Champion Hurdle Tips & Predictions
Champion Hurdle Tips
The Champion Hurdle is the first major race of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival and will be contested on the festival's opening day. Featuring some of the best hurdlers of the national hunt season from across the UK and Ireland, here at Bet UK, we'll be bringing you all the information you need to know about the race and the top UK Horse racing markets.
Ahead of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, we'll have all of the latest online betting odds within the UK horse racing markets, including the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup. We'll also have daily horse racing betting tips, so you'll have key insight for all of the races at Prestbury Park.
2024 Champion Hurdle Tips
The Champion Hurdle is the premier hurdles race in jumps racing. The Championship contest is the feature on day one of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.
12 runners remain in the Champion Hurdle field at the six-day declaration stage. Those taking part will race off over 2m and jump 12 hurdles during the race.
Nicky Henderson holds the record for the most wins as a trainer in the day one feature. He has been successful eight times and he will be expected to add to his tally this year with Constitution Hill.
State Man will be long odds-on to add a first Champion Hurdle to his eight Grade 1 successes in Ireland, and he has a great chance with old rival Constitution Hill out of the way. However, State Man is yet to match his best efforts elsewhere at Cheltenham and the added test of stamina on slow ground can tilt matters in the favour of IRISH POINT.
He is improving rapidly, stays further and that can only help in the conditions. To some extent those comments also apply to Nemean Lion and he is third on the list.
About The Champion Hurdle
The feature race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, the Champion Hurdle, is run on the old course at Cheltenham over a distance of just over two miles. The most prestigious hurdling event in the calendar, its the last leg of the triple crown of hurdling, which also features The Fighting Fifth Hurdle and The Christmas Hurdle
Champion Hurdle Recent Winners
| Year | Horse | Winning Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Constitution Hill | Nico de Boinville |
| 2022 | Honeysuckle | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2021 | Honeysuckle | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2020 | Epatante | Nicky Henderson |
| 2019 | Espoir d'Allen | Gavin Cromwell |
| 2018 | Buveur d’Air | Nicky Henderson |
| 2017 | Buveur d’Air | Nicky Henderson |
| 2016 | Annie Power | Willie Mullins |
| 2015 | Faugheen | Willie Mullins |
| 2014 | Jezki | Jessica Harrington |
| 2013 | Hurricane Fly | Willie Mullins |
| 2012 | Rock on Ruby | Paul Nicholls |
| 2011 | Hurricane Fly | Willie Mullins |
Champion Hurdle Top Trainers
In the last decade, two names have become synonymous with the Champion Hurdle: Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins. Picking up five and four wins respectively, looking at the racecards, it's these name punters will focus on when browsing the UK horse racing cards before this race, especially given their calibre of runners.
Top Trainer Stats
| Trainer | R-W-P Stats |
|---|---|
| Nicky Henderson | 37-6-16 |
| Willie Mullins | 33-4-13 |
| Paul Nicholls | 9-1-2 |
| Alan King | 10-1-1 |
| Henry de Bromhead | 8-2-3 |
Champion Hurdle Top Jockeys
When it comes to jockeys to watch in the Champion Hurdle, it's all about the Irish jockeys as they top the rankings in the last 20 running of this race. Last season it was Rachel Blackmore who took the victory, and prior to that, it was the now-retired Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty who seemed to always pass the post first.
Top Jockey Stats
| Trainer | R-W-P Stats |
|---|---|
| Mark Walsh | 6-1-1 |
| Rachel Blackmore | 3-2-2 |
| Paul Townend | 12-0-6 |
| Daryl Jacob | 7-0-0 |
Cheltenham Champion Chase Trends for tips
When it comes to betting trends for the Cheltenham Champion Chase, if you're a backer of the favourite, then those horses have passed the post first in five of the last ten runnings. It's also worth noting that many runners have 5+ wins across their career, many coming in Grade 1 wins.
Looking at the size of the field, many participants in the Champion Chase ran in fields of under 11 last time out, and when it comes to weights, many of the runners and winners of this race carried 11-2 or higher when competing last time out.
Bettors who like to combine trends will also like to note that horses who have gone on to win this race also have one or more victories with the same jockey in the saddle, most likely the one who will partner them round the course at Cheltenham. Also 71% of runners have won within their last three starts.
Champion Hurdle FAQs
Who has won the Champion Hurdle the most?
There are five horses who have gone on to win the Champion Hurdle three times in their career, Hatton's Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War, See You Then and Istabraq.
Who is the most successful trainer in the Champion Hurdle?
With eight wins and the potential to add more, it's Nicky Henderson who has the most winners in this race, dating from 1985 to 2020.
How long is the Champion Hurdle?
The distance of the Champion Hurdle is 2 miles and ½ furlong, and it takes in eight hurdles.
What is the prize money for the Champion Hurdle?
The prize pot for the Champion Hurdle is £450,000 with the winner taking £253,215.
What time is the Champion Hurdle?
The race is featured on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.
How many runners are there in the Queen Mother Champion Chase?
The number of runners in the 2024 renewal in the Champion Hurdle will be decided closer to the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. However, there were seven runners headed to post in the 2023 race.
Is the Champion Hurdle broadcast on TV?
Like the majority of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, the Champion Hurdle will be broadcast on ITV.
Where can I bet on the Champion Hurdle?
Right here at Bet UK! We'll have all of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival betting odds and all the latest markets from across UK horse racing.
Who won the 2023 Champion Hurdle?
The 2023 running of this race was won by Constitution Hill.
*All odds from Bet UK’s online betting markets correct at the time of writing.
