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Cheltenham Champion Hurdle Odds & Betting Guide
Racing correspondent Sam Turner looks at the 2025 Champion Hurdle odds and top contenders for Tuesday’s signature race
The Champion Hurdle is the signature event of day one of Cheltenham Festival and always lives to the billing with outstanding competitors taking to the Old Course to battle for the crown.
Champion Hurdle odds are always sought throughout the National Hunt campaign with horse racing betting sites pricing up the event throughout the calendar year.
The Cheltenham odds for this marquee event tend to fluctuate through the winter months and tend to do so in the hours ahead of the race. So, stay in tune with the top prices offered by the best Cheltenham betting sites by checking across the prices offered by multiple betting sites on this page.
We’ll also consider where to use the Cheltenham free bets for this standout race.
Champion Hurdle Odds
Champion Hurdle betting trends
Using trends can be a smart way to pick the winner of the Champion Hurdle, below are a few of the more salient trends and statistics:
- 10 of the past 15 favourites have won the Champion Hurdle, including the last five renewals and eight of the last 10.
- 31 of the past 43 winners were aged six or seven years of age
- 12 of the past 14 winners were unbeaten during the current season
- Only 1 of the past 48 winners regained their crown (Buveur D’Air)
Champion Hurdle winners (2015-2025)
Year | Horse | Trainer | Jockey |
2025 | Golden Ace | Jeremy Scott | Lorcan Williama |
2024 | State Man | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
2023 | Constitution Hill | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
2022 | Honeysuckle | Henry de Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
2021 | Honeysuckle | Henry de Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
2020 | Epatante | Nicky Henderson | Barry Geraghty |
2019 | Espoir D’Allen | Gavin Cromwell | Mark Walsh |
2018 | Buveur D’Air | Nicky Henderson | Barry Geraghty |
2017 | Buveur D’Air | Nicky Henderson | Noel Fehily |
2016 | Annie Power | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
2015 | Faugheen | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
Responsible Gambling
It is important that backers keep their betting responsible during Cheltenham Festival.
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling-related problems, contact the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. The service is free of charge and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You can also make use of responsible gambling tools offered by betting apps and casino apps, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs.
The same features should be available whether you’re playing on slot sites, poker sites, new online casinos, bingo sites or any other form of gambling.
Champion Hurdle FAQs
When is the Champion Hurdle?
The Champion Hurdle historically takes place on the first day of Cheltenham Festival, and is the fifth race on the card with a start time of 4pm.
How many runners compete in the Champion Hurdle?
The Champion Hurdle is traditionally competed by by a field of six to 10 runners, although in 2025 the race was competed by seven horses with only five finishing the contest.
How long is the Champion Hurdle?
The Champion Hurdle takes place on the Old Course at Cheltenham Racecourse and competitors must run 2 miles and 87 yards and eight hurdles to complete the race.
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