Lossiemouth Headlines Champion Hurdle Contenders at Cheltenham Festival

The 2026 Cheltenham Festival kicks off today with a highly anticipated Unibet Champion Hurdle, where Willie Mullins’ star mare Lossiemouth is set to challenge for the crown. Lossiemouth heads a field of nine contenders, including last year’s surprise winner Golden Ace and the impressive The Fresh Lion.

Lossiemouth’s Journey to the Champion Hurdle

Lossiemouth, a seven-year-old mare, has an unblemished record at Cheltenham in March. She secured victories in the Triumph Hurdle in 2023 and dominated the Mares’ Hurdle in the past two years. This year, Mullins and owner Rich Ricci have opted to enter her into the prestigious Champion Hurdle, with bookmakers listing her as the 9-4 joint-favourite alongside The New Lion .

Mullins stated that the decision came after discussions with Ricci, and Lossiemouth will race with cheekpieces for the first time .

Key Rivals in the Champion Hurdle

The New Lion, trained by Dan Skelton, arrives at the festival following a win at Cheltenham on Trials day in January. Golden Ace, who unexpectedly won the Champion Hurdle last year after the falls of Constitution Hill and State Man, aims to defend her title for trainer Jeremy Scott .

Gordon Elliott’s mare Brighterdaysahead will likewise compete against the male contenders, alongside Workahead, trained by Henry de Bromhead. Additional British challengers include Alexei from Joe Tizzard and Tutti Quanti from Paul Nicholls .

Looking Ahead

Today’s Champion Hurdle promises a thrilling contest as Lossiemouth attempts to add another victory to her impressive Cheltenham record. The race will be closely watched by racing fans eager to observe if the star mare can live up to expectations and claim the Champion Hurdle crown.