Champion Hurdle Preview: Sky Bet Favourites for The Feature Race Today
The feature race of Day 1 at Cheltenham Festival occurs at 4pm today, where a strong nine-horse field is anticipated to line up for what assures to be an increasingly competitive Champion Hurdle.
It is Lossiemouth who heads the marketplace with Sky Bet to complete first past the post, with the Willie Mullins-trained mare having been improved from 6/4 to 13/8.
The mare - who boasts 13 wins and 3 runner-up surfaces from her 17 career starts - enjoyed an exceptional 2025 project, claiming triumphes in the Mares' Hurdle, Aintree Hurdle, Morgiana Hurdle and the December Hurdle at Leopardstown.
She needed to choose 2nd in her only start of 2026 to date, with the seven-year-old decreasing by more than three lengths to Brighterdaysahead.
Champion Hurdle sneak peek: Sky Bet favourites for the function race on Day 1 at Cheltenham
Behind the preferred in the betting is The New Lion, who is currently priced as the 5/2 2nd favourite with Sky Bet.
The gelding boasts strong course form at Cheltenham, having actually won in 2015's Turners Novices' Hurdle before declaring a Grade 2 contest last month.
Meanwhile, the previously mentioned Brighterdaysahead is also anticipated to mount a strong obstacle, with the Gordon Elliott-trained mare set up as the 5/1 third favourite.
Despite taping 10 career wins, Brighterdaysahead has yet to protect success at Cheltenham Racecourse. The seven-year-old finished second in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle in 2024 before placing fourth in the Champion Hurdle the list below year.
When she completed 4th in the Champion Hurdle in 2025, it was Golden Ace who emerged victorious. Those backing the mare to safeguard her crown this year can presently discover her priced at 10/1.
Completing the nine-horse field are Poniros (14/1), Alexei (16/1), Anzadam (22/1), Tutti Quanti (25/1) and rank outsider Workahead at 66/1.
Sky Bet odds for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival:
Lossiemouth - WAS 13/8 NOW 7/4
The New Lion - 5/2
Brighterdaysahead - 5/1
Golden Ace - 10/1
Poniros - 14/1
Alexei - 16/1
Anzadam - 22/1
- 25/1
Workahead - 66/1