Champion Hurdle 2026 Runners

Find the latest Champion Hurdle odds and likely runners right here. Oddschecker updates this page in real-time, meaning you’ll always see the freshest Champion Hurdle odds as they move.

The Champion Hurdle is the feature race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival and the most prestigious two-mile hurdling contest in National Hunt racing. It is widely regarded as the ultimate speed-and-skill test over hurdles, with the very best hurdlers in training targeting this Grade 1 showpiece each season.

First run in 1927, the Champion Hurdle has become one of the most historic championship races in jump racing. Over the decades it has produced some of the sport’s most iconic champions and remains a key part of Festival folklore, regularly delivering one of the week’s most anticipated moments.

Run over 2 miles and 87 yards (3,298 metres), the Champion Hurdle is staged on Cheltenham’s Old Course and features eight hurdles. The undulations of the track, the relentless pace, and the famous Cheltenham hill ensure it is not simply a speed test — finishing power and accurate jumping under pressure are essential to win.

The race holds Grade 1 status and takes place on Tuesday 10th March 2026 during the Cheltenham Festival. It attracts elite stables from Britain and Ireland and frequently sets the standard for the division for the season ahead.

Notable Winners

• Hurricane Fly – a modern great who won the Champion Hurdle twice (2011 & 2013).
• Istabraq – a triple winner (1998–2000) and one of the most dominant hurdlers in Festival history.
• Hardy Eustace – landed three consecutive Champion Hurdles (2004–2006) for Dessie Hughes.
• Night Nurse – a dual winner (1976 & 1977), widely considered one of the finest hurdlers of his era.

Key Race Details

• Race Type: Championship Hurdle
• Grade: Grade 1
• Distance: 2 miles and 87 yards (3,298 metres)
• Number of Hurdles: 8
• Location: Cheltenham Racecourse (Old Course)
• Date: Tuesday 10th March 2026 (Cheltenham Festival – Champion Day)
• Prize Money: Typically over £400,000 in total prize fund (varies year-on-year)
• Inaugurated: 1927

The Champion Hurdle remains the definitive crown for two-mile hurdlers — a race that demands speed, precision jumping, and the ability to surge up the Cheltenham hill under maximum pressure. Its blend of heritage, prestige and elite-level competition makes it one of the most iconic races of the entire National Hunt season.

Cheltenham Champion Hurdle FAQs

1. Who are the confirmed runners for the Champion Hurdle?

Dan Skelton's The New Lion and Gordon Elliott's Brighterdaysahead top the betting market for the 2026 Champion Hurdle. Dual Cheltenham Festival winner, Constitution Hill, is also entered for the Champion Hurdle despite his recent jumping issues over hurdles.

2. When are Champion Hurdle runners officially confirmed?

Final declarations are made 48 hours in advance of the race. So in the 2026 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle's instance, the final declarations will be made at 10:00am on Sunday 10th March 2026.

3. How many horses usually run in the Champion Hurdle?

Over the past 10 years, the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle has seen between 8-17 runners competing to win the race. However, in the 2023 & 2025 renewals, we only saw seven horses lining up at the start line.

4. What age group tends to perform best in the Champion Hurdle?

Horses aged between 6-8 have dominated the Champion Hurdle in recent memory, with Espoir d'Allen in 2008 being the only horses outside this age bracket to win in the last 11 years. Six and seven year olds have won four of the previous five renewals of the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle.

5. Which trainers have the best record in the Champion Hurdle?

In the last 10 years, Nicky Henderson has been the most successful trainer in the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle, winning the race four times. Other than Henderson, only Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead have won the race multiple times (both twice) in the past decade.

Who is the favourite to win the 2026 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle?

Other Cheltenham Festival Runners Pages

• Cheltenham Gold Cup Runners
• Cheltenham Champion Chase Runners
• Cheltenham Ryanair Chase Runners
• Cheltenham Stayers' Hurdle Runners
• Cheltenham Supreme Novices' Hurdle Runners