Cheltenham 2025: Stayers’ possible appeals at ‘huge’ 50/1

Betfred have gone non-runner no bet (NRNB) on the four championship races ahead of Cheltenham 2025 and I like the look of one at a big price in arguably the most open one of the lot. They're added to my antepost book at Week 14.

I've been waiting for an angle into the Stayers' - a muddling division headed by reigning champ Teahupoo, who's only got shorter and shorter in the betting since his second to Lossiemouth in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse on the first day of December.

At time of publication, Gordon Elliott's eight-year-old is 11/10 to go back-to-back and there can be no denying his claims. They're obvious.

That being said, I don't think you should run scared of the one horse, especially in this race. He's improved since, but don't forget Teahupoo was beaten at 9/4f in 2023 by 33/1 and 40/1 shots - and four of the six winners before that returned a double-figure SP.

Ten-year-old Home By The Lee, beaten in the last three renewals, and Lucky Place, untried over three miles, have emerged as the main dangers to the favourite, while Gowel Road staked half a claim with victory in the Cleeve Hurdle on Trials Day.

He also has the option of the Pertemps, though, which is where I expect The Wallpark to turn up. Crambo is hard to advise after disappointing in the Cleeve, which also applies to Strong Leader. I suspect he won't even run, targeting Aintree instead.

July Flower is Mares' Hurdle-bound. Langer Dan needs another sun-inspired turnaround. Rocky's Diamond is only five and won a poor Galmoy Hurdle.

I'm not going to go through the entire list, but I hope you're starting to get the picture. It's a modest bunch and the race is likely to cut up a fair bit over the coming weeks.

That leaves an opening for one at a price - and after her gusty triumph in the G2 Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle at Doncaster, I think there's lots to like about JETARA at 50/1 NRNB. That's huge.

The non-runner-no-bet concession is important. Per trainer Jessie Harrington's daughter Kate following the mare's success in South Yorkshire, she has the option of two races in March.

She said: "She'll go to Cheltenham now, she's in the Mares' Hurdle and the Stayers' and we'll be hoping Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth both go for the Champion Hurdle."

I fancy Brighterdaysahead will go down the Mares' route which hopefully pushes Jetara to the longer race. Surely connections would prefer to take on Teahupoo in receipt of seven pounds than racing off level weights against a potential superstar?

On top of that, I feel she's at her best over staying trips. The daughter of Walk In The Park has tried 2m6f+ on three occasions, recording form figures of 211 - her only defeat coming to Dancing City, who subsequently landed Grade 1s at both the Aintree and Punchestown Festivals, at last season's Dublin Racing Festival.

The entirety of her form in novice company last season was classy, to be honest. She wasn't far behind emphatic Baring Bingham hero Ballyburn in the G1 Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in April, just over a month after finishing a respectable third to Jade De Grugy in the G1 Honeysuckle Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

She was victorious on her first start in open company at Limerick in October, conceding weight and fitness to Listed rivals, but disappointed in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan a month later when reportedly showing signs of being in season. She underwhelmed again in a Grade 3 mares' race over Christmas.

However, she bounced back at Donny last weekend, beating the 145-rated Kateira, not beaten far in the G1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot previously, over 3m½f. Plenty's been made about the ride on the runner-up, but I think more credit needs to be given to the winner and her will to win.

The trip, first-time cheekpieces and slightly softer ground all seemed to bring out the best of Jetara and hopefully connections see that too.

What she achieved at the weekend isn't that far off what's required to be competitive in this year's Stayers' Hurdle, in my opinion. Given she's still only seven years old and lightly-raced at the trip, who's to say she can't improve further?

If connections decide to go that way, I can see her being sub-20/1 on the day. If they don't, you'll get your money back. I think it's a great bet.

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