CHELTENHAM 15:30

All 11 ran. Hurdles: 12.

Time: 5m 55s Closing Sectional: (3.9f): 56.7s (101.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 116%, Betfair SP 100.4%

Rarely can a Festival result have so accurately reflected the ongoing lack of clarity in a division as the 2023 edition of the Stayers' Hurdle, with the final layer of chaos borne out of a drawn-out stewards inquiry that saw the second and third positions reversed and handed Gordon Elliott a 1-2 whilst denying the race a forecast between the 2 biggest outsiders bar the unconsidered one of the pair of French raiders; and that wasn't even the end of it, the decision on the day to amend the result was later overturned on appeal; Flooring Porter went harder in front than he'd had to when making all in the previous 2 renewals, though only Teahupoo of the patiently-ridden ones was still finishing at the end as the front pair past the post had spent most of the race in the ideal slot heading up the main group in a soon strung-out field.

SIRE DU BERLAIS (FR) revived just in time to enhance an unsung-but-notable Festival record, supplementing 2 wins in the Pertemps (luckless in same race in 2022) and a second in Flooring Porter's first Stayers' as he became the second longest-priced winner in this race this century after Lisnagar Oscar and, more notably, the first winning 11-y-o since Crimson Embers in 1986, all a fitting backdrop to the primary race in a long-since confused picture in the division; he was always well placed as it turned out, while his proven stamina counted for plenty as well as others began to crack, shrugging aside a blunder at the eighth but needing encouragement to hold his place running down the hill and again flat out entering the straight before he got going, rallying back into third by the last and sustaining his run to hit the front as Dashel Drasher cracked inside the final 1f.

DASHEL DRASHER seemed to excel himself, at even longer odds than his SP for most of the lead-up yet looking the more likely of the first 2 to cause a shock until the complexion changed late, mirroring the winner's mistake 5 out but grinding his way to the front approaching the last and even moving a couple of lengths clear briefly until his reserves began to ebb, not keeping straight over the flight or after it and run down inside the final 1f; like the winner, a fellow 'veteran', it's unthinkable he'll ever better this as a personal best.

TEAHUPOO (FR) did enough to suggest he is indeed the one to beat in the division now for all he couldn't justify favouritism, having age on his side for one but also not seen to such good effect as the pair that passed the line in front of him, if nothing else conclusively proving his stamina for a demanding 3m at the top level; patiently ridden, like the other improving supposed big gun in Blazing Khal, he made his headway steadily at a similar time to that rival but couldn't get any closer on the bridle and, having had his course altered by Dashel Drasher jumping/drifiing into his path, rallied strongly once switched to close the gap all the way to the line; his only 2 career blips came here and at Punchestown last spring but conditions weren't so testing on either occasion as seemingly suits him best (6-time winner on heavy ground).

FLOORING PORTER (IRE) couldn't join 4-time scorer Big Buck's as the only Stayers' Hurdle winner to do it 3 years in a row but did run his most encouraging race of the season returning here after a break even so, a less-controlled front-running ride than those that had seen him shine the previous 2 years ultimately seeing him do too much too soon, pressing on early on the final circuit, closed down when making his sole error 2 out and showing his awkward side as he began to crack and lost the lead approaching the last, hanging left and carrying his head to one side as tiredness set in.

HOME BY THE LEE (IRE) wasn't able to confirm Christmas superiority over Flooring Porter but would surely have done so without a serious mistake at the sixth that knocked him right back, doing extremely well under the circumstances to finish so close and cementing his status as a much more serious player in the division than he'd looked when beaten twice as far as a 33/1-chance in this race in 2022, even coming back for more inside the final 100 yds when he'd have been fully entitled to have paid for his earlier exertions long before then.

BLAZING KHAL (IRE) lost his unbeaten record tasked with his toughest assignment yet (rider again unable to claim) but didn't look at all out of place as he made the same move from off the pace as Teahupoo, just not so strong at the finish in more of a slog over this C&D than that he'd faced when winning a good-ground novice the winter before last, already tiring when awkward at the last.

PAISLEY PARK (IRE) was upstaged by the other 11-y-o with a wealth of Cheltenham form as he made it back-to-back lifeless efforts since starting his season so well in his clashes with the absent Champ, no surprise to see him off the bridle before the rest but rather more of one that he wasn't able to make any more headway than he did in a well-run race that should have brought his stamina into play; it remains to be seen how many more goes he gets but the image of his irresistible surge to the front in this in 2019 will endure long after he's called it a day.

GOLD TWEET (FR) had the form of his Cleeve upset upheld by Dashel Drasher but was asked a big question tactically 7 weeks on that he wasn't able to overcome, immediately steadied and still to be asked for his effort a long way back between 3 out and 2 out, not that he came home that strongly.

KLASSICAL DREAM (FR) has long since seemed physically fragile but isn't averse to going over the edge temperamentally either, appearing to do so here (unruly and headstrong on way to post) and not running his race another 3 months after pushing Teahupoo so close in the Hatton's Grace; patiently ridden, he didn't settle fully, ballooned the eighth and had nothing to offer once shaken up 2 out, eased off late on.

ASHDALE BOB (IRE) shaped as if still in good form after 11 weeks off only to wilt once asked for an effort, no sluggard but possibly having an issue beyond lack of stamina; mid-division, in contention 3 out, folded straight.

HENRI LE FARCEUR (FR) gave no indication he'll be a factor at this level on these shores on his first run since pre-Christmas; soon behind, lost touch between 3 out and 2 out.