2026 Punchestown Champion Hurdle Tips - Any value against Lossiemouth on Friday?

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: Thu 30 Apr 2026 11:42

Jon Vine 30 Apr 2026

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Odds and betting predictions for the 2026 Punchestown Champion Hurdle
This Grade One will be run on day four of the Punchestown Festival on Friday 1st April
We're backing Wilful each-way against Lossiemouth

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Paul Townend riding Lossiemouth (pink) clear the last to win The Unibet Champion Hurdle. (Getty)

The Punchestown Champion Hurdle headlines the penultimate day of the Punchestown Festival. Many legendary hurdlers have won this two-mile Grade One, and Lossiemouth will attempt to become just the third mare to claim victory, after Vroum Vroum Mag and Honeysuckle.

Here's our free guide to the 2026 Punchestown Champion Hurdle, including our best betting tips.

2026 Punchestown Champion Hurdle Odds

Name	Odds
Lossiemouth	4/9
William Munny	8/1
Golden Ace	10/1
Anzadam	14/1
Wilful	14/1
Absurde	40/1
Glen Kiln	66/1

2026 Punchestown Champion Hurdle Runners

Lossiemouth was finally given her moment to shine in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, and Paul Townend's mount took it with both hands, hammering her rivals to claim a commanding success. The form of that Grade One was boosted in the Aintree Hurdle, after which Lossiemouth was cut into 4/7 to score at Punchestown.

Sitting second in the market is Barry Connell's William Munny, who has missed most of this season through injury. Jeremy Scott is represented by former Champion Hurdler Golden Ace, despite comfortable defeats at Cheltenham and Aintree.

Jonjo & A J O'Neill has entered runaway County Hurdle winner Wilful in his first Grade One. Anzadam and Absurde will join stablemate Lossiemouth in the field. David Kelly's place money hunter Glen Kiln completes the field.

2026 Punchestown Champion Hurdle Tips

On all known form, Lossiemouth should win this Grade One with any amount in hand. Willie Mullins' star mare was superb in the Champion Hurdle, that form worked out well in the Aintree Hurdle, and Paul Townend's mount is unbeaten in three starts around this track.

A lack of genuine opposition strengthens Lossiemouth's claims too. William Munny has been off the track all season, Golden Ace represents a terribly out-of-form stable, and Anzadam has had a shocker of a season.

WILFUL (14/1) has never raced in Grade One company before, but does have some experience at this meeting. Jonjo and A J O'Neill's star finished a close second to the excellent Ascending Lark in the Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle 12 months ago, finishing ahead of classy sorts like Irish Panther and Gaucher.

Jonjo Jnr's mount capped an excellent season with an emphatic triumph in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Wilful took that handicap by the scruff of the neck, leading from pillar to post to record a taking three-length success.

With no other likely front-runners in the field, I expect Wilful will go straight to the front again. If Jonjo Jnr can get his fractions right on the front-end again, then Wilful is classy enough to see his challenge through to the line, and maybe even give Lossiemouth something to think about.

Live Stream

Visit our Punchestown Champion Hurdle Live Stream page if you want to watch any of Friday's races via a mobile or tablet.

Verdict

2026 Punchestown Champion Hurdle

Wilful is our each-way selection in the 2026 Punchestown Champion Hurdle.

Wilful E/W

2026 Punchestown Champion Hurdle Tips

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