Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle: Past Winners, Stats & History

About the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle: Stamina On Show At Haydock

First run in 2005, this 3m½f contest for the staying handicappers has quickly become an integral part of the hurdling programme for those runners who boast stamina as their strong suit. Open to horses aged four and older, this Premier Handicap (previously Grade 3) event is scheduled to take place at the Merseyside venue of Haydock in November each year.

Initially held over the slightly shorter trip of 2m 7f, it wasn’t until the 2018 renewal of the race that the current distance was introduced. The type of obstacle encountered by the competitors has also varied over the first 15 editions, with the French style “Fixed Brush” hurdles being utilised between 2007 and 2016. These stiffer obstacles are essentially similar in construction to British fences but smaller in size. The race reverted back to standard hurdles in 2017.

Whilst the trip and hurdle type may have altered over time, one thing which has remained constant up to 2023 is the sponsorship of the race. Betfair lent their support to the very first edition of the race and have maintained that backing ever since.

Younger Runners Hold The Edge

Being a hurdle contest, it perhaps isn’t too surprising that the younger performers have led the way in this event to date. The edge has nevertheless been pretty pronounced, with over two-thirds of the opening 19 editions falling to a runner aged either five or six.

Those over seven years of age have rarely troubled the judge, and so special mention must go to the Philip Hobbs runner Kruzhlinin, who became the oldest winner in the early history of the race when coming home in front in 2016 at the ripe old age of nine.

Pipe And Scudamore At The Double

One interesting fact about the opening 19 editions of this race is just how open it has been in terms of the variety of trainers and jockeys to have come home in front. As of 2023 only two trainers and one jockey have landed the prize on more than once occasion.

David Pipe is the standout trainer here with four victories between 2010 and 2020. Only Nick Williams with Diamond Harry and Aubusson has been able to join Pipe in training more than one winner of this contest.

Teaming up with David Pipe onboard Grands Crus in 2010 and Gevrey Chambertin in 2013, Tom Scudamore holds the narrowest of leads in the jockey tables for the race.

Paisley Top Of The Pile

This may ‘only’ be a handicap contest, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t attracted a number of extremely high-class performers over the years. Millenium Royal (2007) was a Grade 1 winner in France; whilst Diamond Harry (2009), Grand Crus (2010), Dynaste (2011) and Sam Spinner (2017) all counted a domestic Grade 1 success on their CV. Synchronised meanwhile could manage only third in this in 2011, but went on to enter the history books with a famous win under Sir Tony McCoy in the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The classiest winner of the race as of 2023 though, is 2018 victor Paisley Park. Emma Lavelle’s stable star announced himself on the staying hurdle scene success in this race and went on to dominate the division, with four Grade 1 wins to date – including success in the 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Paisley Park’s Graded Race Victories