Champion Hurdle Runners 2026: All nine declared as Lossiemouth faces date with destiny

All nine horses confirmed for the 2026 Champion Hurdle have been declared to Tuesday’s feature at the Cheltenham Festival.

They include Lossiemouth, who gets a belated first try at hurdling’s greatest prize. The seven-year-old has won the Mares’ Hurdle with disdain for the last two seasons, sidestepping this race last season. However, with stablemate State Man out and the Willie Mullins yard lacking depth in this division, she gets her chance at last.

Mullins announced his intentions to run her in this race to the Sporting Life on Saturday: “Rich and I have been in dialogue on her target and after we spoke after racing at Gowran it has been decided that Lossiemouth will run in the Champion Hurdle.

“With the declaration timing she was always going to travel over to England when she has and we’re happy to let her take her chance on Tuesday where she’ll wear cheekpieces.”

Brighterdaysahead seeks Cheltenham redemption

She was beaten last time out at the Dublin Racing Festival by Brighterdaysahead. Gordon Elliott’s mare has a chequered history at Cheltenham, being beaten at short odds for the last two Festivals.

She was surprisingly defeated by Golden Ace in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in 2024. Then, when close market rivals Constitution Hill and State Man fell last season, she could not take advantage in the Champion Hurdle of 2025, finsihing out of the places.

Golden Ace also won that race and returns to defend her title. Jeremy Scott’s mare claimed another Grade 1 in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle earlier this campaign. She has been kept fresh since finishing second to Sir Gino in the Christmas Hurdle.

Judgement day for The New Lion

Unbeaten over hurdles when completing, The New Lion now steps up to the very highest level. Dan and Harry Skelton have long been bullish about their charge, who won the Turners Novices’ Hurdle a year ago.

He has been dropped in trip to 2m for this campaign, falling when in front in the Fighting Fifth. A confidence-booster in the Unibet Hurdle on Trials Day though showed that he possesses unique ability. The main question will be his suitability for the sharp Old Course trip.

Mullins sends duo to back up Lossiemouth

Willie Mullins has three contenders for the Champion Hurdle even in State Man’s absence. Backing up Lossiemouth are Anzadam and 2025 Triumph Hurdle stunner Poniros.

Both were well-beaten behind Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth at Leopardstown. However, the former arrived with a tall reputation this season, while the latter was having his first run of the season. Connections of each will hope they can contend in an open renewal.

Open renewal leads outsiders to declare

All nine confirmations have been declared, ensuring Alexei, Tutti Quanti and Workahead will be a part of the field.

Alexei was an impressive winner of the Greatwood Hurdle earlier this season. He and Tutti Quanti rate as the improvers int he line-up, with the latter storming away to success in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury. Paul Nicholls and connections supplemented the six-year-old for this race.

Workahead is the outsider of the field. he flopped in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but has been working his way back to form for a yard which always punches above its weight at Cheltenham.

The Champion Hurdle will take place at 4pm on Tuesday 10 March.

2026 Champion Hurdle Runners