The first Championship race of the year, the Champion Hurdle takes place on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Our Champion Hurdle tips are below, along with the latest odds, a runner by runner preview of the race, all the key information, plus free bets and enhanced prices.
Our tip for the Champion Hurdle will be posted in the afternoon of Monday 9th March, along with a full writeup and preview of all the runners.
The 2026 Champion Hurdle is one of the most open renewals of the Grade One in recent memory.
Golden Ace is the reigning champion for Jeremy Scott, winning for the second straight year at the Festival in an action-packed Champion Hurdle in 2025. Since then, the eight-year-old won the Fighting Fifth before only finding Sir Gino too good in the Christmas Hurdle.
Dan Skelton-trained The New Lion has long-been among the front-runners, and renewed confidence surrounding his chances can be taken after bouncing back from a fall in the Fighting Fifth by winning the International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Trials Day.
The two standout Irish contenders clashed at the Dublin Racing Festival, with Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead besting Lossiemouth in the Irish Champion Hurdle. Connections are hoping it’s third time lucky for their star mare after failing to fire on her previous two runs at the Festival.
Once regarded as the greatest hurdler of this generation, Constitution Hill will still have his supporters, despite falls in three of his last four starts. Nicky Henderson will be hopeful that a trip to Southwell will sharpen up the nine-year-old, and a second win in the race would undeniably be one of the greatest moments in Cheltenham Festival history.
The latest Champion Hurdle odds from Sky Bet are:
Odds correct as of 2pm, 17th Feb 2026.
| Full Race Name | Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy |
| Date | Tuesday 10th March 2026 |
| Time | 4:00pm |
| Distance | 2 miles 87 yards |
| Race Type | Grade 1 National Hunt Hurdle |
| Course | Old Course |
| Number of Hurdles | 8 |
| Minimum Age | 4 years old |
| Weights | 11 stone 0lb for 4 year olds. 11 stone 10lb for 5 year olds and older (7lb mares allowance) |
We're bringing you all the best Champion Hurdle free bets, bonuses, enhanced odds offers and existing customer promotions.
These will be updated daily through Cheltenham.
Stats can be used to help pinpoint the most logical winner of the Champion Chase this year. Key facts to look out for include:
Tuesday - Champion Hurdle Tips
Wednesday - Champion Chase Tips
Thursday - Stayers Hurdle Tips & Ryanair Chase Tips
Friday - Cheltenham Gold Cup Tips
A small field of just 7 horses lined up for the Champion Hurdle in 2025, and all eyes were on Constitution Hill.
Opening at 8/13 in the ring he was sent off as the strong 1/2 favourite. Brighterdaysahead was relatively unfancied, drifting from 15/8 out to 5/2, while there was money around for State Man at 8/1.
Making up the rest of the field was Golden Ace - 25/1, having touched 66/1 at times - Burdett Road (66/1), Winter Fog (150/1) and King of Kingsfield (200/1).
An uneventful start to the race saw the rank outsider setting the pace, with the second favourite sitting just behind.
Just as they reached half way, the race exploded into life though. Constitution Hill misjudged a fence coming down the hill, sending a roar of disbelief around the Cheltenham crowd.
Brighterdaysahead hit the front but was joined and then quickly passed on the final bend by the strong travelling State Man who showed an impressive turn of pace to pull well clear ahead of the last.
There was another twist to come though, as he completely misjudged the last, taking off too early and falling. Golden Ace shot through to pick up the lead, and his advantage was extended when Brighterdaysahead was hampered by the rising State Man.
A huge forecast landed as the 25/1 Golden Ace beat Burdett Road at 66/1, in a huge shock and a big win for the bookmakers.
The Champion Hurdle is one of our favourite races of the year, with the star two milers showing amazing speed and flawless jumping to win.
This has long been a race for favourites, with numerous odds on winners in recent years. The combination of hurdles (which are more forgiving than fences), the short distance, and the typically small field means there is less to go wrong than in many other races at Cheltenham.
Our tipsters review every Cheltenham Festival Champion Hurdle field in full before picking our selections. They'll rewatch all previous races for each of the runners, before assigning them their own projected prices - "tissue prices", as they are called in horse racing.
Armed with this data, they will then monitor the market, trainer and jockey form, and the weather conditions as the big day draws closer. Using this information to tweak their prices, they will have an excellent idea on the day of which horses are both overestimated and underestimated by the market.
