Cheltenham Festival Day Three: Shantou Can Star in the Stayers' Hurdle
The Cheltenham Festival continues with its third day of thrilling action, where the Stayers' Hurdle takes center stage despite losing its traditional feature race slot to the Ryanair Chase. This year's edition promises to be a major hit with punters, featuring an 11-runner field brimming with talent and competitive possibilities.
Old Guard vs. New Challengers
Teahupoo and Bob Olinger, the last two winners of the Stayers' Hurdle, represent the established elite in three-mile hurdling. However, they face stiff competition from a trio of young, progressive stayers: Kabral Du Mathan, Honesty Policy, and Ma Shantou. These rising stars have their best years ahead, adding an exciting dynamic to the race.
Teahupoo has been the solid favourite since December, following a seven-length victory over Bob Olinger in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown. Yet, on ratings, neither horse holds a significant advantage over their younger rivals, suggesting this could be the year for a changing of the guard.
Ma Shantou's Impressive Rise
Ma Shantou, trained by Emma Lavelle, has made rapid strides this season, starting in handicaps and progressing to become a serious Stayers' Hurdle contender. The seven-year-old put up an impressive trial in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January, showcasing his potential over the track and trip with dual wins.
While Kabral Du Mathan was a ready winner of the two-and-a-half-mile Relkeel Hurdle on New Year's Day, his stamina over three miles remains unproven. In contrast, Ma Shantou's proven ability over the distance makes him a more appealing choice for punters.
Other Key Races on Day Three
Cheltenham 1.20: The opening race could turn into a head-to-head battle between Bambino Fever, last year's Champion Bumper winner, and Oldschool Outlaw. Despite a half-length loss on heavy ground at Naas in December, Bambino Fever is expected to benefit from better conditions here.
Cheltenham 2.00: The novice handicap chase has a strong record as a festival pointer. Jordans Cross, this year's last-gasp winner, was value for more than his narrow margin, and a 6lb rise seems fair after the runner-up, Quebecois, franked the form with a close third in Tuesday's Ultima.
Cheltenham 2.40: With Lossiemouth switching to the Champion Hurdle, Wodhooh has a straightforward task to secure a first success at the highest level.
Cheltenham 4.00: Fact To File was untouchable in this race last year, and while Banbridge poses a stronger challenge this time, he may still end up in the runner-up spot.
Cheltenham 4.40: Ma Shantou has progressed significantly since finishing just ahead of Electric Mason in October. Chris Gordon's runner showed further improvement with a valuable win at Haydock in November and, despite a 7lb weight rise, the race should suit his strong-staying qualities.
The Cheltenham Festival's third day offers a mix of seasoned champions and emerging talents, with Ma Shantou standing out as a key contender in the Stayers' Hurdle. Racing enthusiasts can expect high-stakes drama and potential upsets as the action unfolds.
