The Stayers’ Hurdle stands as the pinnacle of stamina-sapping hurdle races in the National Hunt calendar, a Grade 1 contest that has crowned some of jump racing’s most illustrious champions.
As the 2025 Cheltenham Festival approaches, all eyes are focused on Gordon Elliott’s remarkable stayer Teahupoo, whose journey from Champion Hurdle disappointment to Stayers’ Hurdle glory encapsulates the Festival’s capacity for sporting redemption.
Currently appearing as the 5/4 favourite for the Thursday highlight on March 13, Teahupoo’s position at the head of the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle odds reflects both his commanding victory in 2024 and his evident affinity for the demands of championship staying hurdles.
The eight-year-old faces worthy adversaries in Joseph O’Brien’s Home By The Lee, fresh from success in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan, and the progressive Lucky Place.
As we examine Teahupoo’s fascinating relationship with Prestbury Park, his development from speed-oriented hurdler to premium stayer reveals the precise nurturing required to produce a Cheltenham Festival champion.
2022 Champion Hurdle – A learning experience
Teahupoo’s first taste of Festival action came in the 2022 Champion Hurdle, where his limitations were exposed in no uncertain terms.
Finishing last of ten runners, some 32¾ lengths behind the magnificent Honeysuckle, the experience proved invaluable in shaping his future campaign.
Elliott’s post-race assessment that his charge required softer ground and a more demanding test of stamina would prove prophetic in the years to come.
2023 Stayers’ Hurdle – Finding His Stride
The following year marked Teahupoo’s first attempt at three miles in the Stayers’ Hurdle, where he demonstrated his growing prowess in the division.
Initially crossing the line third behind Sire Du Berlais, a dramatic stewards’ inquiry briefly elevated him to second before an appeal reversed the decision.
Despite the administrative drama, his strong-staying performance confirmed Elliott’s faith in his horse’s stamina credentials.
2024 Stayers’ Hurdle – crowning glory
Teahupoo’s finest hour arrived in the 2024 renewal, where he delivered a performance that combined power, precision, and determination.
The victory proved particularly poignant for Elliott’s yard, breaking their silence at that year’s Festival and showcasing their star stayer’s development into a complete staying hurdler that could dominate race odds.
Even with a moment of concern at the second-last flight, his ability to power clear up the famous Cheltenham hill demonstrated the marriage of speed and stamina that defines a true Stayers’ Hurdle champion.
“It’s just great to get a winner – we’ve hit the crossbar all week,” said Elliott, for whom it was the 38th Festival success of his career. “The horses are running well, and there are no excuses and no hard-luck stories either, but to win the Stayers’ Hurdle is just unbelievable – for the whole team and for Jack [Kennedy, jockey] and for [owners] Robcour. It’s been a long couple of days, but no horse didn’t win that should have won.”
The road ahead
As Teahupoo prepares to defend his crown in 2025, his progression from Champion Hurdle also-ran to Stayers’ Hurdle hero perfectly illustrates the importance of patience and precise race planning in National Hunt racing.
Still only eight years old, he appears to be entering his prime years as a staying hurdler, with the potential to join the ranks of back-to-back winners like Big Buck’s and Flooring Porter.
The anticipation building around his title defence speaks volumes about both his individual quality and the enduring prestige of the Stayers’ Hurdle itself.
Whether Teahupoo can enhance his legacy with another victory remains to be seen, but his remarkable journey from speed test disappointment to staying supremacy already marks him as one of the most fascinating horses of his generation.
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