The opening day of the Cheltenham Festival is headlined by the Champion Hurdle, a historic Grade One which has been won by legendary hurdlers like Persian War, Istabraq and Hurricane Fly.
With the 2026/27 National Hunt season about to get underway, here's the early betting for the 2027 Champion Hurdle.
2027 Champion Hurdle Odds
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Lossiemouth | 5/2 |
| Mydaddypaddy | 10/1 |
| King Rasko Grey | 12/1 |
| Old Park Star | 14/1 |
| Narciso Has | 16/1 |
| Bar | 20/1 |
*Odds taken on 8/9/26*
2027 Champion Hurdle Entries
For the fourth season in a row, Lossiemouth won at the Cheltenham Festival in 2026, this time in the Champion Hurdle. Willie Mullins' mare hammered her rivals in Tuesday's Championship race, and she dominates the early betting for the feature on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.
Dan Skelton has already announced that Supreme Novices' Hurdle third Mydaddypaddy will remain over hurdles during 2026/27, and he's the leading British contender in the betting. King Rasko Grey and Narciso Has won Grade Ones for Willie Mullins last term, and both sit prominently in the early Champion Hurdle market.
Supreme winner Old Park Star is expected to go novice chasing this season and could meet Dan Skelton's Kabral Du Mathan in the Arkle on day one. Alexei finished fourth behind Lossiemouth at Cheltenham and could square off against the favourite again. Brighterdaysahead is another possible challenger, having finished second in the Champion Hurdle before going on to beat The New Lion and Alexei at Aintree.
Saratoga won the Fred Winter at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival before going on to land Grade One honours at Punchestown. He could be aimed at the Champion Hurdle this season, along with Gordon Elliott's Grade One-winning juvenile Mange Tout. Noel George's Magnifico Conti and Harry Fry's Idaho Sun also feature in the ante-post betting, along with Dan Skelton's Maestro Conti, County Hurdle winner Wilful and Willie Mullins' quartet of Mighty Park, He's On Fire, Macho Man and Proactif.