Racing fans are counting down the days until the Cheltenham Festival kicks off on Tuesday, March 17th. We are here with our Champion Hurdle predictions and betting tips for Day 1 of the 2026 festival. Nine runners have been named as of writing, and most are expected to make the cut.
The Champion Hurdle is the feature race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. It is one of the most prestigious hurdle races in National Hunt racing. Run on the Old Course at Cheltenham, the race is 2m1f and includes eight hurdles. It is a Grade 1 contest open to horses aged four and older, attracting the very best hurdlers from Britain and Ireland each year. The race also offers a significant purse, with the winner set to receive more than £260,000 in prize money, making it one of the most valuable hurdle races of the season.
Champion Hurdle Preview
Lossiemouth leads the market in this race, coming in to 15/8 during the week. She romped home in the Mares Hurdle here last year and has stepped up a gear this season, entering with form of 112. Her 7lb allowance could be a big factor here, and the same goes for fellow Irish runner Brighterdaysahead. Both have traded wins in recent runs. The Gordon Elliott-trained runner got the better of Lossiemouth in the Irish Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, after finishing a length behind the filly in the December hurdle. With an official rating of 160 and the highest Racing Post Rating in the field at 173, she brings serious credentials into this contest.
The New Lion was the market leader for much of the lead in to the first feature race of the festival. The British-trained seven-year-old won the Novice Hurdle here last year. He’s been very lightly raced since, with just two starts. He ran well before falling two out at Newcastle last November. The New Lion recovered with a convincing win in his reappearance on this track in a Grade 2 in January. Skelton has a good record at Cheltenham, and it’s clear to see why The New Lion headed the betting with our online betting site.
Golden Ace returns after winning this race last year and could be an interesting outsider at 8/1. The eight-year-old is one of the more experienced runners in the lineup and carries slightly less weight than several rivals. However, she had some unconvincing runs since that triumph. Poniros, on the other hand, is the youngest entrant. The five-year-old is still relatively lightly raced but has already demonstrated plenty of promise over hurdles. He is still developing physically and could improve again for the step up into the championship company.
Alexei lines up for Joe Tizzard and is priced at around 16/1 heading into the race. The six-year-old has shown flashes of quality throughout his career, but will need a career-best performance to compete with the market leaders. Anzadam sits further down the betting at around 20/1. The six-year-old has a respectable official rating of 157 and a Racing Post Rating of 163, which suggests he is not entirely outclassed in this company. Willie Mullins has frequently produced Festival winners from seemingly unfancied runners, which is partly why there have been so many Irish winners at the Cheltenham Festival. Anzadam could be one of those capable of surprising a few observers.
Paul Nicholls’ Tutti Quanti was never on terms when finishing sixth in the Supreme Novices Hurdle here last year, but wasn’t disgraced when finishing 6th at 125/1. Has impressed in handicaps since, which may be more his style rather than the champion company. Workahead completes the field and is the clear outsider of the race at 100/1. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, the eight-year-old faces a difficult task against several elite-level performers.
Champion Hurdle Predictions
One of our best Cheltenham predictions on opening day is for The New Lion to upset Lossiemouth and win the Champion Hurdle. Despite being lightly raced this season, his performances suggest there is still improvement to come. His comfortable Grade 2 victory at Cheltenham in January showed he retains both his pace and stamina, and it also confirmed he is capable of producing his best form at this venue. If he settles well early and travels strongly through the race, he should have the turn of foot needed to challenge.
Lossiemouth will be the main threat here, behind Brighterdaysahead. The former has already proven her class at Cheltenham after her dominant victory in the Mares’ Hurdle last season. She has continued to perform at a very high level throughout this campaign. Her strong turn of foot and consistency at the Grade 1 level make her a serious contender if the race is run at a solid pace.
Champion Hurdle Trends and Key Stats
Recent trends also point towards a fairly specific profile for the Champion Hurdle winner. Age has been a key factor, with 11 of the last 12 winners aged between six and eight, while seven-year-olds have landed two of the last three renewals. SP betting has also been a strong guide. Eight of the last 12 winners started as favourites or joint favourites. In fact, five of the last six renewals have been won by the race favourite.
Recent form has also been important. Eleven of the last 12 winners have ended with victory in their previous race. Course experience is another common factor, with 11 of the last 12 having previously run at Cheltenham. Eight of the previous winners had already recorded a victory at the track. Ratings provide another useful indicator. Nine of the last 12 winners were rated 161 or higher, while three of the last four were rated at least 165. Only one horse below 157 has managed to win the race during the last 12 years.
Champion Hurdle Betting Tips
The New Lion is a great value option for anyone betting on horse racing, worth 3/1. Trends point toward the favourite triumphing. Dan Skelton has an excellent record at Cheltenham in a short amount of time. His official rating and overall profile suggest he belongs at the very top level, and the fact that he remains relatively lightly raced leaves room for further improvement. That combination of proven class and potential progression is often what separates Champion Hurdle winners from the rest of the field.
Poniros draws the most interest for those looking at the each-way betting. You couldn’t wish for a better stable for a runner like him, and his rating may be somewhat conservative. Mullins’ five-year-old was third at 33/1 behind Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead respectively last time out. It wouldn’t be unlike him to outrun his odds following his incredible 100/1 JCB Triumph Hurdle victory at the festival last year, and he is worth looking at for a place at 14/1.
Cheltenham Day 1 Betting Tips and Predictions
If you are looking for the best Cheltenham betting tips for the first day of races, then you are in luck! We assigned our dedicated team to predict the race winner for all seven events on day one of the festival. Why not create an accumulator with our predicted winners?
Supreme Novices Hurdle – Old Park Star (2/1)
Old Park Star had an incredible 18L victory at Haydock in January. This saw him surge to the front as market leader for the Supreme Novices Hurdle. He is one of the best British runners at the festival and is destined for gold in the first race.
Arkle Chase – Lulamba (15/8)
Betting is tight between Lulamba and Kopek Des Bordes, but Lulamba’s form over fences in his three starts shows us more than what we have seen to be able to confidently back Kopek. Back Nicky Henderson’s star in race two.
Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – Winston Junior (13/2)
Winston Junior was very impressive when he won by 3¾L during the Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January. Looked smart in his three starts this season and is available at an attractive price given that form.
Ultima Handicap Chase – Myretown (10/1)
Myretown jumped spectacularly in this race last year and now looks to defend. Poor runs this season can be forgiven with Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore admitting he has run too enthusiastically. A change of jockey would be very interesting.
Champion Hurdle – The New Lion (3/1)
Was excellent when winning the Novice Hurdle last year and lightly raced since. Constitution Hill pulling out makes him the one to beat here, and all the figures point towards this being the Skelton’s time.
Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase – O’Moore Park (20/1)
Ran an excellent race when third in last year’s Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Cheltenham against stronger opposition. Returned to the track in April and was narrowly beaten again, proving his liking for the course. O’Moore Park has solid form this season, and his experience could be a major asset in this handicap.
National Hunt Novices Handicap Chase – One Big Bang (12/1)
Has been thereabouts since placing in last year’s Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle. He is 1-1-1 this season and is very well-versed on this track, finishing second here in a Listed in November. One Big Bang is worth a punt in the final race of day 1.
