The Champion Hurdle is one of the four feature races at the Cheltenham Festival. The four-day racing feast takes place in March and the Champion Hurdle occupies the prime-time slot on the opening day, a Tuesday. This is run over a shade more than two miles, with eight hurdles to contend with, and is the number one event for hurdlers on the National Hint calendar. As a Grade 1 contest it attracts the best hurdlers from both sides of the Irish Sea, the lure of almost £200,000 for connections of the winner more than enough to ensure a star-studded field.
It is run over the Cheltenham Old Course and is the third instalment of hurdling’s Triple Crown, which also includes the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle. Irish horse Kribensis is the only horse to have won all three in the same season (1989/90) and he is one of the many legends associated with this race. Five horses have won the Champion Hurdle on three occasions, most recently the legendary Istabraq (1998-2000). At the time of writing Honeysuckle is a very distant outsider in the ante post market to complete her own hat-trick, having won in 2022 and 2021.
2026 - Lossiemouth
Willie Mullins' bold decision to target this rather than a third successive Mares' Hurdle proved inspired as Lossiemouth produced a dominant display. Sent off as the 7/5 favourite, she travelled strongly throughout before surging clear approaching the final flight. Although she clipped the last hurdle, the minor mistake made little difference as she powered a gaping six and a half lengths clear of Brighterdaysahead, with The New Lion another half-length away in third. The victory was her fourth at the Cheltenham Festival and further cemented her status as one of National Hunt racing's outstanding mares.
- 1st – Lossiemouth 7/5F, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 2nd – Brighterdaysahead 7/2, Jockey: Jack Kennedy, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- 3rd – The New Lion 3/1, Jockey: Harry Skelton, Trainer: Dan Skelton
2025 - Golden Ace
One of the most dramatic renewals in recent memory saw 25/1 outsider Golden Ace claim the win after both Constitution Hill and State Man crashed out. Constitution Hill, attempting to regain his crown, fell five flights from home, while defending champion State Man looked certain to win before coming down at the final hurdle with a commanding lead. Golden Ace, who was only running after connections opted against an easier target, inherited the lead and galloped on to beat Burdett Road by nine lengths in a remarkable finish. A fabulous result for the bookies and connections of the winner, but not for too many others.
- 1st - Golden Ace 25/1, Jockey: Lorcan Williams, Trainer: Jeremy Scott
- 2nd - Burdett Road 66/1, Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies, Trainer: James Owen
- 3rd - Winter Fog 150/1, Jockey: Brian Hayes, Trainer: Willie Mullins
2024 - State Man
State Man justified favouritism with a professional display after the absence of injured defending champion Constitution Hill left him with a clear opportunity to land one of Cheltenham’s biggest prizes. On energy-sapping ground, Paul Townend adopted more patient tactics than anticipated, settling well off the pace before gradually moving into contention. The favourite quickened smartly after the final turn, jumped the last with momentum and pulled clear of Irish Point by a length and a quarter. It was another polished performance from Willie Mullins' consistent hurdler, who extended his unbeaten season to four races.
- 1st - State Man 2/5F, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 2nd - Irish Point 9/2, Jockey: Jack Kennedy, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- 3rd - Luccia 33/1, Jockey: James Bowen, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
2023 - Constitution Hill
The 2023 race turned into something of a procession as the brilliant Constitution Hill confirmed himself one of the finest hurdlers of the modern era. The unbeaten favourite travelled comfortably throughout before Nico de Boinville eased him into contention around the home turn. Once asked to quicken, he effortlessly settled the contest and crossed the line a massive nine lengths clear of State Man, who was the reigning Irish Champion at the time. The commanding success preserved his unbeaten record and reinforced the widespread belief that he ranked among the sport's all-time greats.
- 1st - Constitution Hill 4/11F, Jockey: Nico de Boinville, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
- 2nd - State Man 7/2, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 3rd - Zanahiyr 66/1, Jockey: Davy Russell, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
2022 - Honeysuckle
History was made here as Honeysuckle became the first mare to win this race twice. The groundbreaking Rachael Blackmore settled the unbeaten favourite wide throughout before spotting a gap approaching the home straight and sweeping into contention. She moved alongside Appreciate It before the final hurdle and quickly asserted, holding off former champion Epatante to record a 15th consecutive career victory. The success came just a year after Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the race, adding another remarkable milestone to her career. Third place Zanahiyr was disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance.
- 1st - Honeysuckle 8/11F, Jockey: Rachael Blackmore, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
- 2nd - Epatante 16/1, Jockey: Aidan Coleman, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
- 3rd - Saint Roi 33/1, Jockey: Mark Walsh, Trainer: Willie Mullins
2021 - Honeysuckle
Irish ace Rachael Blackmore enjoyed the biggest victory of her career to that point as Honeysuckle maintained her unbeaten record with an authoritative success. Travelling strongly throughout, the mare swept to the front between the home turn and the final flight before quickly putting the race beyond doubt. She crossed the line six and a half lengths clear, giving Henry de Bromhead a memorable Festival triumph. Although spectators were absent because of Covid-19 restrictions, those in attendance still gave the pair a rousing reception.
- 1st - Honeysuckle 11/10F, Jockey: Rachael Blackmore, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
- 2nd - Sharjah 11/1, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 3rd - Epatante 4/1, Jockey: Aidan Coleman, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
2020 - Epatante
Epatante put the disappointment of her previous Cheltenham Festival appearance firmly behind her with an impressive victory in this contest. Having recovered from a minor illness in the days leading up to the race, the favourite travelled powerfully throughout under Barry Geraghty before producing a slick jump at the final hurdle. She quickly found another gear on the climb to the line, pulling clear of Sharjah to give Nicky Henderson another success in hurdling's championship event. Any concerns about her suitability for Cheltenham were emphatically answered.
- 1st - Epatante (FR) 2/1F, Jockey: Barry Geraghty, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
- 2nd - Sharjah (FR) 16/1, Jockey: Patrick Mullins, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 3rd - Darver Star (IRE) 17/2, Jockey: Jonathan Moore, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
2019 - Espoir D'Allen
Few expected Espoir D'Allen to dominate this in such comfortable fashion, but the 16/1 chance swept aside his rivals to give Gavin Cromwell a first Cheltenham Festival winner. Not a bad one to start with. Defending champion Buveur D'Air fell early, while leading contenders Apple's Jade and Laurina failed to land a blow, leaving the improving five-year-old to seize his opportunity. Mark Walsh moved smoothly into contention before asserting after the second-last, eventually pulling 15 lengths clear of fellow outsider Melon. With 80/1 outsider Silver Streak completing a shock-filled podium, there were huge returns on any successful tricast/trifecta bets.
- 1st - Espoir D'Allen (FR) 16/1, Jockey: Mark Walsh, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
- 2nd - Melon 20/1, Jockey: Paul Townsend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 3rd - Silver Streak (IRE) 80/1, Jockey: Adam Wedge, Trainer: Evan Williams
2018 - Buveur D'Air
Heavy ground produced a thrilling finish as Buveur D'Air successfully defended his crown by the narrowest of margins. Charlie Parcs had set a relentless early pace before fading, while former champion Faugheen also weakened after racing prominently. This set up a dramatic head-to-head finale between Buveur D'Air and a determined Melon. The favourite appeared beaten when Melon edged ahead on the run-in, but Barry Geraghty coaxed one final effort from Nicky Henderson's star to regain the advantage close home and prevail by a neck in a brilliant finish.
- 1st - Buveur D'Air (FR) 4/6F, Jockey: Barry Geraghty, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
- 2nd - Melon 7/1, Jockey: Paul Townsend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 3rd - Mick Jazz (FR) 25/1, Jockey: Davy Russell, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
2017 - Buveur D'Air
Despite the absence of injured former champions Annie Power and Faugheen, Buveur D'Air proved a worthy successor with an impressive display. Noel Fehily tracked the leaders before making steady headway approaching the final two hurdles, taking control before the last and drawing four and a half lengths clear of perennial runner-up My Tent Or Yours. Pre-race favourite Yanworth and the well-fancied Brain Power, both failed to threaten, finishing down in 7th and 9th respectively, while the victory also brought up owner JP McManus' 50th Cheltenham Festival winner.
- 1st - Buveur D'Air (FR) 5/1, Jockey: Noel Fehily, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
- 2nd - My Tent or Yours (IRE) 16/1, Jockey: Aidan Coleman, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
- 3rd - Petit Mouchoir (FR) 6/1, Jockey: B J Cooper, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
2016
- 1st - Annie Power (IRE) 5/2F, Jockey: Ruby Walsh, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 2nd - My Tent or Yours (IRE) 10/1, Jockey: Barry Geraghty, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
- 3rd - Nichols Canyon 15/2, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
2015
- 1st - Faugheen (IRE) 4/5F, Jockey: Ruby Walsh, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 2nd - Arctic Fire (GER) 20/1, Jockey: Danny Mullins, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 3rd - Hurricane Fly (IRE) 8/1, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
2014
- 1st - Jezki (IRE) 9/1, Jockey: Barry Geraghty, Trainer: Mrs John Harrington
- 2nd - My Tent Or Yours (IRE) 3/1, Jockey: A P McCoy, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
- 3rd - The New One (IRE) 100/30, Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies, Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies