Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival: Champion Hurdle Betting Tips
With the 2026 Cheltenham Festival fast approaching, the market has shifted significantly in the Day One showpiece, the Champion Hurdle.
Let’s check out the betting and find a selection for one of the headline contests of the week.
Champion Hurdle
We’ve seen a big shift in the betting in recent days, and we now have a new favourite in the big one on the Tuesday of the Festival.
2023 winner Constitution Hill blew everyone away on Friday night when making his flat debut at Southwell, kicking clear to beat a competitive field by over nine lengths, seeing him shoot to the fore in the betting at 5/2 having been backed at much bigger prices than that earlier in the season after his fall in the Fighting Fifth.
It was great to see him back in good health and in the winner’s enclosure, but as to whether it strengthens his Champion Hurdle credentials is a different story. It was an impressive start on the level, and with his jumping frailties, connections may elect to keep him on the flat. If you do fancy him, the 7/4 in the Non Runner Money Back market might be the play with his presence not guarantee. At the current prices, it might be wise to look elsewhere.
The New Lion is the 5/2 joint favourite. Whilst he would likely be beaten by Constitution Hill if both were at the best, The New Lion appeals as the more solid option of the pair, and it seems as if it is all systems go for the race. He won at the Festival last season and was successful most recently at the track. He’s probably the likeliest winner at this stage but can be passed over at his current quotes.
Brighterdaysahead is next in the betting for the Gordon Elliott team after she proved too good for Lossiemouth in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. There was no mistake made that day and she was clearly the best horse, seeing her shorten to 3/1 to win the Champion Hurdle. If you could guarantee she’d turn up in similar form to that, she’d be the leading contender. However, her last two efforts at the Festival have left a lot to be desired, so she can be opposed.
Lossiemouth currently sits at 5/1 in the antepost betting and 7/2 in the NRMB betting. After losing at the DRF, it looks most likely that she will go for the Mares’ Hurdle. There are genuine questions over whether she has the pace for two miles, so can be passed over at the current prices.
With questions over the majority at the top of the betting, it could be worth taking a few each way against the field. The first is reigning champion Golden Ace. Currently sitting at 15/2 to regain her crown in the antepost market, there’s no doubt she was a lucky benefactor of both Constitution Hill and State Man falling in last year’s renewal, but she powered away up the hill to victory. Twice a winner at the Festival, she had the beating of Brighterdaysahead on both occasions and looks a solid each way option.
At bigger prices, it might be worth throwing a speculative each way bet on Alexei at 25/1. He blew apart a competitive field of the Greatwood Hurdle at the track back in November and took the step up into Graded company in his stride last time out when winning the Kingwell Hurdle. He’d have to find more to aspire of winning, but the course form sticks out. He looks worthy of a few quid each way. With Willie Mullins lacking a clear leading option in the race, it could also be worth looking at last year’s shock Triumph winner Poniros at 14/1 NRMB, given he may just be the best of the Closutton bunch.
