The 2022 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle: runner-by-runner guide

Who wins the 2022 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday?

Below is our guide to the final field for the feature race on the third day of the Festival - a contest previously won by great staying hurdlers including Baracouda, Big Bucks and Inglis Drever.

Official Rating: 163. Odds: 5-1

This enigmatic character can be frustrating or brilliant but certainly possesses the ability to claim this prestigious prize. His stock has fallen since Cleeve Hurdle defeat to an inspired Paisley Park but he would hold every chance on his stylish Long Walk success, where he had both Paisley Park and Thyme Hill behind. His record of one win from five starts at Cheltenham must be a worry and no horse aged 10 or older has won this race since Crimson Embers in 1986. While difficult to know which Champ will turn up, he’s likely to finish in the first four all the same.

Official Rating: 164. Odds: 3-1

A decisive winner of this contest last year when galloping his rivals into submission, things haven’t exactly gone to plan since - most recently when second behind Klassical Dream over Christmas when rider Danny Mullins was always playing catch up after a controversial start. There is a feeling that he has become favourite for this race by default due to his main rivals underperforming recently, but he remains open to further improvement as a seven-year-old and looks almost guaranteed to be there or thereabouts.

Official Rating: 142. Odds: 40-1

Completely outran his odds of 80/1 last time to run talented mare Royal Kahala to within two lengths in the Galmoy Hurdle. That was his first go at three miles plus over hurdles and he is entitled to improve but will need to if he is to spring a major upset in Grade One company. He has not won over hurdles since January 2020 and a mark of 142 leaves him with plenty to find. He could be one for the handicaps.

Official Rating: 165. Odds: 9-2

Been something of a revelation since upped to three miles at last year’s Punchestown Festival and returned with another devastating display at Christmas when holding off division standard-bearer Flooring Porter at Leopardstown, but he now has a point to prove since finishing weakly in an odds-on reverse in the Galmoy Hurdle last time. However, his one Cheltenham appearance resulted in an impressive victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle three years ago and if getting his way out in front could be a tough nut to crack. Likely to figure prominently if he brings his A-game.

Official Rating: 151. Odds: 100-1

Pulled off one of the upsets of the season when scoring at 80/1 in a Pertemps Qualifier at Aintree back in November and he won a valuable handicap hurdle at last year’s Punchestown Festival when with Willie Mullins. The 10-year-old has always had ability but this grade seems a bit far-fetched and the Pertemps Final or Coral Cup looks much more likely once more, having been raised just 2lb for that Aintree victory.

Official Rating: 147. Odds: 33-1

Sprung a major surprise to land this contest at odds of 50/1 two years ago but has not entered the winner’s enclosure since. Has plenty of ground to find with principal British contenders Champ, Thyme Hill and Paisley Park, though his most recent third in the Cleeve Hurdle hinted at a possible return to form. Soft ground would certainly enhance his claims and he seemed to be in a good rhythm before falling six from home in last year’s renewal. Each-way claims at best but hard to see him emulating his 2020 heroics at the age of nine.

Official Rating: 161. Odds: 6/1

A thoroughly heart-warming winner of last month’s Cleeve Hurdle - his first win since the 2020 Long Walk Hurdle - the admirable veteran somehow managed to give away almost 10 lengths at the start before storming home to comfortably see off Champ. A repeat of those antics at the start will not suffice here and he hasn’t been up to scratch in this race for the last two years, not looking the same horse since that remarkable and unbeaten 2018/19 season. Last month’s victory offers plenty of encouragement this time around though and with a record of four from seven at the track he must enter calculations.

Official Rating: 151. Odds: 50-1

Admirable efforts earlier in the season when runner-up in Grade Two company at both Cheltenham and Ascot, the three-time Grade Two scorer has been a major disappointment since with a distant fourth behind Goshen at Sandown. Tom Symonds’ stable star has long shaped as though stepping up in trip beyond two and a half miles would suit and he gets that opportunity here at a track where he has finished first and second in two attempts. This is a difficult task in Grade One company and he could easily be saved for Aintree just a few weeks later.

Official Rating: 161. Odds: 9-2

Never outside the first four in 11 starts on British soil, he is the definition of consistency and this admirable sort has run well on both Cheltenham Festival appearances - third to Envoi Allen in the 2019 Champion Bumper and an arguably unlucky fourth to Monkfish in a vintage renewal of the Albert Bartlett two years ago. Winner at Aintree after missing this race with a late setback last year, he appears to be coming to the boil again and with Paisley Park advertising the close form ties from the Long Walk Hurdle he could be the home team’s best hope of flooring current champion Flooring Porter.

Official Rating: 142. Odds: 9-1

This rapidly-improving mare smashed Klassical Dream in the Galmoy Hurdle last month on her first attempt at three miles and must be a big player if turning up for this race with a 7lb allowance. She didn’t raise a gallop at last year’s Festival last year when 9/2 favourite for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, but there were valid excuses for that display and much better can be expected this time around. The going could play a major role in what race connections decide to plump for, with the seven-year-old as short as 4/1 for the Mares’ Hurdle on the Tuesday. With drying conditions, this race may well be the target.