Stayers' Hurdle Prediction 2026: Tips, Runners, Preview & Outright Winner
| Timetable | Thursday 12th of March |
| Prediction | Teahupoo TO WIN! |
| Odds | Teahupoo to Win @ 2.75 |
The 2026 Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle is set for Thursday, March 12th. This Grade 1 contest over three miles is one of the most anticipated races at the Cheltenham Festival, and we have a strong Stayers' Hurdle Cheltenham prediction to share. Below, we preview the top runners and provide our top sites for Cheltenham betting online.
🏆 Stayers’ Hurdle Cheltenham Prediction
The ante post Stayers' Hurdle odds make Teahupoo the clear favourite to reclaim his crown, and for a good reason. Gordon Elliott's eight-year-old has been in devastating form this season, winning both the G1 Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse and the G1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The latter was particularly impressive, as he beat defending champion Bob Olinger by seven lengths with Ballyburn a further seven lengths back in third. Elliott himself described Teahupoo as "the horse of a lifetime," and the numbers support that claim. He now has seven Grade 1 wins to his name, and historical trends work in his favour too.
Ten of the last 12 Stayers' Hurdle winners were aged between six and eight, and Teahupoo fits that profile at eight. He also won this very race in 2024 and was narrowly denied in 2025, giving his proven course form. The Stayers' Hurdle 2026 odds currently sit at around 2.75 with Lunubet, which represents solid value for such a dominant performer.
OUR PREDICTION: 🏆 TEAHUPOO TO WIN 🏆
🏇 Stayers’ Hurdle Cheltenham Betting Preview
Even if you favour the market leader, there is plenty of value elsewhere in the Stayers' Hurdle betting market. Below, we assess three key contenders alongside their riders, with each-way angles and the best Stayers' Hurdle Cheltenham odds from Ireland’s top horse racing bookies.
Odds are subject to change. Stay updated with the latest prices from your favourite bookmakers.
1️⃣ Teahupoo – Jack Kennedy / Gordon Elliott
Teahupoo is our outright Stayers' Hurdle prediction and the strongest pick in the field. His seasonal campaign has been flawless, winning the Hatton's Grace by a nose from the talented Ballyburn before demolishing that rival by 14 lengths in the Christmas Hurdle. That Leopardstown performance was arguably career-best, and Elliott has since confirmed the plan is to go straight to Cheltenham fresh.
Teahupoo won this race in 2024 underJack Kennedy and was runner-up to stablemate Bob Olinger in 2025, so he knows the course inside out. With soft ground expected, conditions should be ideal for this Masked Marvel gelding.
He represents the best value in the Stayers' Hurdle Cheltenham tips at his current price. You can take advantage of free bet offers at top betting sites to maximise your return.
2️⃣ Honesty Policy – Gordon Elliott
Honesty Policy gives Elliott a strong two-pronged attack in this year's Stayers' Hurdle betting market. The six-year-old won the G1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree last season and showed he could mix it with seasoned stayers when finishing third in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on his seasonal reappearance.
That run came behind Impose Toi and Strong Leader, two in-form performers, and he was only a neck off second despite having his first outing of the campaign. Elliott has kept him fresh since, targeting this race specifically.
The concern is his lack of experience, with only six career runs under rules, but his raw ability is obvious. A stronger pace over three miles at Cheltenham should suit him better than the steady Long Walk gallop. He looks a solid each-way option at his current Stayers' Hurdle betting odds.
3️⃣ Bob Olinger – Rachael Blackmore / Henry De Bromhead
The defending champion cannot be dismissed despite being 11 years old. Bob Olinger has a perfect record at Cheltenham, winning on all four of his visits to Prestbury Park, including three Festival triumphs. Trainer Henry De Bromhead has been vocal about his charge's wellbeing, stating that "the 2026 version is even better than the 2025 one."
His second-place finish behind Teahupoo in the Christmas Hurdle showed he remains competitive at the highest level. The key question is whether age catches up with him over the three-mile trip. Only one horse aged 11 or older has won this race in the last 12 renewals, that being Sire Du Berlais in 2023 at 33/1.
Still, Bob Olinger's Cheltenham record commands respect, and with Rachael Blackmore likely in the saddle again, he is worth considering for your Stayers' Hurdle tips as an each-way selection. Check the reviews of top betting sites to find the best price.
📊 Stayers’ Hurdle Cheltenham Winners
Gordon Elliott has dominated this race recently, training three of the last four winners. Flooring Porter's back-to-back victories in 2021 and 2022 remain the most recent consecutive wins, while Sire Du Berlais produced a massive 33/1 upset in 2023. Here's a summary of the last five Stayers' Hurdle winners.
Emmanuel Ngwa
Emmanuel Ngwa is an avid casino and sports writer with over 7 years of experience in content writing - specialising in snooker, football, and MMA. He combines his passion for sports with deep industry knowledge to provide expert guides, predictions, reviews and betting tips on BetinIreland.ie.