Willie Mullins has confirmed that his forgotten JP McManus/Rich Ricci jointly-owned hurdler Mystical Power will be aimed at the Stayers’ Hurdle at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival – setting up a clash with last year’s winner Teahupoo.
Mystical Power Will Lock Horns With Teahupoo In 2025 Stayers’ Hurdle
Many Cheltenham Festival horse racing fans see the Stayers’ Hurdle division as one that has little depth and is crying out for a few horses to take on the most likely 2025 winner Teahupoo.
The good news is that we will now see some competition in the race with Willie Mullins confirming that his 6 year-old hurdler MYSTICAL POWER will be aimed at the big day three race on Thursday 13th March.
Mystical Power ran second in the Festival opener – the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – 12 months ago behind Slade Steel (watch below) and backed that up with Grade One wins at the Aintree Grand National Meeting (Top Novices’ Hurdle) and Punchestown Festival (Champion Novice Hurdle) last April.
However, since then Mystical Power hasn’t progressed this season – running well down the field in the 2024 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November (watch below).
Being sent off the joint favourite with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK with Sir Gino.
Then was no better when last of six to Champion Hurdle hope Brighterdaysahead in the Neville Hotels Hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas.
He’s not been seen since – but is now being upped in trip to run in the Grade One Stayers’ Hurdle at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
This will be the first time Mystical Power has ventured beyond 2m 1/2f in trip. Therefore, lasting out the 3m distance for his backers is going to be very much an unknown.
However, the horse is related to former Champion Hurdle winner Annie Power (dam), who also ran second in the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2014 – so there is some hope he’ll last out based on breeding.
Trainer Willie Mullins has won the Stayers’ Hurdle just twice in the past. With Nichols Canyon (2017) and Penhill (2018).
Mystical Power Career In Numbers
- Age: 6
- Runs: 8
- Wins: 5
- Hurdles Runs: 7
- Hurdles Wins: 4
- Cheltenham Runs/Wins: 1/0 (2nd 2024 Supreme Novices’)
- Total Career Winnings: £186,778
Stayers’ Hurdle 2025 Race Details
📅Date: Thursday 13th March 2025
⌚Time: 4:00pm
🏇Racecourse: Cheltenham
🔄Trip: 3m
💷Winning Purse: £182,878
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV
See the full 2025 Cheltenham Festival running order and race times here
WATCH: Teahupoo Winning The 2024 Stayers’ Hurdle
The 2025 Stayers’ Hurdle market leader Teahupoo will be looking to join recent back-to-back winners of the race – Flooring Porter, Big Buck’s and Inglis Drever.
