STAYERS’ HURDLE

The Stayers' Hurdle is the season’s premier event for staying hurdlers.

It is the second of the two feature races that take place on Day 3 of the Festival.

Stayers Hurdle Trophy
Grade 1 | 4yo+ | Thursday 15.30 
3 miles | 12 hurdles | New course
Weight: 10st 9lb (4yo) / 11st 10lb (5yo+) | Allowance: 7lb for fillies & mares
Prize money (2023): £345,607 | 1st: £197,696

Known as the Lloyds Bank Hurdle from 1972-77, it was subsequently called the Waterford Crystal Stayers' Hurdle (1978-90) and the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle (1991-2004).

From 2005 to 2016 the race was renamed the World Hurdle, but reverted to its Stayers’ Hurdle name in 2017.

Paddy Power took over sponsorship in 2020, introducing a unique musical trophy:

STAYERS’ HURDLE TRENDS

7 of the last 10 winners were second season hurdlers

8 of the last 10 winners were aged either 6 or 7
6 of the last 9 winners were priced 10/1 or higher
20 or the last 24 winners finished 1st or 2nd last time out
8 of the last 27 favourites won
Updated to include 2023 renewal

A number of horses have won the Stayers' Hurdle more than once, most notably four-time winner Big Buck’s, triple winner Inglis Drever and dual winner Baracouda.

Crimson Embers' two victories in this race came four years apart (1982 & 1986).

Since Big Bucks' domination from 2009 until 2012, the race has been farmed by second-season hurdlers. 

Just three nine-year-old's have won in the last 34 renewals, including the aforementioned Inglis Drever and Big Buck's.

Flooring Porter was the only six-year-old in the race when he won in 2021, and obviously a seven-year-old when retaining his title.

In 2023, Sire Du Berlais was the first eleven-year-old winner since that second Crimson Embers victory in 1986. But only two of the last 50 winners were older than nine.

The Stayers' Hurdle winners in 2018, 2019 and 2020 had all competed in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle 12 months earlier.

STAYERS’ HURDLE 2024 ODDS

LAST 5 WINNERS’ DATA

YEAR
AGE
OFFICIAL RATING
WEIGHT
2023
11
152
11-10
2022
7
164
11-10
2021
6
144
11-10
2020
7
146
11-10
2019
7
168
11-10

RECENT WINNERS

YEAR
WINNER
JOCKEY / TRAINER
SP
2024
-
/
/
2023
Sire Du Berlais
Mark Walsh / Gordon Elliott
33/1
2022
Flooring Porter
Danny Mullins / Gavin Cromwell
4/1
2021
Flooring Porter
Danny Mullins / Gavin Cromwell
12/1
2020
Lisnagar Oscar
Adam Wedge / Rebecca Curtis
50/1
2019
Paisley Park
Aidan Coleman / Emma Lavelle
11/8f
2018
Penhill
Paul Townend / Willie Mullins
12/1
2017
Nichols Canyon
Ruby Walsh / Willie Mullins
10/1
2016
Thistlecrack
Tom Scudamore / Colin Tizzard
Evensf
2015
Cole Harden
Gavin Sheehan / Warren Greatrex
14/1
2014
More Of That
Barry Geraghty / Jonjo O'Neill
15/2
2013
Solwhit
Paul Carberry / Charles Byrnes
17/2
2012
Big Buck's
Ruby Walsh / Paul Nicholls
5/6f
2011
Big Buck's
Ruby Walsh / Paul Nicholls
10/11f
2010
Big Buck's
Ruby Walsh / Paul Nicholls
5/6f
2009
Big Buck's
Ruby Walsh / Paul Nicholls
6/1
2008
Inglis Drever
Denis O'Regan / Howard Johnson
11/8f
2007
Inglis Drever
Paddy Brennan / Howard Johnson
5/1
2006
My Way de Solzen
Robert Thornton / Alan King
8/1
2005
Inglis Drever
Graham Lee / Howard Johnson
5/1
2004
Iris's Gift
Barry Geraghty / Jonjo O'Neill
9/2
2003
Baracouda
Thierry Doumen / François Doumen
9/4jf
2002
Baracouda
Thierry Doumen / François Doumen
13/8f
2001

Festival Cancelled

2000
Bacchanal
Mick Fitzgerald / Nicky Henderson
11/2
Scoll down for previous Stayers' Hurdle winners

Sire Du Berlais 2023

Flooring Porter joined the elite band of multiple winners of the Stayers' Hurdle in 2022.

The four-man Galway-based syndicate behind the gelding reportedly paid just €5,000 for him as a three-year-old after seeing a Facebook advert. Jockey Danny Mullins said:

‘TO SEE A SMALL SYNDICATE BUY A HORSE FOR A RELATIVELY SMALL PRICE AND WIN THE STAYERS’ HURDLE - THAT’S WHAT MAKES RACING SPECIAL. IT CAN BE DONE’

Substitute jockey Danny Mullins had claimed his first winner at the Festival with a bold front running ride on Flooring Porter in 2021.

It capped a rapid rise to prominence for the six-year-old, who had been a handicapper rated at just 122 at the start of the season:

‘I JUST HAD TO STEER THIS ONE, IT’S SPECIAL’

Lisnagar Oscar ran out a shock 50/1 winner in 2020, with the defending champion and 4/6 favourite, Paisley Park, disappointing.

Back hurdling after an aborted novice chase campaign, the Rebecca Curtis trained seven-year-old provided jockey Adam Wedge with his first Festival win:

‘I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT WHEN I HIT THE FRONT, I WAS JUST PRAYING HE’D KEEP GALLOPING - HE FOUGHT LIKE A LITTLE LION UP THAT HILL’

Paisley Park was a well-backed winner for trainer Emma Lavelle in 2019, with former Champion Hurdle winner Faugheen third.

Looking outpaced with a mile to go, he came charging around the outside to win, despite making a mess of the final hurdle:

‘WE’RE GOING TO ENJOY THE MOMENT. I CAN'T SAY QUITE HOW BAD OUR HANGOVER IS GOING TO BE IN THE MORNING’

Penhill secured back-to-back Cheltenham Festival wins in 2018, having previously won the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

He had been off of the track for 323 days, but showed no signs of race-rustiness, as acknowledged by jockey Paul Townend:

‘IT WAS SOME TRAINING PERFORMANCE. I GOT THERE TOO SOON AND LUCKILY HE KEPT GOING’

Mullins had trained his first Stayers' Hurdle winner a year earlier with Nichols Canyon, who came up on the stands rail to collar Lil Rockerfeller.

It was owner Graham Wylie's fourth win of the race, after those with Inglis Drever:

‘WHEN I TOLD WILLIE TO BUY A HORSE FOR ME, HE RANG ME UP AND SAID: I THINK I’VE FOUND YOU THE NEXT INGLIS DREVER’

Thistlecrack stormed up the hill to beat Alpha Des Obeaux by 7 lengths in 2016, with 2013 Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth a distant third.

The even-money favourite, ridden by Tom Scudamore, stalked the leaders before easing into the lead approaching the last:

‘THAT WAS FANTASTIC, WHAT A RACEHORSE. I THINK IT’S FAIR TO SAY HE’S THE BEST I’VE SAT ON’

Cole Harden was relentless in 2015, making every yard of the running.

It was a first Festival winner for both jockey Gavin Sheehan and trainer Warren Greatrex - who was memorably reduced to tears:

‘IF YOU’RE GOING TO BREAK YOUR DUCK, YOU MAY AS WELL DO IT IN A BIG ONE’

The 2014 renewal was billed as a two-horse-race between unbeaten mare Annie Power and four-times champion Big Buck's, but More Of That had not read the script.

It was the second time that trainer Jonjo O'Neill and jockey Barry Geraghty had teamed up to win the Stayers' Hurdle, having won it with Iris's Gift a decade earlier.

Big Buck's, who was returning from an injury that had kept him on the sidelines the previous year, finished fifth in what was immediately announced to be his final race.

Solwhit 2013

Big Buck's had made history in 2012, when winning that remarkable fourth successive stayers' championship with Ruby Walsh.

It was also his 16th win in a row, equalling the all-time record over hurdles - which he would break the following month at Aintree:

‘WE WON’T SEE HIS LIKE FOR MANY YEARS’

Big Buck's 2011

Big Buck's 2010

Big Buck's 2009

Inglis Drever had to call on all his reserves of stamina to secure a third Stayers' Hurdle in 2008. His emotional owner Graham Wylie said:

‘MAYBE ONE DAY I’LL REALISE WHAT HE’S DONE…HE’S A STREET FIGHTER WHO NEVER KNOWS WHEN HE’S BEATEN’

Inglis Drever 2007

My Way de Solzen 2006

Inglis Drever 2005

Iris's Gift 2004

The brilliant French challenger Baracouda won an epic renewal in 2003, beating the big hopes of Britain and Ireland in Iris's Gift and Limestone Lad:

‘DOWN TOWARDS THE FINAL FLIGHT, IT’S THE CLASH WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR’

Baracouda 2002

Bacchanal 2000

PREVIOUS WINNERS

YEAR
WINNER
JOCKEY / TRAINER
SP
1999
Anzum
Richard Johnson / David Nicholson
40/1
1998
Princeful
Rodney Farrant / Jenny Pitman
16/1
1997
Karshi
Jamie Osborne / Henrietta Knight
20/1
1996
Cyborgo
David Bridgwater / Martin Pipe
8/1
1995
Dorans Pride
Shane Broderick / Michael Hourigan
11/4f
1994
Balasani
Mark Perrett / Martin Pipe
9/2jf
1993
Shuil Ar Aghaidh
Charlie Swan / Paddy Kiely
20/1
1992
Nomadic Way
Jamie Osborne / Barry Hills
15/2
1991
King's Curate
Mark Perrett / Stan Mellor
5/2f
1990
Trapper John
Charlie Swan / Mouse Morris
15/2
1989
Rustle
Michael Bowlby / Nicky Henderson
4/1
1988
Galmoy
Tommy Carmody / John Mulhern
2/1f
1987
Galmoy
Tommy Carmody / John Mulhern
9/2
1986
Crimson Embers
Stuart Shilston / Fulke Walwyn
12/1
1985
Rose Ravine
Ricky Pusey / Fulke Walwyn
5/1f
1984
Gaye Chance
Sam Morshead / Mercy Rimell
5/1
1983
A Kinsman
Geordie Dun / John Brockbank
50/1
1982
Crimson Embers
Stuart Shilston / Fulke Walwyn
2/1f
1981
Derring Rose
John Francome / Fred Winter
3/1
1980
Mountrivers
Tommy Ryan / Edward O'Grady
7/1
1979
Lighter
Philip Blacker / John Edwards
14/1
1978
Flame Gun
Niall Madden / Edward O'Grady
14/1
1977
Town Ship
Tommy Carberry / Peter Easterby
5/2
1976
Bit Of A Jig
Dessie Hughes / Mick O'Toole
2/1f
1975
Brown Lad
Tommy Carberry / Jim Dreaper
7/4f
1974
Highland Abbe
Richard Smith / Les Kennard
15/2
1973
Moyne Royal
David Mould / Arthur Pitt
10/1
1972
Parlour Moor
Macer Gifford / Harry Thomson Jones
13/2
All Stayers' Hurdle winners prior to 2000

There was a 'Stayers Selling Hurdle' run at the Festival from 1912-1938, which evolved into the Spa Hurdle (1946-1971).

This was replaced by the Lloyds Bank Hurdle (1972-1977), which was renamed the Stayers' Hurdle in 1978. 

Anzum 1999

‘FROM THE CLOUDS, HERE COMES ANZUM WITH A DEVASTATING BURST’

Rustle 1989

Galmoy 1988

Galmoy 1987