en English
da Dansknl Nederlandsen Englishfr Françaisde Deutschel Ελληνικάit Italianolv Latviešu valodapl Polskipt Portuguêsru Русскийsk Slovenčinaes Españolsv Svenskacy Cymraeg

Champion Hurdle

champion hurdle
Introduced1927
RacecourseCheltenham, Old Course
Race Distance Approximately 2 miles & 1/2 furlong
Entry ConditionsHorses aged 4 and over
Current SponsorUnibet
Date & TimeDay 1 / Tuesday 16th March 2021 / 15:30
Leading JockeyRuby Walsh with 6 wins
Leading TrainerWillie Mullins with 6 wins

The Champion Hurdle is the featured race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival and has a prize fund of £450,000. It is considered to be the most prestigious hurdling event in the National Hunt calendar.

The race is run on the old course at Cheltenham over a distance of approximately 2 miles and 1/2 furlong and features 8 hurdles.

The Champion Hurdle was introduced in 1927 when the prize for the winner (Blaris) was just £365.

Currently, Ruby Walsh and Tim Molony are the leading Champion Hurdle jockeys with 4 wins each. Trainer Nicky Henderson has entered the most winning horses with 7 wins.

Champion Hurdle Past Winners

Year   Horse Age Price Trainer Jockey Distances
2020 1st Epatante 6 2-1f NJ Henderson B J Geraghty  
  2nd Sharjah 7 16-1 W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins  3 lengths
  3rd Darver Star 8 17-2 G P Cromwell Jonathan Moore  3 3/4 lengths
–
2019 1st Espoir d’Allen 5 16-1 Gavin Cromwell Mark Walsh  
  2nd Melon 7 20-1 W P Mullins P Townend  15 Lengths
  3rd Silver Streak 6  80-1 Evan Williams Adam Wedge  Neck
–
2018 1st Buveur D’Air 7 4-6F Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty  
  2nd Melon 6 16-1 W P Mullins P Townend Neck
  3rd Mick Jazz 7 33-1 G Elliott D N Russell 3 Lengths
–
2017 1st  Buveur D’Air 6 5-1 Nicky Henderson Noel Fehily  
  2nd My Tent Or Yours 10 16-1 N J Henderson Aiden Coleman 4 1/2 Lengths
  3rd Petit Mouchoir 6 6-1 H De Bromhead B J Cooper 3 lengths
–
2016 1st  Annie Power 8 5-2F Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh  
  2nd My Tent Or Yours 9 10-1 N J Henderson B J Geraghty 4 1/2 Lengths
  3rd Nichols Canyon 6 15-2 W P Mullins P Townend Head
–
2015 1st  Faugheen 7 4-5F Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh  
  2nd Arctic Fire 6 20-1 W P Mullins D E Mullins 1 1/2 Lengths
  3rd Hurricane Fly 11 8-1 W P Mullins P Townend 5 Lengths

Champion Hurdle Trends

  • 15 of the last 17 Cheltenham winners had raced at Cheltenham before
  • 13 of the last 17 Champion Hurdle winners had achieved a top 4 finish at the Cheltenham Festival the previous year
  • 13 of the last 17 Champion Hurdle winners had won last time out
  • 13 of the last 17 Champion Hurdle winners had won at least 6 times over hurdles
  • 10 of the last 17 Champion Hurdle winners were aged 6 or 7
  • 6 of the last 17 Champion Hurdle winners had won a race at the Cheltenham Festival the previous year

Champion Hurdle Betting Offers

The Champion Hurdle is the featured race on day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival and so you can expect a number of exciting and generous betting offers to be available from a variety of bookmakers.

In the run-up and during the festival, bookmakers will be offering existing customers offers such as extra places, best odds guaranteed, refunds on losing bets, free bets, enhanced odds and more. You will also find that some bookies will be offering enhanced sign up offers for new customers which are worth keeping an eye out for as they often have more value than their standard welcome offers. Cheltenham is usually a great time to start opening accounts with bookies you have not signed up to yet.

See below for the latest and best Champion Hurdle betting offers.