2025 Champion Hurdle Tips, Odds and News

Following a stunning return to action at Kempton over Christmas, Constitution Hill was cut back into odds-on favouritism to win the 2025 Champion Hurdle. Nicky Henderson's star took down Lossiemouth to win his third-successive Christmas Hurdle, and could have one more outing before attempting to win back the crown he relinquished through injury last term.

Lossiemouth had jumped to the head of the Champion Hurdle betting following her victory in the Hatton's Grace and Willie Mullins' mare only has a couple of lengths to find on Constitution Hill following their clash at Kempton. Fellow mare, Brighterdaysahead also sits prominently in the Champion Hurdle betting, having won the Morgiana Hurdle and the Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Reigning Champion Hurdler, State Man has seen his unbeaten run shattered by Brighterdaysahead and drifted out to 11/1 after a 31-length thrashing over Christmas. Willie Mullins and the Donnelly's could also be represented by five-year-old Anzadam, who jumped into Cheltenham Festival contention with an emphatic Grade Three win at Fairyhouse in November.

There's then a huge gap in the betting until we reach Greatwood Hurdle winner Burdett Road, who didn't disgrace himself when third behind Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth at Kempton. Last year's County Hurdle winner, Absurde has been entered by Willie Mullins, along with stablemates Kargese, Mystical Power and Kitzbuhel.

Other potential runners in the 2025 Champion Hurdle include Sam Thomas' Lump Sum, Mares' Novices' Hurdle winner Golden Ace, Fergal O'Brien's mare Dysart Enos, and Nemean Lion for Kerry Lee.

The highlight on day one of the Cheltenham Festival is the Champion Hurdle. This Championship race was first run at Cheltenham in 1927, and the Champion Hurdle has been won by many of the sport's greatest names.

Brown Jack won the second running of the Champion Hurdle in 1928. He went on to win the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot for six years on the bounce, as well as victories in the Goodwood Cup, Doncaster Cup and the Ebor.

Insurance was the first two-time winner of the Champion Hurdle, securing back to back wins in 1932 and '33. National Spirit repeated that feat in the late 1940s, before the great Hatton's Grace reeled off a hat-trick of Champion Hurdle triumphs between 1949 and 1951.

The following year, Sir Ken began his own sequence of three Champion Hurdle wins. Other three-time winners include Persian War, See You Then and Instabraq, who secured his hat-trick of victories right at the end of the 20th century.

Four jockeys have won the Champion Hurdle on four separate occasions. Tim Molony rode both Hatton's Grace and Sir Kien, Gold Cup winning jockey Ruby Walsh rode four winners for Willie Mullins, scoring on Faugheen, Annie Power and twice aboard the great Hurricane Fly.

Three of Barry Geraghty's four victories came on Nicky Henderson horses. Henderson is the most successful trainer in the history of the Champion Hurdle, having saddled the winner eight times Whenever you read any Cheltenham Festival tips, Nicky Henderson's name will appear regularly.

Hardy Eustace stole the hearts of the nation with back-to-back Champion Hurdle wins in the mid-2000s. Hurricane Fly was the next superstar to come out of the Champion Hurdle, handing Willie Mullins his first and second victories in 2011 and '13.

Buveur D'Air then secured back-to-back wins for Geraghty and Henderson in 2017 and '18. With his former winner on the sidelines, Henderson turned to top mare Epatante in 2020, and she powered home under Geraghty to secure an impressive victory over four of Ireland's best.

For the second year in a row, a mare reigned supreme at Cheltenham, as unbeaten Honeysuckle powered to a superb victory in the Champion Hurdle. Henry De Bromhead's star extended her unbeaten record into a 15th race in 2022, as Honeysuckle successfully defended her Champion Hurdle crown.