Find out where to focus on during the build-up to Cheltenham, if you’re hoping to spot a future Champion Hurdle winner – including how many races they run in.
Taking place on Day 1 at the Cheltenham Festival, the Champion Hurdle is the final leg in the Triple Crown of Hurdling and one of the most sought-after events to win in the National Hunt calendar. As it’s considered the ‘pinnacle of achievement in endurance’ for thoroughbred horse racing, plenty of top competitors target the race each year, making it a fantastic annual viewing. However, what races do competitors run in prior to the big event?
This article runs through the different events and races competed in that might indicate future Champion Hurdle winners.
Want to know the possible Champion Hurdle runners first? Have a look at the Cheltenham betting odds beforehand to get a better idea!
Where do Champion Hurdle winners compete before Cheltenham?
After taking a look at winners of the Champion Hurdle across the last decade, some races certainly stand out as trials for eventual victors.
Irish Champion Hurdle
A prestigious Grade 1 National Hunt race run at Leopardstown, the Irish Champion Hurdle is one of the key events at the Dublin Racing Festival in late January or early February. Over the course of the last five years, three Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winners have competed in the Irish Champion Hurdle, increasing to four of the last six.
Notably, Champion Hurdle winners such as State Man (2024) and Honeysuckle (2022 and 2021) won the Irish Champion Hurdle ahead of their victories. However, even if horses don’t come first in this event, such as Lossiemouth in 2026 who placed second, then they can still go on to win at Cheltenham.
If you’re interested in keeping an eye out for the race, make sure to take a look at the results on Sunday 31st January 2027.
Christmas Hurdle
As the second leg of the Triple Crown of Hurdling, the Christmas Hurdle, held at Kempton Park, is another important and popular race to attempt ahead of the Champion Hurdle, taking place on Boxing Day each year. After looking at the schedules of Champion Hurdle winners, three of the last nine have competed in this race beforehand.
Constitution Hill (2023) was the most recent Champion Hurdle winner to also compete in the Christmas Hurdle, with Epatante (2020) and Buvuer d’Air (2018) also running in the race; notably, each managed to place first. Interestingly, both Buveur d’Air and Constitution Hill won the Triple Crown, in 2018 and 2023 respectively, making them two of just three horses to accomplish the feat.
Be sure to tune into the festive race on Saturday 26th December 2026 to see who the contenders may be!
Morgiana Hurdle
Another potential Champion Hurdle trial that’s held in Ireland is the Morgiana Hurdle, a Grade 1 National Hunt race held at Punchestown. Taking a look at the previous victors of the Champion Hurdle, two of the last three winners competed in the Morgiana Hurdle earlier in the same season.
Lossiemouth (2026) and State Man (2024) both won in the race, meaning that champions of the Morgiana Hurdle may be ones to look out for ahead of Cheltenham 2027. If you want to see the action next time around, then have a look out for the results on Saturday 21st November 2026.
Are there any other races that Champion Hurdle winners compete in?
While we’ve covered some of the main ‘trials’ for the Champion Hurdle, there are a few other races that may be worth keeping an eye on ahead of the Cheltenham Festival in 2027:
As the first leg of the Triple Crown of Hurdling, Newcastle’s the Fighting Fifth Hurdle is another to watch. Held annually in November, this race is one that horses attempting to complete the Triple Crown will be keen to race in, with Champion Hurdle winners Buveur d’Air (2018) and Constitution Hill (2023) competing in and winning the race.
Other races such as the Contenders Hurdle and the Hattons Grace Hurdle have also cropped up in the previous decade, with each race featuring two eventual Champion Hurdle winners over the last ten years. Honeysuckle ran in the Hattons Grace Hurdle twice while Buveur d’Air ran in the Contenders Hurdle twice, with both horses going on to win back-to-back Champion Hurdles.
How many jump season races do Champion Hurdle winners compete in?
Looking at the last five years, Champion Hurdle winners have often competed in three different National Hunt races before heading to the Cheltenham Festival. These victors include Lossiemouth (2026), Golden Ace (2025), and State Man (2024), meaning each of the last three winners competed in three races prior to their Champion Hurdle wins.
How do Champion Hurdle winners get on before Cheltenham?
Before heading to Cheltenham, Champion Hurdle winners appear to place first frequently, with most having won all of their races that season. This isn’t always the case, though, with Lossiemouth placing second in the Irish Champion Hurdle, along with Golden Ace finishing third and fourth in the Relkeel Hurdle and Ascot Hurdle respectively. Aside from this, however, all other horses saw victory in their prior races of the same season.
How to bet on the Champion Hurdle with Betway
Betting on the Champion Hurdle is easy here at Betway. And, right now, we’re offering ante post odds on all the key Cheltenham Festival races. Simply go over to our horse racing betting page or view our guide to Champion Hurdle betting to begin.
While you wait for the Champion Hurdle, take a look at our 4-to-Win offer, a free-to-play horse predictor game that offers real cash prizes!
