Cheltenham Festival 2026 · Grade 1 Preview

Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy

Going: Soft (Old Course)  ·  Distance: 2m 87y  ·  Prize Money: £350,000 to the winner

The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy is the race that opens the Cheltenham Festival’s account in the Grade 1 ledger, and the 2026 renewal is shaping up to be one of the most fascinating in years. With just 13 declared runners, the field is compact but extraordinarily deep, and the race is dominated by two mares who have been trading blows all season in a rivalry that has captivated the jumps racing world.

Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth — both trained by powerhouse stables, both unbeaten in their respective campaigns before this season — are the twin poles around which the Champion Hurdle market revolves. Between them, they have won eight of their last nine starts, and the question of which is the superior hurdler will finally be answered on the Cheltenham hill.

The Field at a Glance

The Contenders in Depth

Brighterdaysahead — Gordon Elliott’s Superstar

Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead carries the highest official rating in the field at 171 and the highest topspeed figure at 164. She was a brilliant winner of the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s festival, and she has continued to progress this season. Her form of 14-321 includes a win at the Dublin Racing Festival, where she produced a performance of the highest class.

The concern with Brighterdaysahead is her consistency. She has been beaten on three occasions this season, and her jumping can be slightly untidy at times. However, when she is at her best, she is a horse of exceptional ability, and the Cheltenham hill — where she has never been beaten — seems to bring out the very best in her.

Lossiemouth — Willie Mullins’ Brilliant Mare

Lossiemouth is the reigning Mares’ Hurdle champion, and Willie Mullins has decided to take on the boys in the Champion Hurdle rather than defend her crown in the mares’ race. It is a bold decision, but one that reflects the trainer’s confidence in a horse he regards as one of the best hurdlers he has trained.

Her form of 11-112 includes a second to Brighterdaysahead at the Dublin Racing Festival, and she was beaten a length and a half on that occasion in a race run at a furious pace. She is a superb jumper who travels strongly through her races, and she is a horse who is still improving. At the age of seven, she is entering the prime of her career.

Ballyburn — The Enigmatic Talent

Willie Mullins’ Ballyburn is a horse who divides opinion. He was a brilliant winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the 2024 festival, and he has the raw ability to win a Champion Hurdle. However, he has been beaten on three occasions this season, and his jumping can be erratic when he gets keen. If he settles and jumps cleanly, he is a genuine contender. If he pulls hard and makes mistakes, he will be found wanting.

The Outsiders Worth Considering

Golden Ace (Jeremy Scott) has been one of the most consistent hurdlers in training this season, winning four of his six starts. He is a horse who jumps well and stays strongly, and at a bigger price, he represents each-way value. Wodhooh (Gordon Elliott) is another horse who has been in excellent form, winning his last two starts, and he could be a dark horse at a price.

Historical Trends

The Champion Hurdle has a strong history of favourites winning — the market leader has obliged in seven of the last ten years. However, the race also has a history of producing shock results when the going is soft, and the 2026 going of Soft on the Old Course could play into the hands of the stronger stayers in the field.

Mares have a remarkable record in the Champion Hurdle in recent years, with Honeysuckle winning back-to-back renewals in 2021 and 2022, and Lossiemouth herself finishing third last year. The trend of top-class mares taking on the geldings in the Champion Hurdle is one of the defining features of modern jumps racing.

The Verdict

This is a race between two exceptional mares, and the verdict could go either way. Brighterdaysahead has the higher rating and the better topspeed figure, but Lossiemouth is the more consistent performer and a superb jumper who travels beautifully through her races.

On balance, LOSSIEMOUTH gets the nod. She is a proven Grade 1 performer who is still improving, her jumping is close to flawless, and she has the profile of a horse who will relish the unique demands of the Cheltenham hill. Brighterdaysahead is the danger, and Ballyburn is worth including in any each-way combination at a bigger price.

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