2024 Champion Hurdle Tips for Your Next Bet at Cheltenham

Update on 11.03.2024

2024 Champion Hurdle race declarations:

Key Takeaways

• Constitution Hill is joint favourite with State Man after showing evidence of a dirty scope, pushing State Man from 5/2* to 1/2*.
• The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race, taking place on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival, known for testing horses’ stamina and agility over approximately 2 miles and 87 yards with eight hurdles.
• Key trends and statistics for successful Champion Hurdle participants include a winning momentum from the last race, an age bracket of 6 to 8 years old, and the significant roles of trainers and jockeys with proven track records in the event.

Champion Hurdle Odds

As the Cheltenham Festival draws near, the spotlight is inevitably shining on this year’s runners. Let’s look at who the favourites and potential outsiders are for the Champion Hurdle ahead of the renewal:

Constitution Hill was the clear favourite up until he had a wobbly performance at Kempton and showed signs of infection end of February. Nicky Henderson’s star has demonstrated exceptional capacity in major races such as the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the 2022 edition, the Champion Hurdle in 2023 and later the Aintree Hurdle in the same year. His unbeaten record makes him a formidable contender and a favourite among many bettors.

And now with Constitution Hill’s ability in doubt. The Irish Champion Hurdle winner, State Man, has maintained an impressive performance record and is neck and neck in the odds with CH. Winning the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and dominating in County at the 2022 Festival with 4-4 in Grade 1s since, he’s definitely one to watch.

Dark Horse Candidates

Despite the usual focus on the favourites, races like the Champion Hurdle can witness surprising performances from lesser-known, dark horse candidates. These lesser-known horses may not be the first pick for many punters, but they have the potential to upset the odds and deliver.

One such dark horse was Global Citizen, who won the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup in 2022 after not winning a single race since the start of the season. In fact, his starting price was 28/1, beating the favourite Andy Dufresne at 10/3.

Potential dark horses for 2024 include Lossiemouth and Irish Point. Positioned at betting odds of 4/1* and 14/1* respectively, they could potentially upset the odds.

Irish Point has gone unbeaten in his last 4 races and he has the potential to surprise in the Champion Hurdle. Lossiemouth also has some star power winning at last year’s festival in the Triumph Hurdle, but he has not seen much action since then.

Then there’s Echoes In Rain, a long shot at 33/1* odds. If successful, Echoes In Rain could deliver a substantial upset in the Champion Hurdle.

Dark Horse Candidates

Despite the usual focus on the favourites, races like the Champion Hurdle can witness surprising performances from lesser-known, dark horse candidates. These lesser-known horses may not be the first pick for many punters, but they have the potential to upset the odds and deliver.

One such dark horse was Global Citizen, who won the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup in 2022 after not winning a single race since the start of the season. In fact, his starting price was 28/1, beating the favourite Andy Dufresne at 10/3.

Potential dark horses for 2024 include Lossiemouth and Irish Point. Positioned at betting odds of 14/1*, they could potentially upset the odds.

Irish Point has gone unbeaten in his last 4 races and he has the potential to surprise in the Champion Hurdle. Lossiemouth also has some star power winning at last year’s festival in the Triumph Hurdle, but he has not seen much action since then.

Then there’s Echoes In Rain, a long shot at 33/1* odds. If successful, Echoes In Rain could deliver a substantial upset in the Champion Hurdle.

Champion Hurdle Race Details

The Champion Hurdle is set to take place Tuesday 12 March 2024 at 15:30 on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival and is the feature race of that day.

The race is contested over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong (2 miles and 87 yards, or 3,298 metres) and includes eight hurdles to be jumped. This challenging distance and the number of hurdles add to the excitement and unpredictability of the race.

Key Trends and Statistics

In horse racing, understanding key trends and statistics can provide valuable insights that could potentially result in a winning bet. In the Champion Hurdle, there are a few champion hurdle trends worth noting, and incorporating some hurdle tips into your strategy could prove beneficial.

Horses with at least one Cheltenham run and two wins in the same season have historically been successful in the Champion Hurdle, which goes to show just how vital previous experience is and being familiar with the course’s challenges.

Trainer and Jockey Performances

The performances of trainers and jockeys play a significant role in determining the success of horses in the Champion Hurdle. For instance, Nicky Henderson, with his eight Champion Hurdle victories, is the leading trainer in the race, highlighting the importance of experienced and successful trainers.

In addition to Nicky Henderson, Willie Mullins has also demonstrated significant influence in the Champion Hurdle’s history, indicating that a strong training background is crucial for winning.

Irish-trained horses have also been very successful in the Champion Hurdle, with Ireland training 11 of the past 20 winners. This trend provides an interesting insight into the influence of training locations on the success of horses in the race.

The role of jockeys in achieving race victories is also significant. For instance, Ruby Walsh’s equal standing as the joint-most successful jockey in the Champion Hurdle, along with Tim Molony, signifies the key role jockeys play in achieving race victories.

Past Champion Hurdle Results Analysis

For instance, 11 out of 12 past Champion Hurdle winners had won or placed in their last run before the race, with a majority winning within the last 78 days.

And what if you backed the winner next time out? Well, all ten winners over the last decade went on to win their next race after the Champion Hurdle, so it may be worth looking into.

Previous winners

Champion Hurdle Odds and Parimatch's Offers

As the Champion Hurdle draws closer, we’re getting ready at Parimatch to give our customers the best Cheltenham Festival experience possible online.

We’re offering Non Runner No Bet for all 28 races, which means if you’re horse doesn’t run for any reason, we’ll refund your wager.

Take a look at our offers page to see what else we have going on. We often have deposit and get free bets going on for new customer to opt in to!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the favourite for the Champion Hurdle?

The early favourite for the 2024 Champion Hurdle is Constitution Hill, who is the 2023 winner and has a perfect career record. However, it’s worth noting that Champion Hurdle favorites historically win 50% of the time, so a surprise result is possible.

*All odds are correct at time of writing and are subject to change.