Stayers' Hurdle Tips: Check out Ed Quigley's best bet for the Grade 1 feature

Our top tipster Ed Quigley has turned his attentions to the Grade 1 Stayers' Hurdle on day three of the Cheltenham Festival, and has provided his idea of the 1-2-3 here...

Well this is a muddle isn't it? Yet it is equally intriguing. You can pick holes in the form of pretty much everything whilst simultaneously making a case for most off the field.

Flooring Porter is the defending champion, and has his quirks, but arriving here fresh, it has always 'been about today.' Although he is winless since landing this assignment 12 months ago, it is easy to forget what a facile winner he was, and the seven-year-old clearly merits plenty of respect with Danny Mullins in the saddle. His conqueror at Leopardstown in December, Klassical Dream, has flopped since, when producing a lacklustre display in the Galmoy Hurdle last time out in a race won the mare Royal Kahala. Klassical Dream is perhaps best caught fresh, so that run can be forgiven, and in regards to Royal Kahala, one would imagine the rain would really have to get into the ground for her to optimum conditions. Galmoy runner-up Home By The Lee on the face of doesn't look up to the task, but does look a dour stayer, and it could be that the demands of this contest really play to his strengths. 

Champ and Paisley Park met in the Cleeve Hurdle, and in the battle of the ten-year-olds, it was the Emma Lavelle representative who came out on top in a bizarre contest which saw Paisley Park lose around 15 lengths at the start. Ultimately though, he powered up the hill to win. With more patient tactics, Champ who is undoubtedly the fresher horse has valid claims of reversing the form. 

Of the remainder, it wouldn't be the biggest shock in the world if Lisnagar Oscar ran a big race, whilst Song For Someone is somewhat of an unknown quality stepping up in trip to three miles for the first time. That leaves the Philip Hobbs-trained THYME HILL who has the most solid profile in my view in a race full of question marks.  His failed trip to France aside, he has a great record fresh, a solid level of form, and the yard are in scintillating form. He would be my selection in a race where you cannot rule anything with any real conviction.

2022 Stayers' Hurdle 1-2-3

1. THYME HILL
2. FLOORING PORTER
3. HOME BY THE LEE