The opening Championship race at the Cheltenham Festival is the Champion Hurdle, which takes place at 4:00pm on day one. Last year's dramatic Champion Hurdle will live long in the memory for many jumps fans, and this season's renewal is looking incredibly competitive.
Here's a look at the 2026 Champion Hurdle, betting and run-down of the headline entries.
2026 Champion Hurdle Odds
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| The New Lion | 9/4 |
| Brighterdaysahead | 5/2 |
| Constitution Hill | 9/2 |
| Lossiemouth | 6/1 |
| Golden Ace | 6/1 |
| Poniros | 14/1 |
| Bar | 20/1 |
[Updated on 7.2.2026]
2026 Champion Hurdle Entries
Injuries to State Man and Sir Gino have blown the betting for this year's Champion Hurdle wide open. The current market leader is Dan Skelton's Cheltenham Festival winner from last year, The New Lion, who kept on well to claim a cosy victory in the Unibet Hurdle on Trials Day, having fallen on his reappearance in the Fighting Fifth.
Having finished second to that rival on her return to action at Christmas, Brighterdaysahead took down Lossiemouth to land the Irish Champion Hurdle. Gordon Elliott's mare now rivals The New Lion for favouritism. Lossiemouth, meanwhile, drifted in the Champion Hurdle betting and now seems more likely to head back to the Mares' Hurdle.
Constitution Hill suffered his third high-profile tumble in the Fighting Fifth, and will warm up for Cheltenham with a run on the flat at Southwell. Golden Ace won a dramatic Fighting Fifth on her return to action, and last year's surprise Champion Hurdle winner sits much more prominently in the market this year than she did 12 months ago.
Triumph Hurdle winner, Poniros made an encouraging return in the Irish Champion Hurdle, and was backed into a fairly short price for the Champion Hurdle. Willie Mullins could also be represented by the mercurial trio of Anzadam, Ballyburn and El Fabiolo.
Greatwood Hurdle winner Alexei holds a Cheltenham entry. As does Fighting Fifth second Nemean Lion. Casheldale Lad, Wilful, Workahead and Lucky Place could also run in the feature on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.