2026 Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle: runner-by-runner guide

Superb winner of the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle in the mud two years ago when anything and everything looked possible for the horse who carries his head unusually low.

However, chasing did not go to plan last season and, back over hurdles, he disappointed behind Teahupoo when upped to 3m at Leopardstown over Christmas, having previously pushed him hard in the Hatton’s Grace over half a mile shorter. It could be he had an off day last time and he’s since been freshened up but his list of Grade One reverses are beginning to tot up.

He’s 3/3 at the Festival and 4/4 at Cheltenham, although Galopin Des Champs was in the process of pummelling him on one of those occasions only to come down after the final fence.

Bob Olinger beat Teahupoo fair and square in last season’s Stayers’, although he probably benefitted from the race favouring speed over stamina.

He was put in his place by the same rival when reappearing at Leopardstown over Christmas but the winner was at a fitness advantage.

It at least showed that, at 11, Bob Olinger retains  plenty of zest/ability, and now he’s back at a track which clearly plays to his strengths.

He’s finished third, fourth and fifth in festival races for the past three years and if that pattern continues then they may as well pay him the prize for sixth now.

The nine-year-old has run on the Flat, over fences and hurdles since September, without threatening to trouble the judge. Connections also have him in the Coral Cup.

Got a great ride from Brian Hughes when winning the Pertemps last year, off a mark of 131, and the partnership also went close at the Punchestown Festival, too.

Handicaps and Hughes have been off the agenda this campaign, with Doddiethegreat running well in some of this season’s top staying hurdles without threatening to land one.

The formbook says he cannot win but, equally, suggests he will not be discredited, especially away from soft ground. And given how he rose to the occasion at the Festival 12 months ago, you would not rule out the possibility of him pulling out a bit extra. I’ll also be keeping out an eye on a change of headgear for him.

Gavin Cromwell reports that the two-timer winner has met with a setback and will not be running at Cheltenham, or at Aintree.

Impose Toi and Ma Shantou have muscled their way into the reckoning after beginning the season in handicap company, so who is to say French Ship won’t follow suit?

He looked one to follow when scoring over 2m4f at Cheltenham and Newbury in the first half of the season and was moving well when stumbling and losing his rider three out in the Rendlesham at Haydock last time when trying 3m for the first time. There could be more to come over the trip, for all that he will need it. The fact he wasn’t entered for the Coral Cup indicate connections believe he now needs a stiffer test.

Game stayer who won the Cleeve Hurdle last year but he’s exposed as a mid 140s horse and, at ten, isn’t going to be getting any quicker.

His fortunes have nosedived since his win in the Rendlesham Hurdle last year.  Now onto his third different trainer in the space of a year.

Fabulous rags-to-riches story but, at 11, you wonder how many chapters remain.

His career highlights have come over fences and he merely helped make up the numbers in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on his latest start. On the plus side, he will be fresh and if the ground dries up a bit, then so much better for him.

Thorough stayer with a lazy streak who looked to have plenty going for him in last year’s renewal, only to be brought down. He had beaten Bob Olinger, who went on to win, in his previous two starts, which must have added to the frustration of his connections.

At 11, it could be his window has slammed shut, but his game success in the Galmoy Hurdle last time perhaps suggests otherwise. That form has been franked, too, with the runner-up, Staffordshire Knot, who was getting 9lb, going one better next time and Gerri Colombe, who was a well-beaten third, subsequently finishing runner-up in the Bobbyjo Chase.

Home By The Lee had previously finished fourth behind Teahupoo in the December Hurdle (beaten 15 lengths), although he didn’t wear his usual blinkers on that occasion (tried in a visor, which was quickly dispensed with last time) and the unseasonably good ground was never going to help him.

Not many in the field are open to improvement but six-year-old Honest Policy, who has had only six runs, is an obvious exception.

He has quickly established himself as a leading stayer; winning the Grade One Mersey Novices' Hurdle over 2m4f at Aintree last spring before bustling up Jasmin De Vaux, the Albert Bartlett winner, over 3m at Punchestown.

And his sole run this term, when a close third behind Impose Toi and Strong Leader in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December, hinted at even more to come as he travelled well and stuck to his task.

Kept fresh for this assignment and with this test looking tailor-made, he is a must for any shortlist.

Last year’s Coral Cup runner-up has thrived up in trip this season, stamping himself as a genuine contender with successive victories in the Long Distance Hurdle, at Newbury, and Long Walk Hurdle, at Ascot. 

His winning run came to an end when second behind Ma Shantou, who he was conceding 6lb to, in the Pertemps Network Cleeve Hurdle where he didn’t entirely convince with his finishing effort having travelled powerfully into contention. 

That hinted he perhaps didn’t handle the stiffer test of stamina, with the ground also against him there (Nicky Henderson voiced his concerns about the conditions beforehand). 

Has work to do now to reverse form with Ma Shantou, who he will meet off level weights this time, and Honesty Policy appears to have strong claims of reversing the Long Walk Hurdle form. However, should the ground be suitable, an each-way case can still be made for Impose Toi. 

Has been a huge improver since joining Dan Skelton’s yard and made a mockery of a rating of 140 on his seasonal, and yard, debut at Haydock in November. 

Defeated some useful performers in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle next time out, impressing with the manner of his victory, and showcased a potent turn of foot there by clocking the fastest penultimate furlong (12.82s) at Cheltenham in RaceiQ’s current database (hurdles and fences, 2260 runners). 

Three miles therefore remains a slight question mark, despite his strong finishing efforts over 2m3f and an extended 2m4f this season, and it’s unlikely he will want much give underfoot. 

Connections were also going to bypass Cheltenham this year, with this test potentially coming too soon for the six-year-old after just eight starts, but he’s now being prepared for the race. Should connections decide to roll the dice, and they only will do if the ground is suitable, then he must be high on any shortlist, with further improvement likely.

Has taken a huge step forward this season and arrives here following a career-best effort in the Pertemps Network Cleeve Hurdle. 

He also impressed when winning his other two outings at Cheltenham this season, both in handicaps, so clearly has a liking for the track, and has quickly put his Haydock blip behind him. 

His jumping was again an asset over course and distance last time out and the manner of his victory there suggests he’s a leading player here. The RaceiQ data also shows he clocked a FSP of over 110%, so is clearly a thorough stayer.  

This will be a tougher assignment, but he may not have finished improving yet, and looks sure to make a bold bid to emulate the stable’s former long-distance star Paisley Park. 

Has won two nice prizes on his past two starts, including the Star Sports National Spirit Hurdle last time out, but connections have advised he is almost certain to bypass the Cheltenham Festival.

Produced arguably a career-best performance when storming clear to win the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown in December where he had the race won a long way out. 

Defeated Bob Olinger, who he chased home in last year’s Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, with ease there, although that rival lacked race fitness, and Ballyburn (third) failed to sparkle. 

Coped with quicker conditions at Leopardstown, too, so may not be reliant on softer ground at Cheltenham. He is seen to best effect in a strongly-run contest, which he should get here, and looks the one to beat again. 

He will face some new progressive stayers, though, and will need to be at the top of his game to regain his Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle crown. 

Has not been seen since winning a Grade One at Auteuil in November 2023 and missed his intended prep run for this on Festival Trials Day due to a dirty scope. It’s highly unlikely he will be in action here. 

Things have not gone to plan for The Yellow Clay so far this season, and appears likely to go down the handicap route, with the British handicapper keeping him on a rating of 155. 

Claimed Grade Two glory at Doncaster in January after chasing home Wodhooh at Leopardstown and is clearly in fine fettle again this season. She has plenty to find on ratings, though, and connections have said she's unlikely to run. No mare has won the Stayers’ Hurdle since Shuil Ar Aghaidh in 1993. 

Won a handicap at the December Meeting here and followed up in another at Sandown, but was well beaten in the Star Sports National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell when last seen, and would have stacks to find on ratings.

She’s heading for the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, which she's a best-priced 2-1.