Cheltenham Festival, Champion Hurdle Preview 2026
Get ready for the roar! The Cheltenham Festival is upon us, with the Champion Hurdle once again lighting up the opening day.
With State Man injured and Constitution Hill setting out as a flat performer, two of the past three winners are missing in 2026. Nevertheless, their absence doesn’t detract too much from an intriguing contest.
Having been left praising the gambling gods for somehow delivering us a 25/1 winner in 2025 (thank you, Golden Ace), here we take a look at the 2026 renewal.
Mouth Moves to the Head of the Market
With wins in the Triumph Hurdle (2023) and Mares’ Hurdle (2024, 2025), Lossiemouth is unbeaten in three outings at the Cheltenham Festival. With course form counting for plenty at this fixture, it is no surprise to see the Mullins mare at the head of the market.
Having finished second in the Irish Champion Hurdle last time out, the Mares’ Hurdle looked her most likely target. However, if she is ever to win a Champion Hurdle, it will surely be in an open year such as this. Whilst arguably at her best over further, she is thoroughly proven in Grade 1 company and has the assistance of the excellent Paul Townend in the saddle.
Lion the New Champion?
Unbeaten in six completed outings, The New Lion is a star on the rise and suffered his only defeat when joining Constitution Hill on the turf in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle. The Dan Skelton star also ticks the course form box, having claimed the 2025 edition of the Turners Novices’ Hurdle. With that success coming over 2m5f, the main question is whether he is quick enough for this trip at championship level. His closing speed in the Unibet Hurdle over track and trip offers encouragement, but this is tougher.
Can Brighterdaysahead Do it at Cheltenham?
When Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth locked horns in the Irish Champion Hurdle in February, Brighterdaysahead ran out a convincing 3¼l winner. Only a little over a month after that event, Lossiemouth is a general price of 11/8 for the rematch, with Brighterdaysahead out at a best price of 9/2.
The reason for this discrepancy is the contrasting record of the mares at Cheltenham. Whereas Lossiemouth has proved unstoppable, Brighterdaysahead has come up short in two previous Festival appearances. Two races are too small a sample to say that she doesn’t handle the track, but those efforts present a question which others don’t have to answer.
Festival Winners among the Each Way Options
With Constitution Hill departing four from home and State Man falling when five lengths clear at the last, Golden Ace was a little fortunate to claim the 2025 edition of this. It was a similar story when the mare plundered her second Grade 1 pot in the 2025 Fighting Fifth Hurdle, with Constitution Hill (again) and The New Lion fluffing their lines on that occasion. Warming up with a six-length second to Sir Gino in the Christmas Hurdle, she is a double-figure price once again in what looks like a weaker renewal.
Moving down the list, we come to the horse who caused the biggest shock at the 2025 Festival. Making his debut for Willie Mullins and having his first start over hurdles, Poniros belied his inexperience to claim an improbable 100/1 success in the Triumph Hurdle. He hasn’t quite hit those levels since but looked in need of the run when third in the Irish Champion Hurdle and can be expected to strip fitter here.
Anzadam completes the Mullins trio but has finished behind Golden Ace, Lossiemouth, and Brighterdaysahead already this season. Of the others, Tutti Quanti and Workahead were both well beaten in the 2025 Supreme and will need a big career best to feature. Alexei is potentially more interesting for the Joe Tizzard operation, having won three of his last four starts, including the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at this track in November.
Best Bets: A Golden Forecast
Can Lossiemouth reverse recent form with Brighterdaysahead? Can Brighterdaysahead show her best form at this track? Is The New Lion a genuine two-miler? In a race filled with questions, we are keen to steer clear of the short price runners and side with another shock result.
Brighterdaysahead and Golden Ace have met twice at the Cheltenham Festival, and Golden Ace has come out on top each time. While Brighterdaysahead apparently had her excuses in 2025, Golden Ace won fair and square in the 2024 Triumph Hurdle. With Golden Ace trading at more than double the price of the Gordon Elliott runner, she will carry our cash once more.
- Recommended Bet - Golden Ace to Win @ 11/1 with BetGoodwin
In common with Golden Ace, Poniros is sired by the 2015 Epsom Derby winner Golden Horn. In what could be a cracking afternoon for the stallion, he is taken to chase his half-sister home. It was some effort to run down Lulamba in the 2025 Triumph Hurdle on his first outing over hurdles. If coming up the hill to the same effect again, he may be tough to keep out of the frame.
- Recommended Bet - Poniros each way @ 16/1 with Spreadex
- Forecast Prediction - 1st: Golden Ace, 2nd: Poniros
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