Why champion Paisley Park looks head and shoulders above Stayers' Hurdle rivals

Although there have been three double-figure priced winners in the past five years in the Stayers' Hurdle, they were the only ones this century. Form horses have by and large dominated and the average pre-race RPR for the past 15 winners is an impressive 167.

A big reason for that lofty figure is the number of repeat winners. The years from 2002 to 2012 were dominated by three of the all-time great staying hurdlers. Between them Baracouda (2), Inglis Drever (3) and Big Buck's (4) won nine of the 11 runnings of the race.

While all three of them returned peak winning RPRs of at least 174, both Inglis Drever in 2005 (167) and Big Buck's in 2011 (162) were successful with marks below the 15-year average figure of 169. Inglis Drever was chased home by a declining Baracouda in 2005, while Big Buck's was not properly tested in a bunched finish to a steadily run race in 2011.