The Champion Hurdle is the highlight of the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. Horse racing fans will be eagerly anticipating this year’s renewal, which will take place on Tuesday 10^th March 2026.

In 2026, the Champion Hurdle will take place at 16:00, seeing nine runners vault eight hurdles in pursuit of the £262,077.52 prize for the winner.

Champion Hurdle: Race History

The first Champion Hurdle was held in 1927, but it quickly became one of the most popular races at the Cheltenham Festival.

These are some of the most legendary and beloved horses ever to win the coveted title:

• Persian War (1968, 1969, 1970)
• Night Nurse (1976, 1977)
• Sea Pigeon (1980, 1981)
• See You Then (1985, 1986, 1987)
• Istabraq (1998, 1999, 2000)
• Hurricane Fly (2011, 2013)
• Buveur d’Air (2017, 2018)
• Honeysuckle (2021, 2022)

Horse racing betting markets and ante post Champion Hurdle odds are available well in advance of March these days and punters will be keeping a close eye on betting tips in the coming weeks.

With eight fences to jump and the added drama of this race taking place on the Old Course, the Champion Hurdle truly is one of the best sights in National Hunt racing.