Champion Hurdle

All Cheltenham punters have their eyes firmly-fixed on the Champion Hurdle each and every year. This is one of the premier races of the Cheltenham Festival and it boasts a literal who’s who of the top shorter-distance hurdlers.

Similar to the Supreme Novices hurdle, there are eight obstacles to be jumped. The race was first run in 1947 and recent Champion Hurdle winners have included Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, Punjabi and Binocular.

Notable Runners

Binocular– Quirky Cheltenham stalwart considered a lukewarm favourite for the race and is back to defend last year’s title. He is usually held up a bit early on but has enough versatility to dictate matters. He is running near career-high figures entering this year’s festival.

Hurricane Fly– Talented jumper is undefeated this season and has won 7 of last 8 without ducking anybody. Has been beating up on Solwhit all year and is a firm second favourite for this one. Look for him to race closer to the pace. He has forged a winning partnership with jockey Phil Townsend.

Menorah– Up-and-coming six year-old has been campaigned exclusively at Cheltenham this year in his two appearances. He made a real statement by capturing the Supreme Novices’ last year, beating out odds-on favourite Dunguib. He has demonstrated a consistent ability to find extra on the run-in.