Cheltenham Festival 2022: New Stayers' Hurdle Favourite after Klassical Dream flop

Champ is set to put his Stayers' Hurdle credentials on the line in Saturday's Cleeve Hurdle, but before the Nicky Henderson-trained raider has had chance to strut his stuff he has become the new favourite for the Grade 1 prize following Klassical Dream's flop in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park on Thursday afternoon...

A hugely impressive Grade 1 winner over the Christmas period over reigning Stayers' Hurdle hero Flooring Porter at Leopardstown, Klassical Dream was sent off a red-hot odds-on favourite for today's Galmoy Hurdle, as he looked to cement his place at the head of the Stayers' Hurdle betting. Having travelled smoothly for most of the contest, Klassical Dream was unable to pick up and it was the classy Peter Fahey-trained mare Royal Kahala that bound to the front and went on to beat 80/1 outsider Home By The Lee comfortably.

Starting the day at 11/4 for the Stayers' Hurdle on March 17, Klassical Dream was eased in the betting to 6/1 in the aftermath of the Galmoy Hurdle, which automatically saw Champ rocket to outright favouritism ahead of Saturday's Cleeve Hurdle.

Having been available at 4/1 before the Galmoy Hurdle, Champ was cut to the outright 5/2 favourite for the Thursday staying hurdle showpiece, while impressive winner of the Galmoy Royal Kahala was cut from 20/1 to 8/1.

Fahey's star mare holds entries in the Stayers' Hurdle and the Mares' Hurdle, but having shown she can stay three miles in today's event then she could well be a leading contender for what is shaping up to be an intriguing renewal of the Stayers' Hurdle.

Champ fans will now be licking their lips at watching the Seven Barrows raider head to Cheltenham on Saturday for Trials Day, and providing he can claim victory in the race then he's likely to head to the Stayers' Hurdle as the one they all have to beat.