With the 2026 Champion Hurdle having opened right up, Matthew Sutcliffe has given his latest Cheltenham Festival ante-post tip in the race.
Champion Hurdle – Ballyburn 25/1 1pt EW 3 places
The makeup of what looked to be an already muddling Champion Hurdle picture has changed dramatically early on this season. Last year’s winner elect prior to falling at the last, State Man, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Constitution Hill failing to make it past the second in the Fighting Fifth has further dented his hopes, with that hurdle also sending The New Lion tumbling over to pave way for Golden Ace, who is still remarkably the joint fourth favourite in the market at this stage along with William Munny, who it yet to be seen this season.
To add to all of that, the current market leader in Lossiemouth is arguably ten pounds better over the intermediate distance of 2m4f, and there’s still a strong suspicion that she’ll end up in the Mares Hurdle as Rich Ricci knows he has a guaranteed Festival winner there. Not only that, but as a result of Constitution Hill’s season once again put on hold, with the potential for that to become indefinite, his stablemate Sir Gino, who produced one of the most devastating chase debuts last season, is now the second favourite despite not being seen since due to a life-threatening infection one of his near-hind legs.
To wrap that up, the favourite isn’t at her best at the trip and could still yet end up in the Mares’, the second favourite was on the verge of death last season, the third favourite has to back up a fall and still prove he’s sharp enough for this trip in open company, and one of the fourth favourites is last year’s winner and has just beaten the Turners’ winner and the old Champion Hurdle winner in a crucial early season sighter for the contest, though still shares her odds with a horse yet to be seen this season, and the fifth favourite mightn’t see a race course again. Simple?
With the above in mind, it only appears plausible to throw a left field selection in there at this stage and that’s in the form of Ballyburn. By Flemensfirth out of an Old Vic mare, the general consensus was that whatever Ballyburn achieved over shorter than three miles would be a bonus in, but after taking the G1 Ladbrokes Chase in a comfortably manner last season, he failed to step up to three miles in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham for all he lacked fluency over his fences, and it was a similar story when second to Champ Kiely in the Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown next time out.
His chase campaign was concluded with the assumption that he wasn’t a natural over fences, yet he was classy enough to win a Grade One and I’d err on the side that he’s plenty quicker than people give him credit for, and that a drop back to the minimum trip could bring out further improvement in him. Part of this suggestion is that I also think he’s an incredibly deceptive horse, as with most keen goers they naturally fail to see their races out due to the exertion of too much energy, but they also tend to carry their head’s high thus struggling to keep their breathing in rhythm with their stride whereas I don’t think Ballyburn’s ‘keenness’ is a detriment to his ability as he is still able to finish his race off regardless.
His Turners success fascinated me as his head was almost on the floor and he was described to have raced ‘keenly’, but Paul Townend never appeared to be fighting him, he jumped foot perfect throughout and when he did let him go off the bend, he took off within an instant to deliver a devastating turn of foot up the hill, with only the Champion Bumper first and second completing the final four furlongs of their race quicker than Ballyburn across the card. That isn’t a keen horse, nor is it a slow horse.
It’s further worth noting that he was a dual bumper winner over two miles, and while he was beaten by Firefox on seasonal/hurdling debut over two, he was a twenty five length winner next time out prior to successfully dropping back in trip two miles to beat the subsequent Supreme winner Slade Steel by seven lengths. He had that one off the bridle there with ease in a truly run race, clocking the highest finishing speed percentage of 99.25%.
I’d argue there’s a much evidence that he’s as quick for two miles than he is slow for three miles, and I was more than satisfied with his nose defeat to Teahupoo on seasonal return in the Hatton’s Grace given how most of Mullins are a touch behind and the winner is always geared up for that contest. I don’t think he was seen to best effect in a slowly run contest there, but he again displayed a strong turn of foot when given a touch too much to do, and I’d be of the opinion that a strongly run two miles contest under a forcing ride would bring out the best in Ballyburn.
Of course with Willie Mullins, deciphering his Festival darts a week before the curtain raise let alone in December is a near impossible feat, and there is a suspicion that we’ll need something to come left field to top Ballyburn at the head of their number one Stayers’ pitch, but by no means do I believe this is a slow animal and the nature of a Champion Hurdle could lift Ballyburn’s ability into another dimension.
FAQs: Cheltenham Festival ante-post tips
When & where is the Champion Hurdle run?
The Champion Hurdle will take place on Tuesday 10 March 2026 at 4.00pm at the Cheltenham Festival.
When was this Cheltenham ante-post tip published?
The Arkle ante-post tip was published at 9.30am on Tuesday 9 December 2025.
Who is Matty Sutcliffe?
Matty Sutcliffe is one of GG’s newest contributors and is now a regular guest on our flagship Weekend Watch podcast. His angle is value bets, making him a perfect fit for our Cheltenham Festival ante-post series.
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