Champion Hurdle Betting Tips and Race Preview – Cheltenham Festival 2023
The Champion Hurdle is the highlight of day one at the Cheltenham Festival and the highlight of the entire week for many people. This is a great race that puts together the best hurdlers we have over two miles and the race always provides a great outcome, with excitement happening every single year. Let's check our Champion Hurdle Betting 2023 guide.
One of the best things to look at when looking at this race is how the new horses can compete who are coming out of their novice season, and going up against the older horses. These horses do have the chance to make a splash, although it is very tough for them and they have to be of huge quality if they are to make an impression.
The race is a great test of jumping, despite being over the smaller hurdles, because of the speed that they run at. It's just creating different Champion Hurdle trends. This race is unique, it is ran so quickly that horses need to have great two mile speed, but it is such a test that they also need to be able to stay further than two miles. Those who struggle to stay will often be found out going up the hill, and only the best of the best rise to the challenge and drive up the hill to win the race.
Champions Hurdle Tips – Day 1, 15:30
| Favourites | Horse | Odds | Best Bookmaker | Champions Hurdle Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Buveur Dair | 4/1 |  |
Read Buveur Dair Preview Here |
| #2 | Melon | 20/1 |  |
Read Melon Preview Here |
2023 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle Preview
We always see a very big field for the Stan James Champion Hurdle, and with the horses going so quickly that is what gives us the drama and excitement we get. The race is always competitive and with many horses all racing in different stages of their career, we often see a clash of the ages, with young horses trying to beat the older horses.
If there is one horse around right now that can be trusted to turn up in the Champion Hurdle over the next few seasons and potentially dominate then it is Buveur Dair. He won the race last season easily, being one of the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle past winners and followed that up with another easy win at Aintree. He was supposed to go novice chasing, but plans changed and all of a sudden he became a Champion Hurdle contender. He took his chance and at just six years old, he could really dominate this division unless something very special comes up to challenge him and influence his Champion Hurdle results.
Elsewhere, a young up and coming horse that excites me is Melon and he is staying over hurdles this season, so if his season goes to plan then the Champion Hurdle will be his target. He only ran three times as a novice last season, winning on debut before coming second in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham, and then second again at Punchestown. Whatever he did last season he is going to improve for this season and remains a very exciting prospect, he could be in the Champion Hurdle picture by the time we reach March 2023.
Champion Hurdle Tips – Cheltenham 2023
Buveur Dair, Favourite #1
| Favourites | Horse | Odds | Best Bookmaker | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Buveur Dair | 4/1 | |
Bet Now |
Buveur Dair is the one horse who could dominate this division for a number of years and is still young enough to do so. He has shown last season that he can dominate the horses he has beaten, and with only a small number of good horses coming through and staying hurdling, he may have a challenge coming soon.
He has proven that he has the skills required to win the race, he certainly has the speed to win it and can also stay very well up the hill. After winning last season, there is no reason to oppose him again in his quest for a second Champion Hurdle title and Champion Hurdle prize money.
In what is set to be a great feature race on day one, at this stage Buveur Dair looks to be the bet to make it two wins out of two. Should he win another Champion Hurdle then the decision to send him back hurdling instead of staying chasing looks to be a great one. He started improving very much in the Champion Hurdle 2016 and did great ever since.
Melon, Favourite #2
| Favourites | Horse | Odds | Best Bookmaker | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2 | Melon | 20/1 | |
Bet Now |
At this stage, when looking for value in the Champion Hurdle 2023 odds market, Melon looks the one to be on. He is currently a huge price for the race, but if he continues the expected improvement, he will turn up and be much shorter on the day. He is still only young, and with a lot to learn, but in the future he could turn out to be very good.
He ran just three times over hurdles, winning on debut and coming second in two very good races, including at the Cheltenham Festival. He's had great Champion Hurdle odds. He still looked very raw and in need of races when he ran last season and this coming season he is sure to be a different horse. It has been confirmed he is staying over hurdles and looks sure to develop into a very useful horse as he gains experience. When backing this horse, it isn’t about what he has achieved so far, but what he can achieve in the future, which looks very bright.
Champion Hurdle Betting Odds
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Offers | |||||||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Faugheen | 6/4 | 13/8 | 13/8 | 6/4 | 13/8 | 6/4 | 6/4 | 6/4 | 13/8 | 6/4 | 7/4 | 13/8 | |
| Buveur Dair | 3 | 5/2 | 11/4 | 10/3 | 5/2 | 5/2 | 5/2 | 11/4 | 5/2 | 5/2 | 5/2 | 11/4 | |
| Melon | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | |
| Labaik | 16 | ||||||||||||
| Yorkhill | 14 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 16 | |
| Defi Du Seuil | 14 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 16 | 16 | |
| Apples Jade | 16 | 20 | 16 | 20 | 25 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 25 | 16 | 20 | 20 | |
| Min | 20 | 25 | 16 | 16 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 22 | 20 | 16 | |||
| Limini | 25 | 33 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | |
| Wicklow Brave | 33 | 33 | 25 | 33 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 33 | 28 | 25 | 25 | ||
| Each-way terms: | 3 1/4 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 | 3 1/5 |
Cheltenham Champion Hurdle Winners
The Cheltenham Champion Hurdle has been dominated by Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson over the past ten years, those two have a great record in the race. With Buveur Dair in the Henderson stable, and Melon in the Mullins stable, let’s hope they continue their fantastic run in the race.
Last 10 Champion Hurdle Runners Who Won
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Buveur D'Air | B J Geraghty | N.Henderson |
| 2017 | Buveur Dair | N.Fehily | N.Henderson |
| 2016 | Annie Power | R.Walsh | W.Mullins |
| 2015 | Faugheen | R.Walsh | W.Mullins |
| 2014 | Jezki | B.Gerraghty | J.Harrington |
| 2013 | Hurricane Fly | R.Walsh | W.Mullins |
| 2012 | Rock on Ruby | N.Fehily | P.Nicholls |
| 2011 | Hurricane Fly | R.Walsh | W.Mullins |
| 2010 | Binocular | A.P.McCoy | N.Henderson |
| 2009 | Punjabi | B.Gerraghty | N.Henderson |
Leading Trainers
| Wins | Trainer | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | W.Mullins | 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016 |
| 4 | N.Henderson | 2009, 2010, 2017, 2018 |
| 1 | J.Harrington | 2014 |
| 1 | P.Nicholls | 2012 |
Leading Jockeys
| Wins | Jockey | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | R.Walsh | 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016 |
| 3 | B.Gerraghty | 2009, 2014, 2018 |
| 2 | N.Fehily | 2012, 2017 |
| 1 | A.P.McCoy | 2010 |
Cheltenham 2023 Champion Hurdle Race Conditions
This race is not only the highlight of day one of the Cheltenham Festival, but it is also the highlight of the festival for some people. We always see a great race, with many superb horses all battling it out to see who is the best.
The race is ran over the minimum distance of two miles, which means speed is very important. However, it is also important to stay further than two miles, because of the pace this race is ran at and any horse with stamina doubts usually struggles up the hill. The race is for horses who are four year old or older, although it is rare to see novice four year olds taking part in the race, they usually wait and take part after their novice season. Use our Cheltenham Champion Hurdle tips to win!
| Location | Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham England |
| Race Type | Hurdle race |
| Distance | Two miles (2M) |
| Age | Four year and older |
| Surface | Turf |