Stayers’ Hurdle Lowdown: Home By The Lee can improve on his gallant sixth place last year

Home By The Lee appear to have matured both mentally and physically in the past 12 months and that change in psyche was evident at Leopardstown over Christmas when the selection won with a degree of authority.

It used to be a tougher slog than the EastEnders Omnibus, but he rode longer on the bridle for JJ Slevin that day and he can improve on his gallant sixth-place finish at this event last year.

The decision to supplement Gold Tweet could be an astute one, as the French runner easily won the Cleeve Hurdle on his first attempt over three miles. The overnight rain at Cheltenham will surely play in his favor given the way he finished that race.

Ashdale Bob has a profile that often sees him involved in the business back end of this type of race and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him placed once again.

SELECTION: HOUSE BY THE LEEWARD……………..6-1

MAIN DANGER: GOOD TWEET………………11-1

OUTSIDE LIVE: ASHDALE BOB…………16-1

HORSE TO HORSE GUIDE

ASHALE BOB

Third in the Coral Cup last season and has run creditably beaten a couple of times this season, when trailing Home By The Lee. Others preferred from a winning perspective.

FIRE KHAL

The subject of fitness concerns and reported having a rushed preparation. However, he is still a potentially high class hurdler and boasts great useful track form.

DRASHER DASHEL

Enjoying another excellent season but outclassed by Gold Tweet here at Cleeve Hurdle last time out and probably vulnerable to an opponent with younger legs.

PORTER PAVEMENT

Winner of the last two re-signs when he had an easy lead and this year’s preparation suggests he remains competitive as he pushes for a remarkable hat-trick.

GOLDEN TUI

He delivered a mini upset with a graceful defeat of Dashel Drasher in the Cleeve Hurdle and supplemented wisely, given the conditions will be perfect for him here.

HENRI LE FARCEUR

Progressing as a hurdler and coming on the back of a nine length defeat in a Grade Two Auteuil before Christmas. Dangerous to lay off, safe ground to adapt.

HOUSE BY THE LEE

He seems to have matured and wins in Navan’s Lismullen Hurdle and Grade One Company over Christmas give him big claims to improve on last year’s sixth place in this.

CLASSIC DREAM

A talented, if mercurial, hurdler who boasts a good fresh record, so the 102-day absence since chasing home Teahupoo at Fairyhouse shouldn’t be a problem for last year’s fifth.

PAISLEY PARK

The 2019 winner continues to perform well, even if his latest effort at Cleeve fell short of his normal lofty standards. The suspicion of an opponent with fresher legs will prove too strong here.

SIRE DU BERLAIS

There was a spring shock to the Grade One company at Aintree last April, but subsequent efforts have not been nearly as impressive and more is needed to make an impact on a solid refurbishment.

TEAHUPOO

He’s thrived since escalating on the ride and counts Honeysuckle and Klassical Dream among his victims this season. Main player with safe ground to adapt.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

PETER SCUDAMORE

You have to go back to the beginning of this century to find the last French-trained winner of the Paddy Power Stayers, but it was a good one in Baracouda, trained by Francois Doumen, who was successful in 2002 and 2003.

Cross-Channel raiders have their best shot since this afternoon with GOLD TWEET.

The six-year-old trained by Gabriel Leenders made quite an impression in the Cleeve Hurdle on the day of the Cheltenham Trials in January when he traveled smoothly before pulling away from Dashel Drasher after the final hurdle.

The Irish runners add an extra dimension of competition here, but he is looking for a challenge.

1…………………………….GOLDEN TWEET

2…………………………………………. .TEAHUPOO

3…………………………….BURNING KHAL

LIZZIE KELLY

Teah upoo was unsuccessfully contesting the two-mile Champion Hurdle at this meeting last year, but has since climbed this three-mile distance and been very impressive in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park.

I think that form was solid – he beat a rival who’s been running well, and with proven stamina now in his arsenal, he looks like the complete package.

With more rain forecast, this will prove to be a great test of staying power, which is why I can see popular 2019 winner Paisley Park hitting the frame.

1……………………………TEAHUPOO

2……………………….PAISLEY PARK

3…………………………….GOLDEN TWEET

MICK FITZGERALD

HOME BY THE LEE certainly looks like the safest option in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle for what is a rear-end race. He has improved by leaps and bounds this season.

1…………………………….HOUSE BY THE LEEWARD

2…………………………….GOLDEN TWEET

3……………………..GOALKEEPER FLOOR

HOW THE RACE WILL BE RUN

It would be one of the surprises of the week if Flooring Porter doesn’t try to take the field, given that he has dominated the last two renewals of this race from the front.

Dashel Drasher can give a two-time winner something to think about at the forefront of matters.

Home By The Lee will likely stalk the leaders and try to take the sting out of more naturally paced contenders such as Teahupoo and Blazing Khal.