As known from:
sky sportscricketworldTorquay United
Best Betting Sites UK / The latest sports news with betting.co.uk / Stayers Hurdle Preview: Paisley Park difficult to oppose

Stayers Hurdle Preview: Paisley Park difficult to oppose

Publish Date: 10/03/2020
Fact checked by: Jordan Noble
  • Cheltenham
  • Thursday 12th March
  • 3.30pm

Paisley Park is rated the banker bet of the Cheltenham Festival by many and will start odds-on favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle. He has around 12lbs in hand on official ratings and is difficult to oppose. We rate 2018 winner Penhill as his biggest danger after an encouraging run at Navan in February. Our best each-way bet is City Island who reverts to hurdling after failing to make the grade over fences this season.

Paisley Park a worthy favourite for Stayers’ Hurdle

Paisley Park is now unbeaten in seven races, including his thrilling victory in this race 12 months’ ago. Emma Lavelle’s gelding had progressed through handicaps to win the Long Walk Hurdle and the Cleeve Hurdle, both significant trials. He was one of the best-backed horses at last season’s Cheltenham Festival and did not let his supporters down.

The son of Oscar has enjoyed a perfect preparation this season, winning at Newbury in November before repeating his Cleeve Hurdle victory at Cheltenham. He does tend to hit a flat spot in his races but there is no stronger finisher in the stayers’ division. He led at the final flight last time before comfortably holding Summerville Boy by a length and a quarter.

All types of ground seem to come alike to Paisley Park and he is very difficult to oppose. Jockey Aidan Coleman has been in the saddle for all seven victories and knows him extremely well. Paisley Park is the confident selection here at 4-6 with Paddy Power.

Penhill bids to recapture title

Willie Mullins saddles 2018 winner Penhill, a nine-year-old gelding by Mount Nelson. He has won seven of his fifteen races over hurdles but was denied a run last year by injury. Penhill eventually returned to action in December after a 584-day absence. He was well beaten that day but has gradually shown an improvement in form, most recently finishing second at Navan last month.

That was in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle, a race notable for the return of dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll. Penhill’s promising effort in second place was overshadowed by the media attention surrounding Gordon Elliott’s star chaser. Apart from Paisley Park, this does not look like a particularly strong renewal and Penhill is rated the main danger at 12-1 with Bet365.

Emitom won the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock in heavy ground, beating Donna’s Diamond by 8 lengths. He was a decent novice but ran extremely poorly behind Summerville Boy in the Relkeel Hurdle here in January. The Worlds End beat L’Ami Serge in a weak renewal of the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot and both horses have been well beaten since.

City Island makes each-way appeal at 14-1

Of the remainder, West Approach has shown a high level of form in the past but may have lost a bit of speed since a spell over fences. Ask Dillon is a good handicapper but needs to find massive improvement. Bacardys was impressive at Navan in November but ran a long way below that form at Leopardstown.

City Island is an interesting contender from the Martin Brassil stable. He defeated Champ to win the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle last year in soft ground. His trainer believes the horse is much better on a faster surface and is hoping that the course dries out during the week.

City Island was sent chasing this season but has struggled twice in soft going. After being pulled up at Leopardstown in December he finished a remote second to Carefully Selected at Punchestown. Brassil has decided a switch back to hurdles is well worth a try in a less than vintage year for staying hurdlers. There could be some each-way value in the 14-1 offered by William Hill.

Read Also
RacingGav Guides - Understanding the UK Handicap System
There are various types of horse races, but one particular type you ...
Betting Tips - 2026 Cheltenham Festival - Early Antepost Pick At 33/1
I know some people will think I’m mad but I am happy ...
Betfred Promo
Ginger Joe - 2024 Cheltenham Festival – Day 3 & 4 Preview
We’re almost ready to hear the roar now, as the 2024 Cheltenham ...
Ginger Joe - 2024 Cheltenham Festival – Day 1 & 2 Preview
We have made it, and in less than a week’s time, the ...
Ginger Joe - Five More Horses to follow for the 2023/24 National Hunt Season
Here I bring you another five promising candidates to add to your ...
Bookmaker of the Month
BetMGM UK - Get Your Bonus! Get Your Bonus!
Claim your £30 BetUK Bonus!
Betting Tips
25/05/2025 - 4:00 pm
Anfield
Tip:
Salah to score and be carded
26.00
Bet365
25/05/2025 - 4:00 pm
St Mary's
Tip:
Welington + Dibley to commit a foul
1.92
BetMGM UK
25/05/2025 - 4:00 pm
City Ground
Tip:
Enzo Fernandez and Morgan Gibbs-White to be carded + over 9 corners
19.00
Bet365
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
BetMGM UK
BetMGM UK
BetMGM UK Review
4.8/5
Betano
4.6/5
Betfred
4.5/5
kwiff
4.4/5
10bet
4.3/5
BetMGM UK
BetMGM UK Bonus
Bet £10 Get £40
18+. T&Cs apply.
4.8/5
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs Apply.
Betano
Betano Bonus
FIFA Club World Cup - Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
18+ New customers only. Opt-in, bet £10 on any FIFA Club World Cup match at odds of 1/1+ by 20:00 on 13.07.2025. Get 3x£10 free Bet for set markets + £10 casino bonus for set games, 40x wagering, max redeem £250. Bonuses: expire in 10 days. Click for T&Cs. GambleAware.org. Please gamble responsibly
Betfred
Betfred Bonus
Bet £10 Get £50
T&Cs apply, 18+
4.5/5
New customers only. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply.
kwiff
kwiff Bonus
Bet £10 Get £30 Surprise Bet
T&Cs apply
4.4/5
New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of £10. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
10bet
10bet Bonus
100% up to £50
T&Cs apply
4.3/5
New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+
Who tops our list?
best online casinos
Our Team
James Leeland
James Leeland
Editor
Ginger Joe
Ginger Joe
Expert Punter
Amos Murphy
Amos Murphy
Sports Writer
Mike McKean
Mike McKean
Editor
Matthew O'Regan
Matthew O'Regan
Non League Tipster
Jordan Noble
Jordan Noble
Sports Writer
Dave Kuzio
Dave Kuzio
Content Manager
Alyx Tzamantanis
Alyx Tzamantanis
Editor
The Fund
The Fund
The Fund
Racing Gav
Racing Gav
Racing Tipster
Jamie Clark
Jamie Clark
Contributor
Geoff Banks
Geoff Banks
Columnist
Nathan Joyes
Nathan Joyes
Tipster
Ben Smith
Ben Smith
Tipster
Tom Winch
Tom Winch
Tipster
Zack Wilson
Zack Wilson
Contributor
Get the Best Deals via Mail
By providing my e-mail address, I declare that I agree that Betting.co.uk will regularly send me information by e-mail: I can revoke my consent at any time.

Users must be 18+. If you are having trouble with gambling then help and advice can be found at begambleaware.org. Please Play Responsibly.

Trading financial products carries a high risk to your capital, especially trading leverage products such as CFDs. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.
18+GambleAwareeCOGRAGamblers AnonymousGamCareGamStopGambling TherapyCloudflareSSLco² neutral
Close
Place Your Bets! Discover Premium Bonuses at Our Trusted Partners.
BetMGM UK
BetMGM UK Bonus
Bet £10 Get £40
18+. T&Cs apply.
Bonus Code:
Go to BetMGM UK
Get Bonus
Bwin
Bwin Bonus
£20 Back-Up Bet as Free Bet
18+. T&Cs apply.
Bonus Code:
Go to Bwin
Get Bonus
Betano
Betano Bonus
FIFA Club World Cup - Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses
T&Cs apply, 21+
Bonus Code:
Go to Betano
Get Bonus
×
Your Bonus Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site