Wiltshire trainer Emma Lavelle knows what it takes to land the Grade 1 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle having won it seven years ago. Her pride and joy, Paisley Park, then aged seven, went off the 11-8 favourite in March 2019 having already won all four previous starts that season. 

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MA SHANTOU, also trained by Lavelle, has a similar profile to Paisley Park except he has won only three of his four starts this season, bombing out for no apparent reason at Haydock. However, the seven-year-old gelding clearly loves Cheltenham having won three times from three runs at the course this season. 

Today’s Stayers Hurdle (3.20 p.m.) will be Ma Shantou’s stiffest task by some way but he is an improving horse who relishes today’s three-mile trip and the seven-year-old gelding enjoys a good relationship with jockey Harry Coden. Back him 1 point each way at 11-2 BOG with bet365, paying four places. 

Teahupoo, the favourite, will be hard to beat and Kabral Du Mathan could be the new kid on the block at this distance if his stamina holds out, having been transformed by trainer Dan Skelton to win both his starts this season. 

In the opening race, the Grade 2 Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (1.20 p.m.), Bambino Fever comes here with a big reputation based on her Festival win in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper last year. However, in such a big field, she is terrible value at around evens. 

I have already put up La Conquiere each way at 16-1 but she may even go off a bigger price now that 22 runners have been declared. I think she has every........

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