Stayers' Hurdle Entries 2026 - Teahupoo & Bob Olinger To Renew Rivalry In Thursday Headliner

The last two winners of the Stayers’ Hurdle, Teahupoo and Bob Olinger, head 29 entries for the day three feature at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday 12 March. The Robcour-owned pair won the contest in 2024 and 2025 respectively, with the latter getting the better of the former up the Cheltenham Hill last season.

Teahupoo is once again favourite for the race, as he has been for the past two campaigns. He regained his title in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse and put daylight between himself and his rivals in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown. He is once again the force to beat in this division.

Bob Olinger and Rachael Blackmore punched late to defeat him at Cheltenham last season and will be eyeing a route back to achieving the same this term. The now ten-year-old returned for 2025/26 by finishing second to Teahupoo at Leopardstown after a break, but goes particularly well at Cheltenham and has now proven his stamina.

The Brits failed to land any blow in the race last season, but have a much livelier prospect in the race this year courtesy of Impose Toi. Nicky Henderson’s charge is  unbeaten this season, taking every rise in class in his stride in winning an Aintree handicap, the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Behind him that day, and also representing owner JP McManus, Honesty Policy is the new kid on the Stayers’ Hurdle block. The six-year-old is a stablemate of Teahupoo’s at Gordon Elliott’s and chased home Impose Toi when a strong-finishing third at Ascot. He was a Grade 1-winning novice last term.

Kabral Du Mathan is another potentially significant improver given an entry by Dan Selton, while Ahoy Senor, recent Lanzarote Hurdle winner Iberico Lord and Ma Shantou are other notable British entries. Among the visitors, Ballyburn could seek to restore his reputation here, as could the long absent two-time Stayers’ winner Flooring Porter, while both The Yellow Clay, another Elliott runner, and Hiddenvalley Lake claimed Grade 1s last season. Theleme may also add an intriguing angle from France as well.

2026 Stayers’ Hurdle Entries