from ideal.

The saying horses for courses springs to mind.

Wodhooh on the other hand is two from two at the track, albeit contesting weaker races than what BDA has done.

I know which one I'd be relying on of the pair.

 

[Deleted member 4957]

There may be a little more hope for you Ista if time runs out to get BDA over a fence. She could go Mares Hurdle.

Yeah I'm not convinced the destination of BDA will dictate much, similarly Elliott's army of staying hurdlers;
He ran SIre Du Berlais against Teahupoo in 2024, The Wallpark went up against that one last year and in 2023 he pitched Sire du Berlais and Teahupoo against each other.
The only curve ball in that lot is each renewal contained a JP horse which isn't the case with The Yellow Clay, Teahupoo and Wodhooh...

 

[Zachx02]

I think an Impose Toi win today and festival bet might be on the cards this weekend

 

[Wiggy]

Yeah I'm not convinced the destination of BDA will dictate much, similarly Elliott's army of staying hurdlers;
He ran SIre Du Berlais against Teahupoo in 2024, The Wallpark went up against that one last year and in 2023 he pitched Sire du Berlais and Teahupoo against each other.
The only curve ball in that lot is each renewal contained a JP horse which isn't the case with The Yellow Clay, Teahupoo and Wodhooh...

Maybe Honesty Policy depending on how he goes at the weekend.

 

[Bonjers]

And Act of Innocence has gone from Nichols to Henderson. That’s three!

5 to Skelton (Kabral, Sinnatra, Farland and 2 stores), 6 to Murphy (Zamek, King's Champion, The Bluesman, Kap Boy and 2 expensive stores) 4to Hendo (Ginnys, Act of Innocence, Old Park Star, Don't Tell Su) and 2 to Pauling (both expensive stores).

About £6m of horse out the door over the summer.