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2025 Stayers Hurdle

Intense Raffles possibly one to consider for this.
Said to be campaigned over hurdles prior to grand national.
Not seen rest of article though, so they may well mention running here or not.

But if he were to win the Navan race, then he'd be not far off what's required to be competitive.
Not priced anywhere.
 
….Murphy re Strong Leader’s run tomorrow;

“He’s in good form, he’s been trained for the race and we’re looking forward to running him. Obviously it’s cut up big time so hopefully he’s the one they’ve all got to beat.

“It’s the start of what is hopefully a busy season for him, I’m expecting him to be fit enough to go and win but I’ve left a bit to work with as well.

“I don’t know why it’s cut up as bad as it did but it’s still a tight little race. I wouldn’t swap my lad, he’s got a penalty and we have bigger targets ahead but it’d be lovely to win it.”
​
 
….Murphy re Strong Leader’s run tomorrow;

“He’s in good form, he’s been trained for the race and we’re looking forward to running him. Obviously it’s cut up big time so hopefully he’s the one they’ve all got to beat.

“It’s the start of what is hopefully a busy season for him, I’m expecting him to be fit enough to go and win but I’ve left a bit to work with as well.

“I don’t know why it’s cut up as bad as it did but it’s still a tight little race. I wouldn’t swap my lad, he’s got a penalty and we have bigger targets ahead but it’d be lovely to win it.”
​

‘trained for the race’……..5/6 from EV’s now COD :barbershop_quartet_member:
 
….William Hill holding onto a bit of 16-1 Strong Leader but most cutting.
 
…Strong Leader 20-1 Stayers in Hills ‘Road to Cheltenham’ specials.

12-1 best elsewhere with 365.


The winning rider told ITV Racing: “I wanted a lead because he doesn’t do a whole lot in front but at the same time he’s a strong stayer and I didn’t want to be setting it up for the others.

“I suppose it was tactical enough but he’s won a shade cosy and got his season off to a good start.”
​
 
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Interesting comments on sky racing this afternoon about strong leader talking about his hurdling holding him back and that part of the reason why he may not have liked Cheltenham is because it knocked him off balance and exaggerated his hurdling deficiencies.

SL jumped much better today than I previously remember so if they've done a decent bit of work on it (sky suggested they had), it will be interesting to see if that helps his "dislike" of Cheltenham
 
So Strong Leader is rated a stone better than Monmiral and beats him by only 3 1/2 lengths and his price is halved by many bookmakers ! :tongue-new: The worlds gone mad :(

Maybe because there is such a dearth of challengers to Teahupoo rather than his performance today?
 
So Strong Leader is rated a stone better than Monmiral and beats him by only 3 1/2 lengths and his price is halved by many bookmakers ! :tongue-new: The worlds gone mad :(

Maybe because there is such a dearth of challengers to Teahupoo rather than his performance today?

Well imo they are being a tad careful, because he’s starting to look a real good thing for a place, and should anything happen to the fav…..
 
Langer Dan EW 66/1 has to be an over reaction.

Dan pretty much said before the race he wasn’t ready to
win today, and we all know his early season form is poor.

He ran fine today, and his previous Cheltenham Festival form is very good!

Can anyone convince me this isn’t a good bet at the price ? Any chance he targets a different race at the festival ?

Question marks about the trip, but with full fitness I think he’ll stay the distance.
 
Langer Dan EW 66/1 has to be an over reaction.

Dan pretty much said before the race he wasn’t ready to
win today, and we all know his early season form is poor.

He ran fine today, and his previous Cheltenham Festival form is very good!

Can anyone convince me this isn’t a good bet at the price ? Any chance he targets a different race at the festival ?

Question marks about the trip, but with full fitness I think he’ll stay the distance.

Possibly, but if he tumbles down the weights and finds himself around the 150 mark come March you'd have to say he would be competitive in the Coral Cup, though I'm not sure that's the plan or that the handicapper will be quite so lenient this season...
 
….Strong Leader (Stayers) still 20-1 in Hills ‘Road to Cheltenham’ specials which is a bit of a stand-out. Hills don’t seem convinced.
 
Strong Leader is a real improving sort. He looks like the finished article now and really getting his act together. I'd imagine it'll be the Cleeve Hurdle next before going onto the Stayers. Hopefully his apparent dislike of Cheltenham will turn out to be a myth. Teahupoo might not have it all his own way.
 
Langer Dan EW 66/1 has to be an over reaction.

Dan pretty much said before the race he wasn’t ready to
win today, and we all know his early season form is poor.

He ran fine today, and his previous Cheltenham Festival form is very good!

Can anyone convince me this isn’t a good bet at the price ? Any chance he targets a different race at the festival ?

Question marks about the trip, but with full fitness I think he’ll stay the distance.

At 66/1 in a very open division bar the favourite he’s an excellent e/w bet, I’ve gone in anyway!

Himself & Blueking d’Oroux are the standout value in the market at the minute for me.
 
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I'd say teahupoo lost absolutely nothing in defeat today

Outspeeded in a sprint finish

Gordon will be very happy with his run and he will go to the stayers with a very strong favourites chance. You look at the betting and there's nothing much for him to beat at all.

The second fav is strong leader who doesn't have close to his class and is 0 from 4 at Cheltenham

Should be going for 3 in a row but we won't talk about davys ride on him in 2023 :boxing:
 
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The Wallpark, currently clear fav for The Pertemps, is being lined up for the Long Walk Hurdle next which could mean a possible tilt at the Stayers Hurdle.
 
The Wallpark, currently clear fav for The Pertemps, is being lined up for the Long Walk Hurdle next which could mean a possible tilt at the Stayers Hurdle.

Also entered in the grade one 3 mile race at xmas at leopardstown.
Rated 152 Ireland now,
And JP has bought him I believe ??
 
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The Wallpark, currently clear fav for The Pertemps, is being lined up for the Long Walk Hurdle next which could mean a possible tilt at the Stayers Hurdle.

Is this not to finish out the back of the TV and pick up some cheap prize money in a small field ?
 
The Wallpark, currently clear fav for The Pertemps, is being lined up for the Long Walk Hurdle next which could mean a possible tilt at the Stayers Hurdle.

I’m not sure what rating he now has but he got a 150 roe last time out off an OR of 145 so he has now to be in 150’s. I think in last 24 years only 2 have won (the Pertemos with a rating in 150’s. So I think the Stayers is much more likely target.
 
I’m not sure what rating he now has but he got a 150 roe last time out off an OR of 145 so he has now to be in 150’s. I think in last 24 years only 2 have won (the Pertemos with a rating in 150’s. So I think the Stayers is much more likely target.

He's 152 in Ireland and the BHA gave him a performance rating of 152 for his last run.
So no guarantees he's not higher over here in a handicap but maybe very similar.
 
Gordon said a while back, wallpark is only few lbs shy for the stayers so will target the long walk and see..