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
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Brighterdaysahead | Jack Kennedy | Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
Gordon Elliott
State Man | Paul Townend | Mrs J Donnelly
Willie Mullins
Golden Ace | Lorcan Williams | Owner: I F Gosden
Jeremy Scott
Burdett Road| Sam Twiston-Davies | Owner: The Gredley Family
James Owen
Winter Fog | Brian Hayes | Owner: The Triple Lock Partnership
Willie Mullins
King Of Kingsfield | Danny Gilligan | Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
Gordon Elliott
What are the betting odds for this year’s runners?
The following odds were correct at the time of publishing and may vary between bookmakers.
Constitution Hill: 8/13
Brighterdaysahead: 9/4
State Man: 10/1
Golden Ace: 40/1
Burdett Road: 50/1
Winter Fog: 125/1
King Of Kingsfield: 150/1
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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.
When is the 2025 Champion Hurdle?
The race will start at 4pm on Tuesday 11 March.
How to watch the Champion Hurdle
You can watch the race from home on ITV Racing and Racing TV at 4pm on Tuesday 11 March.
What was the prize money for winning?
The winner of the 2025 Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy will take home £253,215.
Recent winners
2024: State Man – read race report
2023: Constitution Hill – read race report
2022: Honeysuckle – read race report
2021: Honeysuckle – read the race report
2020: Epitante – read the race report
2019: Espoir D’Allen – read the race report
2018: Buveur D’Air – read the race report
2017: Buveur D’Air – read the race report
2016: Annie Power – read the race report
2015: Faugheen – read the race report
2014: Jezki – read the race report
2013: Hurricane Fly – read the race report
2012: Rock On Ruby – read the race report
2011: Hurricane Fly – read the race report
Winning-most trainer, horse, jockey and owner
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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