Constitution Hill at full stretch under Nico de Boinville clears the last on their way to winning the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on day one of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
The Champion Hurdle gets underway at 4pm tomorrow (11 March) during the opening day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the big race, from this year’s runners and riders, and how to watch, to what prize money the winner will be taking home.
Constitution Hill, trained by Nicky Henderson is favourite to win, with Brighterdaysahead, trained by Gordon Elliott and last year’s winner, State Man, his biggest rivals.
Who are the runners in the 2025 race?
Horse: Constitution Hill | Jockey: Nico De Boinville | Owner: Michael Buckley
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About the Champion Hurdle
The Cheltenham Champion Hurdle is a Grade One National Hunt hurdle race, run over two miles and half a furlong with eight flights of hurdles to jump. The race is held on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival in March, which runs from Tuesday-Friday, and a massive highlight of the National Hunt season.
The all-time leading Champion Hurdle trainer is Nicky Henderson, who has so far won it a total of nine times, thanks to See You Then (1985, 1986, 1987), Punjabi (2009), Binocular (2010), Beveur D’Air (2017, 2018), Epatante (2020) and Constitution Hill (2023). Five horses have won three Champion Hurdles, which is the current record. These are Hatton’s Grace (1949-51), Sir Ken (1952-54), Persian War (1968-70), See You Then and Istabraq (1998-2000). Three jockeys have won the race four times, which sits at the current record. These are Tim Molony, Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty. And the leading Cheltenham Gold Cup owner, J. P. McManus, has so far won it nine times – three times with Istabraq, as well as with Binocular, Jezki (2014) and Beveur D’Air.
The history of the Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is the most prestigious hurdle race in the British National Hunt calendar. The race was first to run in 1927. That inaugural race was won by Blaris, earning connections £365.
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Former web features editor, point-to-point editor and digital racing editor
Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.
