Stayers' Hurdle

The Stayers' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain. It is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles (2 miles 7 furlongs and 213 yards, or 4,785 metres), with twelve hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

It is the leading long-distance hurdle event in the National Hunt calendar and the feature race on the third day of the Festival.

History The inaugural race was run in 1912 at Prestbury Park over 3 miles with £100 (£200 in 1913) prize money to the winner and £10 to the runner-up. It was called "Stayers Selling Hurdle" and was a Weight for Age Selling type of event with the winning horse being sold for £50 after the race. The race was dropped from the festival programme twice during 1928–1929 and in 1939–1945 but in 1946 it replaced the Spa Hurdle which was previously run in 1923 and 1942 over 2 miles. From 1946 to 1967 the Spa Hurdle was run over the same 3 miles until being renamed in 1972 as the Stayers' Hurdle, when it was sponsored by Lloyds Bank. It was backed by Waterford Crystal from 1978 to 1990, and by Bonusprint from 1991 to 2004. The race used to be held on either the Tuesday or the Wednesday of the Festival, but it was moved to the Thursday in 1993.

The title of the race was changed to the World Hurdle when Ladbrokes took over the sponsorship in 2005. Their sponsorship came to an end with the 2015 renewal and the 2016 race was sponsored by Ryanair. In 2017 and 2018 it was sponsored by Sun Bets and the title reverted to the Stayers' Hurdle. In 2019 the race was sponsored by Sun Racing. and Paddy Power has sponsored the race since 2020.

Records Most successful horse since 1972 (4 wins): Big Buck's – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

Leading jockey since 1972 (5 wins): Ruby Walsh – Big Buck's (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), Nichols Canyon (2017)

Leading trainer since 1972 (4 wins): Paul Nicholls – Big Buck's (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)

Leading owner since 1972 (4 wins): The Stewart Family – Big Buck's (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) Andrea & Graham Wylie – Inglis Drever (2005, 2007, 2008), Nichols Canyon (2017) J. P. McManus -Baracouda (2002, 2003), More Of That (2014), Sire Du Berlais (2023)

List of renewals Separate divisions of the race indicated by (1) and (2). Date Winner Margin SP Age Jockey Trainer Owner Runners 13-03-1912 1912, 13 March Aftermath 15F 6 J. W. Pullen Alfred Newey A. Newey 4 12-03-1913 1913, 12 March Silver Bay 1½ — W. Catling W. Fitton G. H. Hearman 5 11-03-1914 1914, 11 March Silver Bay 2F — W. Catling W. Fitton W. Fitton 12 10-03-1915 1915, 10 March Walkover by Rathduff ridden by Mr. Brabazon 01-01-1916 No races 1916–19 10-03-1920 1920, 10 March Wingman 4F — Harry Brown H. A. Brown H. Brown 12 02-03-1921 1921, 2 March Flurry 1½F — W. Smith Stratton W. Stratton 11 8-03-1922 1922, 8 March Matoppo 8F — Dick Rees C. Piggott F. Pedley 12 7-03-1923 1923, 7 March Warwick 1½F — I. Morgan Tabor S. Cohen 3 12-03-1924 1924, 12 March The Jester 8F 6 Keith Piggott Ernie Piggott R. Davison 14 10-03-1925 1925, 10 March Warwick 12F — George Duller W. Payne Jesse Brown 15 10-03-19261926, 10 March Waterford Glass II 2 11 Eric Foster Pease Mrs Pease 17 9-03-19271927, 9 March Zarane 1 13 Billy Speck Butchers J. T. Coltman 13 01-01-1928 No races 1928–29 11-03-19301930, 11 March Sobrino 2F 5 Leslie Butchers Frank Wootton S. Wootton 15 01-01-1931 no race 1931 3-03-19321932, 3 March Icy Kiss 4 4 W. Hollie Dick Mrs D. P. Dick 12 9-03-19331933, 9 March Sobrino 2 8 Mr Frank Usher Stewart Wight F. Usher 13 8-03-19341934, 8 March Fobdown 1½F 4 Frenchie Nicholson J. Reardon J. Reardon 5 14-03-19351935, 14 March Salic Law 20F 5 Frenchie Nicholson V. Hobbs Sangster 4 12-03-19361936, 12 March Bishop's Move 1½ 5 Cyril Mitchell Bill Payne A. Donn 12 01-01-1937 no race 1937 10-03-19381938, 10 March Chestnut 1½ 9 Keith Piggott Ernie Piggott Mrs E. Johnson 11 01-01-1939 No races 1939–45 14-03-19461946, 14 March (1) Haze 2 7 Ron Smyth Vic Smyth— 17 14-03-19461946, 14 March (2) Tregor 4 6 Jack Maguire Ivor Anthony Sir Victor Sasoon 19 01-01-1947 No race 1947 4-03-19481948, 4 March (1) Spam 2F 6 Aubrey Brabazon M. Brabazon J. Ismay 15 3-03-19481948, 3 March (2) Albor 2 6 Richard Black W. Payne— 17 01-01-1949 no race 1949 9-03-19501950, 9 March Mosquito II 1 5 Richard Black De Moraville Major I. M. Floor 17 25-04-19511951, 25 April Whim II 2 5 Johnnie Gilbert H. Christie— 20 6-03-19521952, 6 March Sarda II 6F 7 Bob Turnell Ivor Anthony Miss P. Vaughan 15 5-03-19531953, 5 March Jack Leal nkF 8 Bryan Marshall Peter Cazalet— 18 Modern renewals from 1972 15-03-19721972, 15 March Parlour Moor8 Macer Gifford Harry Thomson Jones Charlotte Monkton11 14-03-19731973, 14 March Moyne Royal8 David Mould Arthur Pitt E. Cook8 13-03-19741974, 13 March Highland Abbe8 Richard Smith Les Kennard Mrs K. Hankey15 12-03-19751975, 12 March Brown Lad6F 9 Tommy Carberry Jim Dreaper Mrs Peter Burrell12 17-03-19761976, 17 March Bit of a JigF8 Dessie Hughes Mick O'Toole Mrs Mick O'Toole12 16-03-19771977, 16 March Town Ship5 6 Tommy Carberry Peter Easterby Pat Muldoon11 15-03-19781978, 15 March Flame Gun6 Niall Madden Edward O'Grady Mary Kenny13 14-03-19791979, 14 March Lighter56 Philip Blacker John Edwards G. Smith14 11-03-19801980, 11 March Mountrivers56 Tommy Ryan Edward O'Grady B. Burser19 17-03-19811981, 17 March Derring Rose306 John Francome Fred Winter Peter Savill14 16-03-19821982, 16 March Crimson EmbersF 7 Stuart Shilston Fulke Walwyn Sally Smart11 15-03-19831983, 15 March A Kinsman 7 Geordie Dun John Brockbank Mrs John Brockbank21 13-03-19841984, 13 March Gaye Chance9 Sam Morshead Mercy Rimell Mary Curtis14 12-03-19851985, 12 March Rose RavinenkF 6 Ricky Pusey Fulke Walwyn Sally Smart22 11-03-19861986, 11 March Crimson Embers15 11 Stuart Shilston Fulke Walwyn Sally Smart19 17-03-19871987, 17 March Galmoy68 Tommy Carmody John Mulhern Miss D. Threadwell14 15-03-19881988, 15 March Galmoy7F9 Tommy Carmody John Mulhern Miss D. Threadwell16 14-03-19891989, 14 March Rustle127 Michael Bowlby Nicky Henderson Robert Waley-Cohen21 13-03-19901990, 13 March Trapper John 6 Charlie Swan Mouse Morris Jill Fanning22 12-03-19911991, 12 March King's CuratenkF7 Mark Perrett Stan Mellor C. J. Ells15 10-03-19921992, 10 March Nomadic Way7 Jamie Osborne Barry Hills Robert Sangster17 18-03-19931993, 18 March Shuil Ar Aghaidh7 Charlie Swan Paddy Kiely Mrs Paddy Kiely12 17-03-19941994, 17 March Balasani shdJ8 Mark Perrett Martin Pipe Mark Smith14 16-03-19951995, 16 March Dorans Pride5F6 Shane Broderick Michael Hourigan Tom Doran11 14-03-19961996, 14 March Cyborgo 6 David Bridgwater Martin Pipe County Stores Ltd19 13-03-19971997, 13 March Karshi7 Jamie Osborne Henrietta Knight 3rd Baron Vestey17 19-03-19981998, 19 March Princeful27 Rodney Farrant Jenny Pitman Robert Hitchins9 18-03-19991999, 18 March Anzumnk8 Richard Johnson David Nicholson Old Foresters Partnership12 16-03-20002000, 16 March Bacchanal1 6 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson Lady Lloyd-Webber10 01-01-2001 no race 2001 14-03-20022002, 14 March BaracoudankF7 Thierry Doumen François Doumen J. P. McManus16 13-03-20032003, 13 March BaracoudaJF8 Thierry Doumen François Doumen J. P. McManus11 18-03-20042004, 18 March Iris's Gift7 Barry Geraghty Jonjo O'Neill Robert Lester10 17-03-20052005, 17 March Inglis Drever36 Graham Lee Howard Johnson Andrea & Graham Wylie12 16-03-20062006, 16 March My Way de Solzenhd8/16 Robert Thornton Alan King Winfield, Longman et al.20 15-03-20072007, 15 March Inglis Drever5/18 Paddy Brennan Howard Johnson Andrea & Graham Wylie14 13-03-20082008, 13 March Inglis Drever111/89 Denis O'Regan Howard Johnson Andrea & Graham Wylie17 12-03-20092009, 12 March Big Buck's1 6/16 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Stewart Family14 18-03-20102010, 18 March Big Buck's3 5/67 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Stewart Family14 17-03-20112011, 17 March Big Buck's1 10/118 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Stewart Family13 15-03-20122012, 15 March Big Buck's5/69 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Stewart Family11 14-03-20132013, 14 March Solwhit2 17/2 9 Paul Carberry Charles Byrnes Top of the Hill13 13-03-20142014, 13 March More Of That1 15/26 Barry Geraghty Jonjo O'Neill J. P. McManus10 12-03-20152015, 12 March Cole Harden 6 Gavin Sheehan Warren Greatrex Jill & Robin Eynon 16 17-03-20162016, 17 March Thistlecrack 7F 8 Tom Scudamore Colin Tizzard John and Heather Snook 12 16-03-20172017, 16 March Nichols Canyon 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins Andrea & Graham Wylie 12 15-03-20182018, 15 March Penhill 2 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins Tony Bloom 17 14-03-20192019, 14 March Paisley Park F 7 Aidan Coleman Emma Lavelle Andrew Gemmell 18 12-03-20202020, 12 March Lisnagar Oscar 2 7 Adam Wedge Rebecca Curtis Racing For Fun 15 18-03-20212021, 18 March Flooring Porter 6 Danny Mullins Gavin Cromwell Flooring Porter Syndicate 15 17-03-20222022, 17 March Flooring Porter 7 Danny Mullins Gavin Cromwell Flooring Porter Syndicate 10 16-03-20232023, 16 March Sire Du Berlais nse11 Mark Walsh Gordon Elliott J. P. McManus11 14-03-20242024, 14 March Teahupoo F7 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott Robcour12 13-03-20252025, 13 March Bob Olinger 10 Rachael Blackmore Henry de Bromhead Robcour13 12-03-20262026, 12 March Home By The Lee 11 JJ Slevin Joseph O'Brien Sean O'Driscoll10

See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races

References

Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/ – Media information pack (2010). pedigreequery.com – World Hurdle – Cheltenham.

External links Race Recordings (1980-2004) youtube.com