Irish Champion Hurdle

The Irish Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 run over 2 miles at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown. This year the race will be run on Sunday 1st February at 3:20.

Irish Champion Hurdle Winners, Trends & Stats

This has been a race that horses bidding to retain their crown have a good record in.
Istabraq (1998, 1999, 2000 & 2001), Hurricane Fly (2011–2015), Honeysuckle (2020–2022) and State Man (2023–2025) are the most recent multiple winners.

Key Trends

• 12 of the previous 12 winners were rated 158 or higher
• 11 of the previous 12 winners had already won a Grade 1 race
• 10 of the previous 12 winners were aged between 6 and 8
• 10 of the previous 12 winners won last time out
• 10 of the previous 12 winners had at least 1 previous win at Leopardstown
• 10 of the previous 12 winners had at least 2 runs that season

Irish Champion Hurdle Runners Guide

LOSSIEMOUTH

Willie Mullins trained seven-year-old who has won 13 of her 16 career starts. A three-time Cheltenham Festival winner, she fell when sent off 8/11 favourite in this race last season when upsides State Man at the fourth last.

She has won her next four starts including in open Grade 1 company over this 2 mile trip when beating Brighterdaysahead by a length last time.

BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD

Gordon Elliott trained mare who has won 9 of her 13 career starts. She was set to go novice chasing this season but returned with a close 2nd behind Lossiemouth in the Grade 1 December Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.

She conceded race fitness to her rival that day and this time has King Of Kingsfield entered who was used as her pacemaker when victorious by 30 lengths the year before.

ANZADAM

Six-year-old who won his first four career starts including twice in Grade 3 company for Willie Mullins last season.

He was 2nd beaten 1½ lengths by Golden Ace in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle before racing too keenly last time when 4th beaten 6¾ lengths by Lossiemouth in the December Hurdle.EL FABIOLO

Having fallen in three of his previous four starts over fences, connections reverted the nine-year-old back to hurdling and he made the perfect reappearance at Punchestown beating subsequent winners Glen Kiln and Spillane’s Tower.

That takes his record to 3 wins from 4 starts over hurdles for Willie Mullins, with his only defeat coming when beaten a neck by Jonbon in a Grade 1 at Aintree in 2022. Whether he still has the pace for 2 miles is the question mark.

BALLYBURN

When the eight-year-old won the Grade 1 Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival by 13 lengths in 2024, he was touted as having the potential to be a Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup horse.

Defeats on his previous four starts have raised question marks and he would be dropping back a mile in trip if running here.

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CASHELDALE LAD

Dependable 152-rated hurdler who finished 3rd beaten 6½ lengths by Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead in the December Hurdle at Christmas.

The six-year-old had won his first two starts this season before falling when still in contention at the final hurdle in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle won by Teahupoo.

PONIROS

Sprung a surprise when winning the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last season at 100/1 on his hurdling debut.

He proved that no fluke when 2nd beaten four lengths by Lulamba at Punchestown before finishing down the field in a handicap at Royal Ascot. This looks a tough task on his first start for 229 days.

NEMEAN LION

Seven-time winning nine-year-old trained by Kerry Lee who was only beaten 1½ lengths by The New Lion in the Grade 2 Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

He would rate an unlikely runner at this stage only eight days later in this grade.

KING OF KINGSFIELD

Used as a pacemaker for Brighterdaysahead in the December Hurdle and Champion Hurdle last season.

He has won twice this season over fences including at Grade 3 level but could be used to ensure a strong pace for his stablemate once again.

Who's favourite to win the Irish Champion Hurdle?

Race Winner Best Odds Bookmaker
Lossiemouth 11/10 bet365
Brighterdaysahead 6/4 bet365
El Fabiolo 8/1 bet365
Anzadam 8/1 bet365
Ballyburn 14/1 BetMGM

Odds last updated 11:00, Tuesday 27th January. View the full market on the Irish Champion Hurdle page on Oddschecker .

Irish Champion Hurdle Trainers & Jockeys To Watch

Willie Mullins has won this race a record nine times with Hurricane Fly, Faugheen and State Man.

Paul Townend rode Hurricane Fly and State Man to multiple wins, while Jack Kennedy scored on Apple’s Jade in 2019.

Betting Insights

The market has this race billed as a match between LOSSIEMOUTH (best priced 11/10) and Brighterdaysahead, who finished 1–2 in the December Hurdle.

Brighterdaysahead conceded fitness that day, but Lossiemouth still won comfortably by a length. A strong pace looks likely with King Of Kingsfield in the line-up, a scenario that should also suit Lossiemouth given her stamina over further.

Much of the Cheltenham debate will centre on whether Lossiemouth goes Champion or Mares’, but she looks likely to arrive there off the back of another win.

Recommended Bet

Lossiemouth – 5/4 (2pt Win)