The Group One Stayers’ Hurdle is a National Hunt hurdle race that is open to horses aged four years or older and run on the New Course at Cheltenham where there are twelve hurdles to overcome. Held on the Thursday since 1993, this is the top long distance hurdle race in the discipline and is run over a distance of two miles, seven furlongs and 213 yards.
Stayers Hurdle 2022 Stats
| Date | Thursday, 17th March 2022 |
| Start Time | 15:30 |
| Race Distance | Two miles, seven furlongs and 213 yards |
| Number of Jumps | Twelve |
| Race Type | Hurdle race |
| Purse | £240,000 |
| Horses’ Minimum Age | Four years or older |
2022 Stayers Hurdle Betting Odds
| Horse | Novibet Odds |
| Flooring Porter | 5/2 |
| Thyme Hill | 7/2 |
| Klassical Dream | 4/1 |
| Champ | 9/2 |
| Paisley Park | 11/2 |
| Royal Kahala | 8/1 |
| Melon | 14/1 |
| Lisnagar Oscar | 25/1 |
| Home By The Lee | 33/1 |
| Song For Someone | 50/1 |
| Indefatigable | 50/1 |
| Koshari | 50/1 |
| Garo De Juilley | 150/1 |
2022 Stayers Hurdle Betting Tips
Despite the fact that he hasn’t won a race in the three attempts since last year’s festival, 2021 Stayers Hurdle winner Flooring Porter is the favourite to win the 2022 renewal. A three and a quarter length winner of the Thursday showpiece twelve months ago, Gavin Cromwell’s Irish star was last seen finishing second to Klassical Dream in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown in December. That pair are set to lock horns once again in a race that has a rather open feel to it this year.
The Philip Hobbs trained Thyme Hill was second last time out to Champ in the Group One Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. Nicky Henderson’s Champ put himself into Stayers’ Hurdle contention with that superb Long Walk win, prior to letting himself down when he had been heavily backed in the Cleeve Hurdle here at Cheltenham back in January.
2019 Stayers Hurdle winner Paisley Park was the winner of that Cleeve Hurdle after coming home first in dramatic fashion. The Emma Lavelle trained raider will bid to regain the crown he won in tremendous style three years ago. The ten year old has to be included as one of the leading contenders, if he can summon up his best form in what is a wide open renewal for 2022.
All About The Stayers Hurdle
The leading long distance hurdle event in National Hunt racing, the Stayers’ Hurdle is a Group One hurdle race that is held on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival. The race is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of two miles, seven furlongs and 213 yards and is open to horses aged four years or older. During the race, there are twelve hurdles to be jumped.
A History Of The Stayers Hurdle
The Stayers Hurdle was first run in 1912 at Prestbury Park over a distance of three miles. Back then it was known as the Stayers Selling Hurdle and was a Weight for Age Selling type of race where the winning horse was sold after the event had concluded. The race has twice been dropped from the Cheltenham Festival schedule, one time between 1928 and 1929 and again between 1939 and 1945. It was re-introduced in 1946 when it was brought in to replace the Spa Hurdle which had been previously run in 1923 and 1942 over two miles.
From 1946 to 1967 the Spa Hurdle was run over the same three miles as it is now until being renamed the Stayers’ Hurdle in 1972. In the past, the race had been held on either the Tuesday or the Wednesday of the Festival but from 1993 onwards, it has always been held as the feature race of the Thursday. For a ten year period between 2005 and 2015, this race was known as the World Hurdle, before reverting back to the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Former Winners of Stayers Hurdle
| Year | SP Odds | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2021 | 12/1 | Flooring Porter | Danny Mullins | Gavin Cromwell |
| 2020 | 50/1 | Lisnagar Oscar | Adam Wedge | Rebecca Curtis |
| 2019 | 11/8 Fav | Paisley Park | Aidan Coleman | Emma Lavelle |
| 2018 | 12/1 | Penhill | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 2017 | 10/1 | Nichols Canyon | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2016 | Evs Fav | Thistlecrack | Tom Scudamore | Colin Tizzard |
| 2015 | 14/1 | Cole Harden | Gavin Sheehan | Warren Greatrex |
| 2014 | 15/2 | More Of That | Barry Geraghty | Jonjo O’Neill |
| 2013 | 17/2 | Solwhit | Paul Carberry | Charles Byrnes |
| 2012 | 5/6 Fav | Big Buck’s | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
Stayers Hurdle Records
- Big Buck’s is the most successful horse in the Stayers Hurdle since 1972 with four wins.
- At present, the leading jockey in this race since 1972 is Ruby Walsh who has won this event on five separate occasions.
- The race’s leading trainer since 1972 is Paul Nicholls who has four wins to his name.
- There are two families sharing the leading owner race since being renamed in 1972and they are the Andrea & Graham Wylie and the Stewart Family who have both had four winning entries in the Stayers Hurdle.
Stayers Hurdle Betting FAQs
Who is the favourite to win the Stayers Hurdle?
This could change but right now it is Flooring Porter.
Which channel broadcasts the Stayers Hurdle?
In Ireland, viewers looking to watch the race can do so on Virgin Media.
What is the distance of the Stayers Hurdle?
The Stayers Hurdle is contested over a distance of two miles, seven furlongs and 213 yards.
Is this a right handed track or a left handed track?
This race is run on the left handed New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Are winning favourites common or rare in the Stayers Hurdle?
No, apart from 2016 when Thistlecrack went off at even money and Flooring Porter in 2019, a favourite hasn’t won this race in recent years.
