2026 Champion Hurdle News - Quotes from connections
Before the 2026 Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, trainers and jockeys share insights and expectations for their equine contenders. David Casey eyes opportunity for Lossiemouth, citing a potential edge. Dan Skelton is confident in The New Lion's preparation, despite tough competition. Gordon Elliott remains optimistic with Brighterdaysahead, learning from past races. Golden Ace's jockey, Lorcan Williams, defends her reputation. Trainer Paul Nicholls believes in Tutti Quanti's potential, highlighting his recent improvements. Overall, the race appears open and competitive.
- Quotes from connections ahead of the 2026 Champion Hurdle
- This Grade One takes place at Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th March
- Read quotes from David Casey, Dan Skelton, Gordon Elliott and more
- David Casey on Lossiemouth (Assistant Trainer to Willie Mullins)
- Dan Skelton (The New Lion)
- Gordon Elliott (Brighterdaysahead)
- Lorcan Williams (Jockey of Golden Ace)
- Paul Nicholls (Tutti Quanti)
- Willie Mullins (Anzadam and Poniros)
- Joe Tizzard (Alexei)
Champion Hurdle Quotes
Read exclusive quotes from connections ahead of the 2026 Champion Hurdle, which headlines the opening day of racing at the Cheltenham Festival.
For more quotes, news, offers and our best betting tips, head to our Cheltenham Festival 2026 page.
2026 Champion Hurdle News - Quotes From Connections
David Casey on Lossiemouth (Assistant Trainer to Willie Mullins)
Obviously I won’t say the Mares’ is a weaker race, there’s some good horses in there and Wodhooh is a formidable opponent, but it probably looked like her best chance of winning a Champion Hurdle.
I think there are slight question marks about plenty of runners in the field and she’s already won two Mares’ Hurdles, so I think it was worth rolling the dice.
I would say she is (best chance out of the three Mullins runners). She’s proven that she loves the track and she comes alive when she gets over there, and I think a bit better ground would be no harm.
I think they might just sharpen her up at the start, with the likes of Tutti Quanti going in there now and Brighterdaysahead I think there will be plenty of pace.
She was quite keen at the start of her career, but the longer she’s gone on the more relaxed she’s been. She’s done most of her racing over two and a half miles, where we have been slowing her down a little bit, so I think that might help sharpen her a little bit.
She looks in great order. We put the cheekpieces on her the other morning for a bit of work and she worked really well.
Dan Skelton (The New Lion)
What a pleasure to be able to run The New Lion in the Champion Hurdle. We’ve obviously had this race in mind all year and to be here now is brilliant.
His work has been good in the build up to this and he got the all-important clear round in the International last time and quickened up really well. I don’t see that we have anything lacking and now it’s just a case of whether all his components are enough to win a Champion Hurdle. I feel they are.
Harry and I couldn’t be happier. We have to give three good mares 7lbs and we have a lot of respect for any horse good enough to be in a Champion Hurdle. Everything is crossed for a big run here.
Gordon Elliott (Brighterdaysahead)
You'd look to be going there with probably her having a better preparation around Cheltenham. You're always thinking of something different. It's obvious that she's been to Cheltenham in the past and hasn't won, and last year it was very bad.
I think the first year, the mare didn't do anything wrong. I think Jack (Kennedy) and Paul (Townend) were looking at each other and that good mare called Golden Ace came and nabbed both of them. I think last year she wasn't right, after Punchestown we discovered something and we rectified it. I would put a line through last year, I think she was beaten after a hurdle looking at it myself. I think we do things different this year. That's my job. I have to try and do something different every day. So that's my task.
It is an open Champion Hurdle, there are two or three horses at the top of the betting that could win it. Look, she's in very good form. I couldn't be happier with her. But it's a good race, you know. The Skelton horse would be very good. Obviously Golden Ace keeps going underneath the radar.
Lorcan Williams (Jockey of Golden Ace)
She takes everything in her stride, is a very willing partner and a pleasure to be associated with. Going into the Champion Hurdle I don't really see it any differently to last year, because no-one sees her as the reigning champ. That doesn't bother me, but I think to give her the recognition she deserves, it would be nice to do it without all the drama.
It feels like people think she's been lucky and it was the same with the Fighting Fifth, when Constitution Hill and The New Lion fell, but plenty of good horses have finished behind her.
As far as I'm concerned she's a mare of a lifetime and I wouldn't swap her. She's proven at Cheltenham and has won three of her four starts there. I can see her doing it again, so bring it on.
Paul Nicholls (Tutti Quanti)
It looks an open race and we'll have a go. He really isn't that far away on ratings.
He was so impressive at Newbury and the way he's improved from it has been really good. His last few pieces of work have been so good, including at the Kempton gallop with No Drama This End.
He's a stronger horse than he was going there last year, so it's definitely worth a go. I don't think he has too much to find and he looks to be going the right way.
Everyone said it would be too hard to win off the weight he did at Newbury last time, but he did it, and just because it was heavy that day doesn't mean he needs it like that. He's got form on all types of ground and I wouldn't have any concerns about the going.
Willie Mullins (Anzadam and Poniros)
I've tried a couple of things with Anzadam, and I have a couple of more things to try that I hope will make him competitive. I've been a little disappointed with what he has done this season, but I haven't given up hope on him yet. It's a very open Champion Hurdle.
The owners are happy enough to let Poniros run in the Champion Hurdle. Hopefully we can have a top four or five finish. I think that is probably the best that we can achieve.
Joe Tizzard (Alexei)
It’s exciting to have a runner in the Champion Hurdle, there’s a first time for everything.
I only watched the Kingwell Hurdle on my phone, but from what I saw he did it nicely, it was his first time in graded company and he’s won. Rubaud is a good yardstick and he loves it round Wincanton, so I was pleased.
If you’d said to us in the autumn he was a Champion Hurdle horse, he was nowhere near it, but we’ve had a cracking season with him and we’ll roll the dice.
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