Over the coming months we will count down to the 2025 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, which will take place on day three of the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday 13th March, 2025.
Our ‘Road To The Stayers’ Hurdle series will provide all the latest updates, news, notable performances and trial reviews along with much, much more ahead of the Group 1 3m staying showpiece.
In our first part of the series we take a look at some of the key trials for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, where we pick out the dates and how the race has fared in recent times for producing the winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Long Distance Hurdle – Newbury – Friday 29th November
The Long Distance Hurdle may only hold Grade 2 status, but the Newbury 3m 52y event has often been a starting point for some of the premier British-trained staying hurdlers. Baracouda (twice), Inglis Drever (three) and Big Buck’s (four) have all stormed to victory in this contest and they all reigned supreme in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Run on a flat track, it certainly offers a different test to Cheltenham’s Stayers’ Hurdle run on an undulating Prestbury Park course, but the Long Distance Hurdle has long been a race that has attracted a stellar field and this year’s renewal should be no different.
Hatton’s Grace Hurdle – Fairyhouse – Sunday 1st December
One of the feature hurdles races on the Irish National Hunt calendar, the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle is a unique Cheltenham Festival trial in the fact it can be a race used by horses that are targeting both the Champion Hurdle and Stayers’ Hurdle. Taking place at Fairyhouse, the intermediate 2m 4f can see speedsters and stayers line up and last season it saw Teahupoo claim victory before going to claim Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. Won by classy two-milers in the shape of Hurricane Flay and Honeysuckle, the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle is one of the key Stayers’ Hurdle trials run in Ireland.
Long Walk Hurdle – Ascot – Saturday 21st December
Six horses have won the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot before going on to Stayers’ Hurdle glory at the Cheltenham Festival three months later, with the latter of those being Emma Lavelle’s Paisley Park in the 2018-2019 season. Run over a trip of 3m 97y, the Long Walk Hurdle can often be run in rain-softened ground, so it offers a real test of stamina, but the Grade 1 event is certainly one of the highlights on the eve of Christmas and is another notable event just before the turn of the year.
Christmas Hurdle – Leopardstown – Saturday 28th December
Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival plays host to a plethora of Grade 1 events one of the standout contest is the 3m Christmas Hurdle, which often sees the premier Irish-trained stayers take their chance. Run in memory of Jack De Bromhead, the race was won in 2020 by Flooring Porter and the Gavin Cromwell-trained star then went on to win the 2021 Stayers’ Hurdle and retain his crown in 2022, so it’s certainly a key trial to keep an eye on.
Relkeel Hurdle – Cheltenham – Wednesday 1st January
Course form can be vital at Cheltenham, so the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day can be an ideal opportunity for trainers to get a run around the undulations of GL50. Run over a trip of 2m 4f 56y, the Relkeel Hurdle may not be over the distance of the Stayers’ Hurdle, but it can sometimes be a cracking test of stamina and horses can use the race as an ideal prep for those targeting the Stayers’ Hurdle back at the home of NH racing in the spring.
Cleeve Hurdle – Cheltenham – Saturday 25th January
The most important trial for UK-trained horses, the Cleeve Hurdle is one of the feature races on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham at the end of January. Run over 2m 7f 213y, the Cleeve Hurdle is the perfect race for those horses looking to tackle the Stayers’ Hurdle at the next meeting held at Cheltenham. Won by former Stayers’ Hurdle winners like Inglis Drever, Big Buck’s, Thistlecrack and Paisley Park, the Cleeve Hurdle will be the target for a number of star stayers this season and has to be a key trial for the big race.
Stayers’ Hurdle Winners Since 2010
| Year | Horse | Jockey/Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Big Buck’s | J:Ruby Walsh T:Paul Nicholls | 5/6F |
| 2011 | Big Buck’s | J:Ruby Walsh T:Paul Nicholls | 10/11F |
| 2012 | Big Buck’s | J:Ruby Walsh T:Paul Nicholls | 5/6F |
| 2013 | Solwhit | J:Paul Carberry T:Charles Byrnes | 17/2 |
| 2014 | More Of That | J:Barry Geraghty T:Jonjo O’Neill | 9/2F |
| 2015 | Cole Harden | J:Gavin Sheehan T:Warren Greatrex | 14/1 |
| 2016 | Thistlecrack | J:Tom Scudamore T:Colin Tizzard | EvsF |
| 2017 | Nichols Canyon | J:Ruby Walsh T:Willie Mullins | 10/1 |
| 2018 | Penhill | J:Paul Townend T:Willie Mullins | 12/1 |
| 2019 | Paisley Park | J:Aidan Coleman T:Emma Lavelle | 11/8F |
| 2020 | Lisnagar Oscar | J:Adam Wedge T:Rebecca Curtis | 50/1 |
| 2021 | Flooring Porter | J:Danny Mullins T:Gavin Cromwell | 12/1 |
| 2022 | Flooring Porter | J:Danny Mullins T:Gavin Cromwell | 4/1 |
| 2023 | Sire Du Berlais | J:Mark Walsh T:Gordon Elliott | 33/1 |
| 2024 | Teahupoo | J:Jack Kennedy T:Gordon Elliott | 5/4F |