Robcour Pair Head Stayers’ Hurdle Assault

Defending champion Bob Olinger and former winner Teahupoo are both firmly on track for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle as owner Brian Acheson bids for a remarkable third successive victory in the Cheltenham Festival’s day-three feature.

Acheson, whose Robcour colours have dominated the staying hurdling division in recent seasons, looks set to field a powerful hand once again after Bob Olinger and Teahupoo finished first and second respectively at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Robcour representative Robbie Power confirmed that both stars will head straight to Prestbury Park in March.

“Bob Olinger and Teahupoo are both absolutely great and will go straight to the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival,” said Power. “As good as Teahupoo was at Christmas, I thought Bob Olinger ran an absolute cracker on his first start since winning at the Festival last year.

“They’ve both come out of the race really well and we’re looking forward to going back to Cheltenham with them.”

Acheson’s Stayers’ Hurdle team could be bolstered further by Hiddenvalley Lake, Bob Olinger’s Henry de Bromhead-trained stablemate and last season’s Liverpool Hurdle winner. The six-year-old is set to return in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan before potentially joining his Robcour stablemates in the Cotswolds.

“Hiddenvalley Lake will go to the Boyne Hurdle at Navan,” Power added. “He’s very much in the mix as well and hopefully will join the others at Cheltenham.”

In the current betting for the Stayers’ Hurdle, Teahupoo heads the market at 7/4, with Bob Olinger priced at 6/1 and Hiddenvalley Lake available at 33/1.