2026 Champion Hurdle

[archie]

• From BHA site
• 
  
• Confirm by 12:00 on Wednesday 4 March 2026
• Supplementary entry by 12:00 on Wednesday 4 March 2026

Just to underline this to avoid any confusion. They are not declarations at 5 or 6 days, they are merely confirmations for which connections cough up an extra £560.

Enter by noon, January 13th and pay £560 stake
Scratch by noon on February 10th or pay £1130
Confirm by noon on March 4th and pay £560
Supplementary Entry by noon, March 4th and pay £18000 stake
Declare by 10.00 a.m. March 8th

 

[Parachute Paddy]

It is now looking like one of the worst Champion Hurdles now in year's. Let's hope some good 2 mile novices emerge and take their Champion Hurdle place next year.

Is it? How many years you going back here? You’ve currently got:
Reigning turners winner
Irish champion hurdle winner
Reigning mares winner
Reigning champion hurdler
Reigning triumph winner
Kingwell and greatwood winner

All that and you’ve unfortunately lost 2 prior victors in SM and CH as well as Sir Gino. I’d say it’s still looking alright all things considered.

I’d have 2020 and 2021 as being weaker renewals than this current one on paper. Not sure those years were missing 3 big names like we are now either.

 

[Rooster Booster]

Is it? How many years you going back here? You’ve currently got:
Reigning turners winner
Irish champion hurdle winner
Reigning mares winner
Reigning champion hurdler
Reigning triumph winner
Kingwell and greatwood winner

All that and you’ve unfortunately lost 2 prior victors in SM and CH as well as Sir Gino. I’d say it’s still looking alright all things considered.

I’d have 2020 and 2021 as being weaker renewals than this current one on paper. Not sure those years were missing 3 big names like we are now

 

[Rooster Booster]

I think most believe many of those horses to be one eyed kings (or queens)

 

[Carnage at Taunton]

Is it? How many years you going back here? You’ve currently got:
Reigning turners winner
Irish champion hurdle winner
Reigning mares winner
Reigning champion hurdler
Reigning triumph winner
Kingwell and greatwood winner

All that and you’ve unfortunately lost 2 prior victors in SM and CH as well as Sir Gino. I’d say it’s still looking alright all things considered.

I’d have 2020 and 2021 as being weaker renewals than this current one on paper. Not sure those years were missing 3 big names like we are now either.

There’s been a lot of average renewals in recent years, this is another one.
We’ve probably had 2 maybe 3 better than average 2m hurdlers recently with CH, SM and SG, in that order.
Until the best novices stay hurdling rather than chasing this will continue , and each year imo we may get an occasional CHill dominate,or if not another average at best renewal .

 

[Parachute Paddy]

Yeah fair point. Just felt saying it is one the worst was being a bit harsh. Average is a fair description, with a bit of depth to it, is where I think I’d have it.

 

[Rooster Booster]

Yeah fair point. Just felt saying it is one the worst was being a bit harsh. Average is a fair description, with a bit of depth to it, is where I think I’d have it.

Might even be competitive, which in the absence of classy , I can live with

 

[Benjy23]

It's certainly average enough that it would be a disgrace to not run Lossiemouth...

 

[Carnage at Taunton]

It's certainly average enough that it would be a disgrace to not run Lossiemouth...

Absolutely
She’s arguably the best that’s left in the race, and has an OR of 159 I believe?
That’s not a great advert for the race being above average.
As said though, if we get a competitive race at least it can be exciting to watch.

 

[FredFlintstone]

Would they send both Ricci horses (Lossie & Gaelic) to the championship races? I think they will want a tap in with one of them

 

[Brooksie]

The race is somewhat average, but no worse than fields Honeysuckle was beating up. I'd argue better than the State Man Irish Point champion hurdle. We've definitely seen worse.

I still think there's some improvement out of BDA and Lossie and I don't think either one of them have put in a PB yet.

Just unfortunate we've been starved of some good competitive clashes recently. My fav period for the race so far has been that Hurricane Fly, Solwhit, Thousand Stars, Rock On Ruby, Jezki, My Tent Or Yours, Annie Power era. A great few years of interesting clashes.

Today just seems a bit bland in comparison.

 

[Carnage at Taunton]

The race is somewhat average, but no worse than fields Honeysuckle was beating up. I'd argue better than the State Man Irish Point champion hurdle. We've definitely seen worse.

I still think there's some improvement out of BDA and Lossie and I don't think either one of them have put in a PB yet.

Just unfortunate we've been starved of some good competitive clashes recently. My fav period for the race so far has been that Hurricane Fly, Solwhit, Thousand Stars, Rock On Ruby, Jezki, My Tent Or Yours, Annie Power era. A great few years of interesting clashes.

Today just seems a bit bland in comparison.

Yep, Honeysuckle, Epatante no better I agree
Personally think any PB from today’s equivalent mares may well come over further than 2m ? Time will tell. Be difficult though with the calibre of opposition imo.

 

[Rooster Booster]

I still have the racing post with the ‘Magnificent Seven’ front page headline with the likes of Brave Inca , Harchibald and co. What was the one of Jessie’s …think it was two words one of which began with M. The mental decline has definitely set in. Oh and was Sizing Europe one of them . Yep brain has officially gone .

 

[EnvoiAlien]

Macs Joy.
Any other time it'd have picked up a CH, was a golden era for the 2m open class division.

Cant ignore Hardy Eustace from that era, I think the Rooster was also still pitching at the time.

Another edit - Al Eile was around then too, the Aintree 2m4f cash machine.

 

[Brooksie]

I still have the racing post with the ‘Magnificent Seven’ front page headline with the likes of Brave Inca , Harchibald and co. What was the one of Jessie’s …think it was two words one of which began with M. The mental decline has definitely set in. Oh and was Sizing Europe one of them . Yep brain has officially gone .

Sizing Europe might have been the year after. When he went from cruising looking the winner to pulled up in a matter of strides. Think I backed Harchibald that day... after he'd had a prep race on the all weather lmao. What was I thinking!

 

[kinloch brae]

For those who can go back that far, or have the historical knowledge, 68-81 will always be the vintage era.

 

[Lobos]

For those who can go back that far, or have the historical knowledge, 68-81 will always be the vintage era.

Absolutely. Night Nurse, Birds Nest, Sea Pigeon, Monksfield, Lanzarote, Dramatist.....

Best era ever.

Night Nurse still Timeforms highest ever rated hurdler I think?

 

[kinloch brae]

Absolutely. Night Nurse, Birds Nest, Sea Pigeon, Monksfield, Lanzarote, Dramatist.....

Best era ever.

Night Nurse still Timeforms highest ever rated hurdler I think?

Persian War kicked things off, then you had Bula and Comedy Of Errors, plus Golden Cygnet who was a brilliant novice. Tree Tangle was a favourite of mine, but was essentially a bridle horse, and needed a flat track. You can see him cantering in the 1975 edition, but he finds nothing up the hill. Andy Turnell rated him the best he rode.

 

[BigChaang]

Wonder if they'll tell us about the schooling session.
Doesn't really mention it in the statement.
Yogi be picking up his cheque though I'm sure.

Already cashed it , .... put it on Lossiemouth
On the nose !!!. .

 

[Lobos]

Persian War kicked things off, then you had Bula and Comedy Of Errors, plus Golden Cygnet who was a brilliant novice. Tree Tangle was a favourite of mine, but was essentially a bridle horse, and needed a flat track. You can see him cantering in the 1975 edition, but he finds nothing up the hill. Andy Turnell rated him the best he rode.

Yeah, forgot Bula and Comedy of Errors. Gaye Brief a little later. Wonderful days. All taking each other on every month. All running 6/7 times a year. Any ground, any course. No one avoiding each other like now. All picking up good prize money. Brilliant.