Everything you need to know if you are looking for a bet in the Welsh Champion Hurdle.
The DragonBet Welsh Champion Hurdle is the feature on day one of the Welsh Racing Festival at Chepstow, with 17 runners due off at 3.12pm. It is a Class 2 limited handicap over 2m 16y worth £50,000. The chase course is too dry to use, so every race this weekend is on the hurdles track, which the course has watered. The going is good to soft, good in places, with a GoingStick reading of 5.6. This morning's big story is a gamble on Jonjo O'Neill's Pioneer Pete, backed from 12/1 into 9/2. Ante post favourite Captain Hugo has drifted out to 11/2.
Welsh Champion Hurdle Winners, Trends & Stats
The race was run at Ffos Las from 2016 to 2024 and returned to Chepstow for 5 year olds and upwards only last year. Some trends therefore come from a slightly different contest.
- Every winner in the last ten years was 10/1 or shorter, and 9 of the 10 were 11/2 or shorter.
- Favourites (including joint favourites) won 5 of the last 10 runnings.
- Six year olds have won 4 of the last 5 runnings, and no horse older than nine has won in the last decade.
- 7 of the last 10 winners were rated between 128 and 138.
- 4 of the last 10 winners were top weight or within 1lb of it.
- 8 of the last 10 runnings were on good or good to soft ground.
- Sam Thomas has won the last two runnings with Dylan Johnston riding for owner Dai Walters. That is the same team behind Doctor Blue.
- Tom Lacey won in 2021 with Stan Sheppard, who rides Gibbs Island for him today.
- Dan Skelton is 0 from 8 in the race.
- Today's field of 17 is the biggest in the last ten years. Previous fields ranged from 5 to 12.
Welsh Champion Hurdle Odds
Welsh Champion Hurdle Runners Guide
1. Laafi
William Durkan's Irish raider is top weight on 11st 12lb off 144 and wears cheekpieces, with Philip Byrnes riding. He was beaten a neck in the Swinton at Haydock in May off 141 and passed the post first at Aintree in April, but he lost that race because his rider broke the whip rules. He was eighth in the Galway Hurdle last time.
2. Kateira
Dan Skelton's nine year old mare carries 11st 9lb with Jack Andrews riding. She won a Listed mares' race at Wetherby last November but was well beaten in two big handicaps after that. Skelton says she will like the ground, but the market says otherwise. She was 16/1 overnight and is now 50/1.
3. Knickerbockerglory
The ten year old front runner was beaten a head at Bangor in March off today's mark and goes well first time out. Harry Atkins's 5lb claim brings him down to 11st 1lb, but Skelton says he could do with it softer.
4. Le Beau Madrik
Harry Skelton rides the stable's main hope, who makes his handicap debut off 137 on 11st 5lb. He won a novice hurdle at Haydock in April by 15 lengths, but all his best form is over 2m 4f and further. This is his first run over the minimum trip for the yard. He is the Racing Post's pick, though he has to overcome the drop in trip and his stable's blank record in the race.
5. Serious Challenge
Fergal O'Brien's six year old was beaten three quarters of a length by Captain Hugo in the Morebattle and is now 1lb better off with him. He was third in the Sussex Champion Hurdle last time. He was 10/1 on the overnight forecast and is now 22/1.
6. Captain Hugo
Philip Hobbs and Johnson White's six year old won the Morebattle at Kelso in February and then finished second in the Scottish Champion Hurdle on heavy ground off today's mark of 135. He has won four of his eight starts. White says the better ground will suit. Sean Houlihan rides, and the yard has won three of its last six runs. He has been off for 174 days and has drifted this morning, but he has the strongest two mile handicap form in the race.
7. Gibbs Island
Tom Lacey's five year old won over course and distance at this meeting last year off 132, the same mark as today. Lacey says he runs well fresh. His five runs since then have been disappointing, though he was seventh of 23 in the County Hurdle. Stan Sheppard rides, and he is Timeform's pick.
8. Sony Bill
The former Willie Mullins horse returns to hurdles for Faye Bramley after a disappointing summer over fences. Harry Cobden rides at 66/1.
9. Sageborough
Paul Nolan's Irish raider won at Wexford in May but was pulled up in the Galway Hurdle last time. Timeform thinks his British mark is too high. Sean Flanagan rides.
10. Filibustering
Harry Derham's five year old won three in a row in the summer before finishing third as favourite at Perth in August off today's mark. Paul O'Brien rides at 10st 11lb.
11. Hamlet's Night
James Owen's five year old won a Flat handicap at Yarmouth on 15 September and is 4lb to 6lb lower over hurdles than last spring. The hood goes back on, Jonathan Burke rides and his stable is in form. His big handicap runs last spring were disappointing, but he is a live outsider.
12. Listentoyourheart
Skelton's mare was fourth in this race last year and won the New Year's Day handicap at Windsor over 2m 4f. She has drifted from 14/1 overnight to 80/1, which is a negative sign.
13. Queenie St Clair
Nick Scholfield's mare won the mares' novice handicap final at Kelso in March and has had a run on the Flat since. Sean Bowen rides, and Timeform rate her as the stable's first string because of that booking.
14. Morning Mayhem
The most recently raced horse in the field was beaten a head at Market Rasen on 26 September and won the Cartmel Cup in August. His wins have come on good ground. He has been backed from 25/1 overnight into 18/1, and Kielan Woods rides.
15. Pioneer Pete
The morning gamble. Jonjo O'Neill Jr rides for his father and brother, and the six year old has won his last two starts, both novice hurdles at odds on. He was beaten a short head in a 24 runner handicap at the Punchestown Festival in May off 117, and he is now on 125. His stable has had no winners from nine runners in the last two weeks.
16. Doctor Blue
Sam Thomas and Dylan Johnston have won the last two runnings for owner Dai Walters, and this is their runner. He was beaten a short head in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last October but then flopped twice. Since then he has had a wind operation, and he wears cheekpieces for the first time. Timeform note he has bled and refused to race in the past. He is also 1lb out of the handicap.
17. Tennessee Tango
Joe Tizzard's six year old was third over course and distance in December and has had a wind operation. He is 5lb out of the handicap but has been backed from 25/1 into 16/1. Brendan Powell rides.
Welsh Champion Hurdle 2026 Trainer To Watch
Philip Hobbs and Johnson White have had three winners from their last six runners. They won this race in 2016 and saddle Captain Hugo, the horse with the best two mile handicap form in the field. Sam Thomas deserves a mention for his record in the race, although Doctor Blue has plenty to prove.
Welsh Champion Hurdle 2026 Betting Tips
This race usually goes to a fancied horse, with every winner in the last decade returning 10/1 or shorter. The front of the market is not straightforward, though.
Le Beau Madrik is dropping back in trip on his handicap debut. Pioneer Pete's gamble is based on novice wins at odds on and handicap form from a lower mark. Doctor Blue has a wind operation, first time cheekpieces and a history of bleeding and refusing to race.
Captain Hugo has the soundest claims. He won the Morebattle, one of the best two mile handicaps of last season, and then ran second in the Scottish Champion Hurdle off this mark on heavy ground he did not want. Form that sets a strong standard for this contest. Neither race was lacking in quality, and this looks an excellent opportunity for him to build on those efforts. He is a six year old in form, the age group that has won four of the last five runnings, and his rating fits the trends. The morning drift has made him a better price, and five places at 1/5 make the each way bet appealing.
Gibbs Island at 15/2 is the alternative. He is a course and distance winner off the same mark at this meeting last year.
