Stayers Hurdle

*some e/w value in there.

FWIW I think lucky place is a solid bet…..solid course form, plenty of potential upside given it’s age & stepping up in trip….Nicky stated (ever so nonchalantly) after the Relkeel, when asked about last seasons placed effort int CC…..’he wasn’t a grade 1 horse then’…….I’ve been chipping away ever since……hoping for a nice draw come Thursday avo! Interested to hear opinions on this/other ew plays!

Lucky Place may be a good ew bet, but I cannot see any of them beating Teahupoo

He certainly deserves to be favourite, but he's done little this season and he's been beaten in the Stayers before. Plus, we're told never to be afraid of one horse

True enough, but it is a very poor field, so bar a fall etc, he is definitely the one to beat.

I took the 50s  ew boost b356 were offering on Langer Dan managed to get a few quid on ,no idea if he will stay 3m and he has no chance on this seasons form so far but we know he comes alive in the spring and if he does get the trip then 50s is big  and this has been the target ,likely we will see a very different Langer Dan in March all being well .

Crambo bubble well and truly burst , managed to cash out my 66s bet for no loss . I just cant see him going back left handed now , at least not for a significant race . Perhaps some form of apologies to one C Brace are due , a couple of rides would do .

The conditions for the Long Walk tend to be quite different from those for the Cleeve/Stayers - the race at Ascot is longer, slower, and tends to be run on worse ground - so it suits really stout stayers, whereas the Cheltenham races favour slightly speedier types.

it don't look a vintage renewal and tho teahoopoe sets the standard he is too short for me ,lucky place is lightly raced and improving but has to prove he gets the trip ,if he does then he is an obvious threat . home by the lea seems better elsewhere ,mystical power has disappointed at shorter this season but is interesting and a big price but it takes a leap of faith to back him . I have had a few quid on Langer Dan at 50/1 ew and we know he loves the course and it looks as if this has been the target with some easy runs this winter just a doubt about the trip. I like a few at big prices and one from left field at a big price is monmiral who looks to have been brought along steadily this season has a bit to find on ratings but won the pertemps last season and flew up the hill that day ,decent run last time giving gowel road 4 pound btn 2   lenghts and Nichols has had a few winners of late after a poor 5 or 6 weeks .  33/1 nrnb or 50/1 ante post ew looks fair imo.

Langer Dan - you're having a laugh. Better donating your cash to charity!!!

Langer Dan - you're having a laugh. Better donating your cash to charity!!!

Langer Dan - you're having a laugh. Better donating your cash to charity!!!

Langer Dan - you're having a laugh. Better donating your cash to charity!!!

What is your opinion on the race, rolland?

teahoopoe ,its not a great looking race tbh and the fav may well win again but 4/5 no thanks , I'd rather have a few cracks at bigger prices and on that note mystical power could be interesting ,you'd need a leap of faith  on what he has shown this season but 25/1 nrnb lets weigh up the plusses and negatives , has festival a good 2nd in supreme  and wins at aintree and punches town festivals  brother to Annie power /Galileo the sire ,trained by a genius who has said if he goes to the festival will go stayers ,could be he is a stayer who was classy enough to win at 2ms  last season but needs much further now ,no way of knowing if he will get 3m but certainly worth the try and a bit of a forgotten horse who if he does get the trip has the class . have also backed Langer Dan and monmiral at 50s ...33s I know it dilutes it but I'd rather have 3 ew pops at big prices  than the fav at 4/5 .

festival form^^^

Picking out classy horses at shorter and hoping the horse will stay has worked in the past, Nicholl's Canyon, Solwhit, don't recall that many of the really good ones  that try it so probably got a fair record with those two...weak race too

Having cashed out my 66s Crambo , have now dipped a toe again at 70 on here ....reasons ..Fergal actually going to run him being the main one . I could see his left/right handed argument after his Ascot wins but presume homework or something has changed his mind . Personally I dont see the two courses hugely different , apart from directionally , and of course he may have won lto , was going ok .Other reason obviously the value.

as me ol mate the couch would say ,im not saying its a bad stayers but they have seen money for the ambulance each way!