The betting suggests the Stayers’ Hurdle at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival is one of the most open Championship races across the week. Apple’s Jade currently tops the betting with most firms, however, she is more likely to appear in the Champion Hurdle on day one following her recent success at Leopardstown.

Paisley Park has to be considered as the most likely winner on the basis of what he has achieved this season. Emma Lavelle’s gelding has been faultless in his four racecourse starts and looks to be the new kid on the block.

The seven-year-old made his reappearance at Aintree where he was successful in a handicap hurdle. He was then stepped up to graded action at Haydock in which he was held up in the open stages of the contest before working his way through the field to get up by half-a-length.

It was at Ascot though where Lavelle’s stablestar put himself in contention for the Stayers’ Hurdle as he claimed the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle. Again, regular jockey Aidan Coleman opted to be patient with his mount and it proved to be good tactics as he stayed on strongly to defeat the field by two lengths.

Although it was a Grade Two contest, Paisley Park’s best performance of the four came on his last start in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham where he won by 12 lengths. The British horse powered up the hill to the finish line and none of his rivals could handle his speed in the home straight.

Paisley Park is now one of the most popular Cheltenham horse tips but at 9/4 in the betting for the Stayers’ Hurdle, he still offers great value given the campaign he has had. His trainer is bidding for her first Cheltenham winner but she wouldn’t swap her horse for any other in the race.

Defending Champion Penhill Yet To Appear This Season

Last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle winner Penhill looks set to head straight to the Festival this season without a preparation run again as he bids to become the first horse since Big Bucks in 2012 to defend his crown in the 3m hurdle contest.

In 2017, the Irish horse’s opening start of the campaign came in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle where he stayed on strongly to win the race ahead of Monalee and Wholestone who were second and third respectively.

Irish Champion Trainer Mullins opted to do exactly the same thing last season, and it worked again as he looked much fresher than many of his rivals in the Stayers’ Hurdle. There is no question that the eight-year-old is a leading contender once again where he can be backed at 5/1 in the ante-post betting.

Mullins also saddles former Champion Hurdle winner Faugheen in the race. This will be just his third start over this 3m trip where he has tasted success before with victory going his way in the Champion Stayers’ Hurdle at Punchestown.

In Paisley Park though, you are backing a horse who has been consistent throughout the 2018/19 campaign and if he repeats his run in the Cleeve Hurdle, he is going to take some beating at the same track.