Champion Hurdle Preview: Sky Bet Favourites For The Feature Race Today

The of Day 1 at Cheltenham Festival takes location at 4pm today, where a strong nine-horse field is anticipated to line up for what guarantees to be a fiercely competitive Champion Hurdle.


It is Lossiemouth who heads the marketplace with Sky Bet to end up first past the post, with the Willie Mullins-trained mare having actually been enhanced from 6/4 to 13/8.


The mare - who boasts 13 wins and 3 runner-up finishes from her 17 profession starts - took pleasure in an exceptional 2025 campaign, claiming success in the Mares' Hurdle, Aintree Hurdle, Morgiana Hurdle and the December Hurdle at Leopardstown.


She needed to opt for 2nd in her only start of 2026 to date, with the seven-year-old decreasing by more than 3 lengths to Brighterdaysahead.


Champion Hurdle preview: Sky Bet favourites for the function race on Day 1 at Cheltenham


Behind the favourite in the betting is The New Lion, who is presently priced as the 5/2 2nd favourite with Sky Bet.


The gelding boasts strong course kind at Cheltenham, having actually won in 2015's Turners Novices' Hurdle before claiming a Grade 2 contest last month.


Meanwhile, the previously mentioned Brighterdaysahead is also anticipated to install a strong obstacle, with the Gordon Elliott-trained mare set up as the 5/1 third favourite.


Despite taping ten career wins, Brighterdaysahead has yet to secure victory at Cheltenham Racecourse. The seven-year-old completed second in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle in 2024 before positioning 4th in the Champion Hurdle the list below year.


When she ended up 4th in the Champion Hurdle in 2025, it was Golden Ace who emerged victorious. Those backing the mare to protect her crown this year can currently discover her priced at 10/1.


Completing the nine-horse field are Poniros (14/1), Alexei (16/1), Anzadam (22/1), Tutti Quanti (25/1) and rank outsider Workahead at 66/1.


Sky Bet odds for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival:


Lossiemouth - WAS 13/8 NOW 7/4


The New Lion - 5/2


Brighterdaysahead - 5/1


Golden Ace - 10/1


Poniros - 14/1


Alexei - 16/1


Anzadam - 22/1


Tutti Quanti - 25/1


Workahead - 66/1