Stayers' Hurdle Tips & Odds

The race takes place at 16:00 on Thursday 12th March 2026.

Watch the race live on ITV1 and Racing TV which also offer options to stream the race via their streaming services. 

Alternatively most bookmakers offer a free live horse racing stream allowing you to watch the race after you've placed a bet.

As mentioned above, Big Buck’s was the undisputed king of the division for Paul Nicholls, and is the only horse to win the Stayers’ Hurdle four times, doing so between 2009-2012. Having been imported from France in 2007, Big Buck’s initially plied his trade as a chaser, and although he showed plenty of ability he regularly let himself down with his jumping, something which prompted a switch to the smaller obstacles the following season, with his first start over timber in Britain coming at Cheltenham on New Years’ Day 2009. The switch proved to be a masterstroke, and Big Buck’s would go on to enjoy an 18-race winning run which would see him win four World Hurdles on the spin. Serious injury prevented Big Buck’s from attempting to win a fifth straight title in 2013, and he suffered his first defeat for over five years when beaten on reappearance in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January 2014. Big Buck’s couldn’t build on that reappearance run in the 2014 World Hurdle, finishing fifth, but he bowed out as a great of the sport regardless.

There are several trials for the Stayers’ Hurdle throughout the season, with the most significant of those considered to be the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot and the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham. Other race to note include the West Yorkshire Hurdle (Wetherby), the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (Haydock), the Relkeel Hurdle (Cheltenham) and the Rendlesham Hurdle (Haydock). Over in Ireland, significant trial races for the Stayers’ Hurdle are the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan, the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown and the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas.

The most successful jockey in the history of the Stayers’ Hurdle is Ruby Walsh, who has won the race five times. Four of those wins came on Big Buck’s (2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012), while Walsh also won the Stayers’ Hurdle with Nichols Canyon in 2017.

The most successful trainer in the history of the Champion Hurdle is Paul Nicholls, who has won the race four times. Each of Paul Nicholls’ wins in the Stayers’ Hurdle came courtesy of Big Buck’s who won the race in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.