Champion Hurdle Predictions, Betting Tips & Odds (Cheltenham 2024 - DAY 1)
- Written by Simon Bettarini
The Champion Hurdle is the feature race of the first day of the Cheltenham Festival, run over two miles and half a furlong. The contest is recognised as the most prestigious hurdling race of the jumps season. Nicky Henderson's Constitution Hill was a blistering winner of the Champion Hurdlelast year, under a fine ride from star jockey Nico De Boinville. Will the current champion defend the crown in the 2024 renewal? Find here our Cheltenham 2024 Champion Hurdle race preview, with odds, tips, predictions, trends, free bets and betting promotions.
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CHAMPION HURDLE BETTING PREVIEW
The Champion Hurdle is the peak test of a two mile hurdler, a combination of speed and stamina needed to win this contest. It's a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle, for horses aged four years and upwards. It comes with a prize purse of £450,000.
Constitution Hill will defend his crown as the 2024 renewal looks set-up to be another cracker, with Lossiemouth, State Man and Irish Point the other main contenders to win the feature race.
And now we take a closer look at this year's Champion Hurdle and try to determine which horse is likely to prevail.
Who will win the Champion Hurdle 2024?
CONSTITUTION HILL was the red hot favourite at 1/3 to clinch consecutive victories, having secured wins at Aintree and Kempton since triumphing in the Cotswolds last March. Nicky Henderson's star missed his intended pre-run in the International Hurdle following a poor scope and was ruled out for this one!
The odds-on favorite is now the Irish hope STATE MAN, who was Constitution Hill's closest challenger in this race last year, nine lengths back in second. Willie Mullins' charge has won 9 of his 12 races so far, finishing twice as runner-up. He looked better than ever in the Morgiana, Matheson and Irish Champion Hurdle. State Man last ran at Leopardstown this month over the 2-mile and comfortably beat 3 other horses including runner-up Bob Olinger by 5.5 lengths.
Ruby Walsh's Champion Hurdle Tips
State Man (Winner)
4/11Bet
IRISH POINT has gone unbeaten in his last 4 races and he has the potential to surprise here. Earlier this season he bolted up at Leopardstown back in December, beating five other horses including runner-up Asterion Forlonge by nine and a half lengths.
IBERICO LORD won the Greatwood here in November and last month's Newbury handicap win was a career best while Willie Mullins' ZARAK THE BRAVE Won a very competitive Galway Hurdle last summer and arrives here off the back of a Grade 3 win at Naas in January.
Nicky Henderson has entered up LUCCIA, WITH NOT SO SLEEPY likely to make a fifth appearance in the feature race of Day 1. The former finished third behind stablemate Iberico Lord in the Greatwood and, most recently, won Premier Handicap Hurdle at Ascot in December.
NEMEAN LION beat COLONEL MUSTARD to win the Grade 2 Kingwell at Wincanton last month on heavy ground, but both looks beaten in this company.
At the moment, the most backed horses are the following:
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CHAMPION HURDLE TRENDS
- 9 of the last 13 winners were favourites/joint favourites.
- The last 9 winners were unbeaten that season.
- 13 of the 16 winners won last time out
- 10 of the last 12 winners had at least 1 previous Grade 1 win.
- 15 of the last 25 winners had won at the Festival previously.
- Mares have won 4 of the last 8 renewals
CHAMPION HURDLE PREDICTIONS
The following section contains our recommended bets on the Champion Hurdle 2024. Feel free to copy our Cheltenham Festival tips and get the highest odds available on the market by clicking the 'Bet' button!
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CHAMPION HURDLE FAQS
What is the distance of the Champion Hurdle?
The Champion Hurdle is run on a distance of 2 miles and 87 yards
How many obstacles are jumped in the Champion Hurdle?
There are 8 obstacles to jump for the Champion Hurdle runners
What time is the Champion Hurdle?
The Champion Hurdle is the 4th race run on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival. That falls on Tuesday March 12, 2024 and the official starting time is 3:30pm.
What is the prize money for the Champion Hurdle?
The total prize money on offer for the Champion Hurdle at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival will be £450,000.
Who won the Champion Hurdle last year?
Last year's renewal was won by Constitution Hill at SP of 4/11f, trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by Nico De Boinville.
What weights are carried for the Champion Hurdle?
11 st 2 lb (4-year-olds). 11 st 10 lb (5-year-olds +). 7 lb allowance for fillies and mares.
Who is the leading jockey in the Champion Hurdle?
The joint-most successful jockeys in the history of the Champion Hurdle are Tim Molony and Ruby Walsh, but they are not in activity anymore. Top owner J P McManus has won six of the last fourteen editions of this race, so take a look at his current jockey Aidan Coleman. Rachael Blackmore has won the last four editions with Honeysuckle.
Who is the leading trainer in the Champion Hurdle?
Nicky Henderson is has won this race nine times in his career, most recently with stable star Constitution Hill. Willie Mullins has won the race four times and has saddled the runner-up in the last five years. Henry De Bromhead has won back to back editions with Honeysuckle.
