Full result of the 2026 Champion Hurdle, and how you can watch a replay of the finish on our website.
Champion Hurdle Result 2026
| Position | Name | SP |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Lossiemouth | 7/5f |
| 2nd | Brighterdaysahead | 7/2 |
| 3rd | The New Lion | 3/1 |
| 4th | Alexei | 18/1 |
| 5th | Golden Ace | 12/1 |
Having won the Triumph Hurdle and the last two editions of the Mares' Hurdle, Lossiemouth was finally allowed to take her chance in the Champion Hurdle by Willie Mullins. Paul Townend's mount was sent off as the clear favourite over The New Lion, a winner at this meeting for Dan Skelton 12 months ago.
Golden Ace returned to defend the crown she won in such dramatic fashion at last year's Cheltenham Festival. Gordon Elliott gave Brighterdaysahead her second outing in the Champion Hurdle, after she beat Lossiemouth at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Tutti Quanti was supplemented into the race after winning the William Hill Handicap at Newbury. Greatwood Hurdle winner Alexi stepped up to Grade One company for the first time.
Willie Mullins was further represented by Anzadam and last year's shock Triumph Hurdle winner Poniros. Henry De Bromhead's outsider Workahead completed the field.
Willie Mullins was further represented by Anzadam and last year's shock Triumph Hurdle winner Poniros. Henry De Bromhead's outsider Workahead completed the field.
Champion Hurdle Race Recap
All of the riders were keen to get on with it, which meant that it took four starts to get the race underway. Once they were eventually let go, Tutti Quanti planted at the start, and gave the field a five length advantage.
Workahead made the early running, ahead of Brighterdaysahead, who travelled keen on the shoulder of the leader. Jack Kennedy allowed his mount to stride into the lead at the second, where Anzadam made a significant blunder.
Lossiemouth moved ahead of Workahead rounding the first bend. Golden Ace travelled nicely on the rail, just ahead of The New Lion. Alexei and Poniros were held up, ahead of the slow-starting Tutti Quanti and Anzadam.
Heading down the back straight, Jack Kennedy tried to stack the field up behind him. Golden Ace was angled out onto Lossiemouth's tail, with The New Lion travelling powerfully on the outside of the leaders.
At the top of the hill, Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth opened up a small lead over their pursuers. Workahead was flat to the boards and soon began to lose ground. Alexei latched onto the leaders at the bottom of the bend.
Once she met the riding ground, Lossiemouth took off. Paul Townend's mount soon put daylight between herself and the floundering Brighterdaysahead, and Lossiemouth sealed her fourth successive Cheltenham Festival win with another excellent jump at the last.
To her credit, Brighterdaysahead kept on gamely to finish second ahead of The New Lion, Alexei ran a stormer to finish fourth, with Golden Ace a neck behind him in fifth.
Champion Hurdle Replay 2026
Champion Hurdle 2026 FAQs
- When was the 2026 Champion Hurdle?
The 2026 Champion Hurdle took place at Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th March. It was the feature race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.
- Who ran in the 2026 Champion Hurdle?
Lossiemouth was sent off as the favourite for the 2026 Champion Hurdle, ahead of The New Lion. Golden Ace and Brighterdaysahead also took their chance. Poniros, Anzadam and Tutti Quanti also took part in the race.
- Who won the 2026 Champion Hurdle?
Lossiemouth justified favouritism with a fantastic performance in the Champion Hurdle, winning at the fourth Cheltenham Festival in a row.