The 2026 Unibet Champion Hurdle: stats, trends and replays

What Grade? Grade One. 

What Course? Old Course. What Distance? 2m 87yd (8 hurdles)

Prize-money: £450,000

Ages: For 4yo +. Weights & Allowances: 5yo+ 11st 10lb; 4yo 11st 2lb. Allowances, mares 7lb.

Golden Ace became the first winner in 11 years last season not to line up unbeaten that year. Remarkably, the previous ten winners – Faugheen (111), Annie Power (11), Buveur D’Air (111), Buveur D’Air (111), Espoir D’Allen (111), Epatante (11), Honeysuckle (11), Honeysuckle again (111), Constitiution Hill (11) and State Man (111) had all been flawless.

Mares have won five editions since 2016, having previously only won three renewals. Click here for much more on that.  African Star (1939), Dawn Run (1984), Flakey Dove (1994), Annie Power (2016), Epatante (2020), Honeysuckle (2021 & 2022) and Golden Ace (2025) have triumphed. African Star won on level weights; Dawn Run when getting 5lb from the geldings; the rest when getting a 7lb sex allowance.  

2008 winner Katchit and 2019 victor Espoir D'Allen are the only horses aged five to win since See You Then in 1985. This age bracket is two from 75 since 1997. Katchit is the last Triumph Hurdle to take the spoils.

18 of the past 21 winners were aged between six and eight.

Since 1951, only four horses over the age of eight have won. The most recent was nine-year-old Hurricane Fly back in 2013.

Festival form counts

17 of the past 27 winners had won at the Cheltenham Festival previously.

Thirteen of the past 24 winners were trained in Ireland, while Irish-trained runners have won eight of the last 12 runnings. State Man looked sure to give them another success in 2025 only to fall at the final flight

Eighteen of the past 21 winners had raced in the previous seven weeks. Rock On Ruby (2012), Faugheen (2015) and Epatante (2020) have managed to win after a longer break, but running here on a first start of the calendar year is generally a negative. However, Constitution Hill had no problem bucking the trend three years ago.

29 of the last 32 winners were in the top six of the betting. Since 1997 it's been proftable to back the favourites and joint-favourites in the race, with 15 wins from 29 bets at a level stakes profit of about £8.15.

36 of the past 41 winners won last time out.

Multiple winners are common but horses who regain their crown are rare. The only horse to do so in the past half-century has been Hurricane Fly, the winner in 2011 and 2013. 

The 2026 running will be the 96th running of the Champion Hurdle which has been won by many of the sport's greats over the years. 

Five horses have won the Unibet Champion Hurdle three times - Hatton’s Grace (1949, 1950, 1951), Sir Ken (1952, 1953, 1954), Persian War (1968, 1969, 1970), See You Then (1985, 1986, 1987) and Istabraq (1998, 1999, 2000).

Tenhorses have recorded two victories - Insurance (1932 & 1933), National Sprit (1947 & 1948), Bula (1971 & 1972), Comedy Of Errors (1973 & 1975), Night Nurse (1976 & 1977), Monksfield (1978 & 1979), Sea Pigeon (1980 & 1981), Hardy Eustace (2004 & 2005), Hurricane Fly (2011 & 2013), Buveur D'Air (2017 & 2018) and Honeysuckle (2021 & 2022).

Comedy Of Errors and Hurricane Fly are the only two horses to have regained the Champion Hurdle crown.

Ruby Walsh is the joint-most successful jockey with four wins in the race along with Tim Molony, who won it four times in succession (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954).

Nicky Henderson is the leading trainer having won the race nine times, while J P McManus is the leading owner with nine victories next to his name.

One of the most dramatic editions ended with Golden Ace springing a 25-1 shock for Jeremy Scott and Lorcan Williams.

The feature had been billed as a clash between the unbeaten Constitution Hill, who was attempting to regain the title, and the mare Brighterdaysahead, who had carried all before her this season.

However, Constitution Hill crashed out four from home when stalking the leaders travelling strongly, and Brighterdaysahead was unable to pick up in the straight after heading her pacemaker, King Of Kingsfield.

Instead, it was State Man, the defending champ, who had the race at his mercy as he surged clear heading to the final flight. But he then himself suffered a heavy fall, to the despair of Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, who were seeking their third success of the day.

 "I couldn't even dream that would happen," Scott said. "I've just asked someone to thump me because I must be dreaming, it is just bizarre."

State Man justified short-priced favouritism under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins. The chestnut started as the 2-5 market leader in the absence of reigning champion Constitution Hill, ruled out because of a lung infection.

The seven-year-old enjoyed an untroubled passage through the race on the inside rail and when he kicked for home only Gordon Elliott’s Irish Point could go with him, but it was State Man who held the upper hand to go one better than last year by a length and a quarter.

Luccia ran a fine race in third for Constitution Hill’s trainer, Nicky Henderson, who was left reflecting on what might have been.

Mullins said: "I was amazed with the way Paul rode him, I thought he'd be much more forward, I didn't dream that he'd only be fifth or sixth jumping the fourth-last. But he just rode him with supreme confidence."

Constitution Hill lit up day one of the Cheltenham Festival as he took the Unibet Champion Hurdle crown in sublime style.

This race had been seen as the six-year-old's date with destiny ever since romping to victory in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle 12 months ago - and Nicky Henderson's charge did not disappoint.

Sent off at odds of 4-11, jockey Nico de Boinville was keen to keep things simple and soon had the Michael Buckley-owned winner tracking I Like To Move It, who was setting the fractions. Travelling with supreme ease, Constitution Hill's super-slick hurdling saw him breeze to the front after three out and De Boinville was simply nudging his mount forwards as he drew clear of the chasing back rounding the turn for home.

He was soon sauntering up the hill with victory secured and De Boinville was able to turn to the crowd and milk the applause as Constitution Hill scored in a canter.

Constitution Hill became the first horse since dual race winner Bula's first Champion Hurdle triumph in 1971 to follow up victory in the Supreme Novices Hurdle.

For Henderson, he added Champion Hurdle number nine to his illustrious CV and there is every chance this could be the best of the lot to put his head above a stable door in Seven Barrows.

"I've got watery eyes, I always have and I always will have, but that will bring tears to most eyes when you see a horse that is like that because I think it's pretty unique," he said.

"I've had 12 months of anxious moments, but that is our life and the closer it gets the more anxious you get. Only one of these horses come along in a lifetime. You can't get a horse like this if you only have one horse, you have to have a lot of horses to find one of these and we are lucky.

"I think it is extraordinary that is just the sixth race of his life and he's doing that now. We are very lucky to be the custodians of this horse, but then the trouble is the responsibility that comes with that."

Honeysuckle brought the house down at Cheltenham as she took her unbeaten tally to 15 with another imperious performance in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Successful behind closed doors 12 months ago, the Henry de Bromhead-trained mare gave the huge crowd plenty to cheer about as she powered up the hill to join the elite hand of dual winners in the hands of Rachael Blackmore.

The 8-11 favourite set sail for home and though challenged by Nicky Henderson's 2020 winner Epatante (16-1), she was too good and went on to score by three and a half lengths. Zanahiyr (28-1) was a length away in third place.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead said: "It's better than last year, obviously, with the crowd here, with Kenny (Alexander, owner) and (his wife) Caroline, with everybody. It's amazing. It's like a never-ending fairytale - just incredible.

"I just really hoped she could get that Cheltenham roar and it's fantastic that she's got it.

"Rachael was obviously sublime and I can't believe it - as usual!

"She's amazing and we're so lucky to have her."

Honeysuckle returned to win the Mares' Hurdle in 2023 before being retired.

Rachael Blackmore became the first female rider to win the greatest hurdles race in the calendar as the brilliant Honeysuckle extended her unbeaten record in fine style for trainer Henry de Bromhead and owner Kenny Alexander.

Just behind the leaders for most of the journey, the star mare hit the front on the turn for home and kicked clear to power away by six and a half lengths from Sharjah (11-1) in second with former winner Epatante (4-1) three lengths further adrift in third. Honeysuckle’s stablemate Aspire Tower (33-1) was fourth.

Blackmore said: "I'm speechless, to be honest - she's just so incredible. I can't believe we've won a Champion Hurdle.

"She did everything I wanted her to do throughout the race and it's just unbelievable. I’m so thankful to be a part of her (Honeysuckle) - it's all about her."

De Bromhead said: "It was unbelievable. She's a very laid-back, chilled out mare - she's amazing.

"Rachael is a brilliant rider on any horse, and Honeysuckle is just a brilliant horse. The combination is deadly - it's the perfect storm.”

Epatante justified strong market support to provide trainer Nicky Henderson with a record eighth victory in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

Few would have marked the six-year-old down as a likely contender for the two-mile hurdling crown following a disappointing display in the Mares Novice’ Hurdle at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival.

However, after following up a sparkling seasonal reappearance at Newbury with an equally impressive success in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, the JP McManus-owned mare was sent off the the well-supported 2-1 favourite and she won in style under Barry Geraghty, who was riding at his final Festival.

Geraghty said: "She travelled great. I was a little concerned about the ground, but she was jumping where I wanted her to. Nicky's done an amazing job with her, she's flourished from Christmas to today. There's no better trainer of a champion hurdler."

Espoir D’Allen caused a shock as none of the first three in the betting made the frame.

While Gavin Cromwell’s five-year-old brought with him a progressive profile having only lost once in his 10 races under rules to date, he was expected to find things much tougher up against dual winner Buveur D’Air, and crack Irish mares Apple’s Jade and Laurina.

Those three dominated the market, but Buveur D’Air – bidding to become just the sixth horse to win two-mile blue riband three times – fell at the halfway stage and not long after that Apple’s Jade was soon giving out distress signals. Laurina, meanwhile, was a one-paced fourth.

With the big three blowing out, Espoir D'Allen romped home by 17 lengths to become a rare five-year-old winner of the race.

Cromwell found it hard to put his feelings into words, saying: “It’s brilliant, unbelievable. He’s been winning Grade Threes this year, so to win this is fantastic. I’m shell-shocked to win anyway, but to win like that – I’m just lost for words."

Sadly, Espoir d'Allen had to be put down little more than five months later after spooking on the gallops and suffering a freak injury.

Back-to-back wins for Buveur D'Air but those who backed the 4-6 favourite were made to sweat as he prevailed by just a head from Melon.

With the ground much softer than 12 months previously, his winning time was some 14 seconds slower.

A relieved Nicky Henderson suggested his star might not of been at his best (a few in his yard were under the weather at the time) and he also lamented his lack of competition going into the race.

Buveur D'Air had three races en route, beating an aggregate of nine rivals and never being a bigger price than 2-11.

The disappointment of the race was Faugheen, the 2015 winner, who faded to be sixth after going off at 4-1.

Provided Nicky Henderson and J P McManus with their sixth success in the Champion Hurdle when he beat My Tent Or Yours - in the process leading home a one-two for the pair.

Buveur D’Air had started his season in novice chases and switched back to the smaller obstacles after Henderson’s hunch that he still had the speed and quality to win a Champion Hurdle.

The popular mare led from start to finish to become only the fourth mare to win the Champion Hurdle and the first since Flakey Dove in 1994. She was only entered in the race, at a cost of £20,000, after stablemate Faugheen sustained an injury.

Annie Power fell at the last in the Mares’ Hurdle the year before, with the race at her mercy, but made amends in impressive fashion as 5-2 favourite.

She ran her final race on her next start with a victory in the Aintree Hurdle, which was her 15th success from 17 career starts.

Faugheen gave Ruby Walsh his fourth success in the race and led home an impressive 1-2-3 for ten-time champion trainer Willie Mullins.

Walsh sent Faugheen into the lead from the start and the writing was on the wall for his pursuers some way out.

Faugheen jumped the last with a three-length lead over Arctic Fire, who had overtaken Hurricane Fly and Jezki to move into second.

Arctic Fire continued to make inroads but Faugheen prevailed by one and a half lengths, with a five-length gap back to Hurricane Fly who took third ahead of Jezki and The New One. 

“Faugheen is a wonderful horse. He has jumped better, he missed the second-last,” said Walsh. “It was a massive call not to ride Hurricane Fly. When you see what Hurricane Fly was doing at home, it was a big call to get off him. It was some training performance, to have the first two in the Supreme as well.”

Mullins and Walsh had earlier won with Douvan (Supreme) and Arkle (Un De Sceaux) with Annie Power's fall at the final flight in the Mares' Hurdle, when well clear at the last, saving bookmakers a fortune as accumulators rolled up.

Faugheen was a hot favourite to record back-to-back victories in 2016, but was ruled out a month before with a leg injury. He was retired after finishing third at Cheltenham, as a novice chaser, in 2020.

Sent off a 9-1 chance, the J P McManus-owned Jezki, who had finished third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle a year earlier, outfought the more fancied My Tent Or Yours and led home a 1-2 for his owner.

It was a running tainted by tragedy as 2013 Triumph Hurdle Winner Our Conor suffered a fatal injury when he fell at the third and hampered The New One, who stayed on well to finish an arguably unlucky third.

Jezki was no match for the Willie Mullins trio 12 months later when he faded into fourth under A P McCoy.

Became the first horse for 38 years to regain the Champion Hurdle title when he beat Rock On Ruby by two and a half lengths under Ruby Walsh.

Willie Mullins’ superstar looked to be struggling at one stage, but Walsh kept his cool and his mount was eventually well on top at the finish.

Hurricane Fly had finished third in 2012, but punters kept the faith and he returned the well-backed 13-8 favourite.

The son of Arc winner Montjeu won 22 Grade ones during his illustrious career and was retired in 2015, after which Ruby Walsh said: “Quite simply, Hurricane Fly is the best hurdler I have ever sat on.”

Rock On Ruby ran out an impressive winner in 2012 and caused an upset returning at odds of 11-1 under Noel Fehily with odds-on favourite Hurricane Fly only third.

Although Rock On Ruby was trained by Paul Nicholls, it was very much a team effort as he was based at Nicholls’ satellite yard where Harry Fry, his former assistant, did much of the day-to-day work.

Rock On Ruby was retired in 2015 and now resides at Fry’s yard in Dorset.

There were doubts beforehand whether Hurricane Fly would handle Cheltenham on his first start over jumps outside Ireland, but he had no problem handling the undulating track as he got the better of the unbeaten Peddlers Cross.

Hurricane Fly was strongly fancied for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2009, and for the Champion Hurdle in 2010. He missed both engagements because of injury, however, so it was a relief to Willie Mullins that his stable star got the chance to finally fulfil his potential.

Binocular was declared a non-runner due to a muscle problem less than a month before he won the 2010 running.

Nicky Henderson’s gelding travelled like the best horse throughout and was electric over his obstacles before he pulled three and a half lengths clear of Khyber Kim under A P McCoy.

Binocular, who had finished third 12 months before, provided Henderson with his fifth victory, which equalled the record held by Peter Easterby.

Binocular was unable to regain his crown in 2012 when he finished fourth and he was retired after finishing a well-beaten fifth behind Hurricane Fly in 2013.

Nicky Henderson saddled red-hot 6-4 favourite Binocular but won it with the seemingly unfancied 22-1 chance Punjabi who outbattled Celestial Halo by a neck in a thrilling finish, with Binocular a head behind Celestial Halo in third.

There was a £1 million bonus on offer for any horse to win the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and the Champion Hurdle. Punjabi would have almost certainly scooped the prize had he not fallen at the second last at Kempton when upsides.

After Punjabi’s Champion Hurdle success, Henderson said: “It was an unlucky fall at Kempton and probably the most expensive one in the history of racing.”

Katchit defied the trends to provide Alan King and Robert Thornton with their first Champion Hurdle success.

Seventy-three five-year-olds had run in the Champion Hurdle since See You Then won in 1985, and all of them, including several favourites, had failed to get their head in front.

King’s son of Kalanisi also became the first Triumph Hurdle Winner to follow up in the Champion 12 months later since Persian War in 1967.

Katchit finished a disappointing sixth in the Champion Hurdle in 2009, and did not record another victory after his success in the two-mile showpiece.

He died in 2013, aged ten, after a bout of colic.