The Champion Hurdle is the feature race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. We’ll detail the runners and riders to look out for, the key trends to track and the best Champion Hurdle betting offers 2026 here.
Cheltenham Champion Hurdle 2026 free bets and betting offers
Ahead of the Champion Hurdle, you can expect bookmakers to roll out a range of offers for both new and existing customers. Last time out, new punters were able to benefit from heavily enhanced odds of 50/1 when backing the favourite, Constitution Hill. We’ll highlight the most relevant and valuable Champion Hurdle Betting Offers for 2026 to maximise your chances of winning.
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Full T&CsChampion Hurdle – What you need to know
The Gold Cup may be the first race that comes to mind at the Cheltenham Festival, but the Champion Hurdle is a huge highlight in its own right.
How long is the Champion Hurdle, when’s it held and where’s it run?
The Champion Hurdle is one of the most prestigious races at the Cheltenham Festival, held on the opening day of the event. Run over just slightly more than two miles, it is significantly shorter than the Cheltenham Gold Cup (which is over three miles) or the iconic Aintree Grand National (which spans more than four miles).
Due to the difference in distances, it’s rare to see the top horses from the Champion Hurdle transition to races like the Gold Cup or Grand National. However, the race has a history of producing some of the finest hurdlers in history, with legendary horses such as Istabraq, Hardy Eustace, Hurricane Fly, and more recently Epatante and Honeysuckle making their mark on this prestigious event.
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Full T&Cs2026 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle betting odds
The top contenders are listed in the table below alongside their biggest achievements to date. We’ve also included each horses current 2026 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle betting odds.
Amongst the likely runners is 2025 winner Golden Ace. He had initially been priced up as a 40/1 outsider, but victory in November’s Fighting Fifth, followed by second place in Boxing Day’s Christmas Hurdle, have been enough to push him back into contention.
| Champion Hurdle runners | Most notable result | 2026 Champion Hurdle odds* |
|---|
| The New Lion | 2025 Turners Novices Hurdle winner | 11/4 |
| Brighterdaysahead | 2026 Irish Champion Hurdle Winner | 3/1 |
| Constitution Hill | 2023 Champion Hurdle winner | 9/2 |
| Lossiemouth | 2024/25 Mares Hurdle winner | 6/1 |
| Golden Ace | 2025 Champion Hurdle winner | 7/1 |
| Poniros | 2025 JCB Triumph Hurdle winner | 16/1 |
*Cheltenham Champion Hurdle odds last updated at 6pm on 16th February 2026 and subject to change.
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Full T&CsCheltenham Champion Hurdle past winners
The list of previous Champion Hurdle winners is something of a who’s who of jumps racing. A number of horses have won the race more than once, but securing three wins has proven to be a much rarer feat, most recently accomplished by Istabraq at the turn of the century. With Constitution Hill out of the running, a new horse will be claiming bragging rights in the Champion Hurdle.
- 2025 – Golden Ace (25/1)
- 2024 – State Man (2/5 Fav)
- 2023 – Constitution Hill (4/11 Fav)
- 2022 – Honeysuckle (8/11 Fav)
- 2021 – Honeysuckle (11/10 Fav)
- 2020 – Epatante (2/1 Fav)
- 2019 – Espoir d’Allen (16/1)
- 2018 – Buveur d’Air (4/6 Fav)
- 2017 – Buveur d’Air (5/1)
- 2016 – Annie Power (5/2 Fav)
- 2015 – Faugheen (4/5 Fav)
- 2014 – Jezki (9/1)
- 2013 – Hurricane Fly (13/8 Fav)
- 2012 – Rock On Ruby (11/1)
- 2011 – Hurricane Fly (11/4 Fav)
- 2010 – Binocular (9/1)
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Full T&CsCheltenham Champion Hurdle betting trends
We all like to have an edge when placing our bets, and looking at trends is a popular way of finding one. We’ve gone back through previous Champion Hurdles to see if there are any notable recurring themes in previous winners, making it easier to narrow down the list of potential Champion Hurdle winners.
Key Cheltenham Champion Hurdle betting trends
- 12/12 – Had previously won at least 4 races
- 11/12 – Had raced at Cheltenham previously
- 11/12 – Won at single-figure odds (9/1 or less)
- 10/12 – Won their most recent race
- 9/12 – Won by the favourite
- 9/12 – Aged 7 years old or less
- 8/12 – Had won at Cheltenham previously
- 5/12 – Won at the Cheltenham Festival in the previous year
- 4/12 – Nicky Henderson was trainer
- 4/12 – W P Mullins was trainer
- 1/12 – Aged 9 years old or older
Based on the above betting trends, a younger horse with Cheltenham experience, coming to the Festival off the back of a win, is going to appeal, while it is far less important to look for a horse that has actually won over the Prestbury Park fences. Favourite backers are also normally left happy, with the last five jollies leaving the bookies counting their losses.
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Full T&Cs2025 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle Results
In a race filled with drama, massive outsider Golden Ace came out on top. The heavy favourite Constitution Hill fell mid-way through the race after making a mess of a hurdle. Last year’s champion, State Man, saw off Brighterdaysahead and looked set to retain his crown. However, disaster struck as he fell at the final fence, leaving Golden Ace to sweep up the win. The table below details the full result of the Champion Hurdle.
| Champion Hurdle Result | Horse | 2025 Champion Hurdle SP* |
|---|
| 1st | Golden Ace | 25/1 |
| 2nd | Burdett Road | 66/1 |
| 3rd | Winter Fog | 150/1 |
| 4th | Brighterdaysahead | 5/2 |
| 5th | King Of Kingsfield | 200/1 |
| Fell | State Man | 1/2 Fav |
| Fell | Constitution Hill | 8/1 |
*Cheltenham Champion Hurdle odds shown correct at post time.
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Full T&CsHow to watch and stream the 2026 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle
If you’re planning to bet on the Cheltenham Festival, you’ll definitely want to catch the action as the races unfold. While ITV broadcasts many of the key races, not every race is shown live on free-to-air TV. That’s where bookmaker live streams come in. Many bookmakers offer full coverage of the Cheltenham Festival, often without requiring any deposit or bet to be placed beforehand.
One advantage of using a bookmaker’s live stream is the ability to cash out mid-race. This feature lets you lock in profits or minimise losses depending on how your bet is performing. To make the most of this, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and choose the best bookmaker for live streaming and cash-out options before race day.
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Full T&CsCheltenham Champion Hurdle FAQs
What is the Champion Hurdle?
The Champion Hurdle is the feature race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. It is run over 2 miles and ½ a furlong and Istabraq is among the most famous winners of the race.
What date is Cheltenham Champion Hurdle 2026?
The Cheltenham Festival is traditionally held during the same week as St Patrick’s Day, with the Champion Hurdle being the headline event on the opening day. For 2026, the race is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 10th March.
Who won the Champion Hurdle 2025?
Golden Ace won the 2025 Champion Hurdle, vindicating punters who backed him at odds of 25/1.
What time is 2026 Champion Hurdle Cheltenham?
As happened in 2025, the Champion Hurdle is scheduled to start at a new later time of 4pm on Tuesday 10th March 2026.
Has any horse won the Champion Hurdle three times?
Istabraq is one of five horses to have won the Champion Hurdle three times, achieving this remarkable feat between 1998 and 2000.
What is the prize money for the Champion Hurdle in 2026?
The total prize fund for the 2026 Champion Hurdle is expected to be £450,000. The winner of the race will receive £253,215, with the remaining £196,785 distributed among the top 8 finishers. This makes the race not only prestigious in terms of competition but also a great opportunity for all horses finishing in the top spots.
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