Cheltenham Champion Hurdle Betting Offers 2024
The Champion Hurdle is the feature race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, so get your adrenaline flowing ahead of time by checking out the runners and riders to look out for, the key trends to track and the 2024 Champion Hurdle betting offers and free bets.
Cheltenham Champion Hurdle 2024 betting offers and free bets
Bookmakers usually target the Champion Hurdle with offers for both new and existing customers, last year saw new and existing Cheltenham Festival bettors benefit from very generous Super Boosts of Evens for Constitution Hill to win the Champion Hurdle. Check back to see if any similar prices are available, as we’ll be promoting the most relevant and appealing Champion Hurdle offers on the market.
| Best Champion Hurdle betting sites | Best Champion Hurdle free bets offers |
|---|---|
| 🎁 Paddy Power Cheltenham offer | £1-£25 daily free bet for existing customers – use it on the Champion Hurdle* |
| 🎁 William Hill Cheltenham offer | £5 daily free bet for existing customers – use it on the Champion Hurdle** |
| 🎁 Matchbook Cheltenham offer | Bet £50 on State Man in the Champion Hurdle and get £50 back if it loses*** |
*Online Exclusive. Opt-in required. Max one free bet per customer per day. Must have previously deposited with a debit card, Apple Pay or Paysafe to avail of the offer. Free bet varies from £1 – £25. T&Cs apply.
**Opt in required. Valid from 7am 26th Feb to 5.45pm on 15th March. Max 1x£5 free bet per customer, per day on any Cheltenham races. Free bet expires 5.45pm each day, redemption events apply. Online and in-shop. Player restrictions, free bets capping limits and T&Cs apply.
***New Customers Only. Sign up to Matchbook with Bonus Code: STATEMAN. Bet £50 on State Man to win the 15:30 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival 2024 on 12/03/2024. If it loses you will receive 1x £50 Free bet to use on the Matchbook Exchange. Free Bet paid within 24 hours of settlement of qualifying market. Exclusions Apply. 18+ Only. T’s and C’s Apply. Be Gamble Aware.
Champion Hurdle – What you need to know
The Gold Cup may be the first race that comes to mind at the Cheltenham Festival, but the Champion Hurdle is a huge highlight in its own right.
How long is the Champion Hurdle, when’s it held and where’s it run?
The Champion Hurdle takes place on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival as the feature race, and is run over slightly longer than two miles. This relatively short distance compares with over three miles for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and in excess of four miles for the marathon that is the Aintree Grand National.
Because of their different distances, it is rare to see the best horses from the Champion Hurdle go on to take part in the Grand National, or even in the Gold Cup. Nevertheless, the roll of honour includes some of the best hurdlers ever seen, including Istabraq, Hardy Eustace, Hurricane Fly, and more recently Epatante and Honeysuckle.
Champion Hurdle 2024 confirmed runners
The confirmed runners for the Cheltenham Festival’s 2024 Champion Hurdle will be finalised in the days and hours leading up to the race, but ante-post betting has been available ever since last year’s race, with bookmakers realising the interest in a race of this stature.
The most likely 2024 Champion Hurdle runners are currently as follows:
- State Man
- Irish Point
- Iberico Lord
- Zarak The Brave
- Luccia
- Not So Sleepy
- Nemean Lion
- Colonel Mustard
It’s worth taking note of which bookies offer Non Runner No Bet insurance if you’re considering placing a bet before raceday. This gives you peace of mind by refunding any bets on horses that don’t go on to take part in the race for any reason, whether that’s injury or being entered into a different race.
Cheltenham Champion Hurdle favourites and tips
The top 6 horses are listed below alongside their biggest achievements to date and current 2024 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle betting odds.
| Horse | Most notable win | 2024 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle odds* |
|---|---|---|
| State Man | 2023 Punchestown Champion Hurdle | 4/11 |
| Irish Point | 2023 Christmas Hurdle | 6/1 |
| Iberico Lord | 2023 Triumph Hurdle | 11/1 |
| Nemean Lion | 2024 Kingwell Hurdle | 22/1 |
| Zarak The Brave | 2023 Galway Hurdle | 25/1 |
| Not So Sleepy | 2023 Fighting Fifth | 33/1 |
| Luccia | 2023 Betfair Exchange Trophy | 40/1 |
| Colonel Mustard | 2021 Corrib Oil Maiden Hurdle | 50/1 |
*All Cheltenham Champion Hurdle odds last updated on 12th March and subject to change.
With Constitution Hill ruled out of the race, State Man is now a heavy favourite. However, there remains a number of rivals that shouldn’t be discounted for the Champion Hurdle. Here we look at why State Man is well fancied and other potential winners.
State Man
State Man may have finished well adrift of Constitution Hill in the 2023 Champion Hurdle, but he has bounced back well with three convincing win of his own in Ireland, getting the better of the likes Impaire Et Passe and Vauban. As such, State Man looks to be the current favourite since 2023 Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill is out of the running.
If State Man is the horse for you, it’s a great time to sign up with Matchbook, in the knowledge you can back it for up to £50 with the safety net of receiving £50 back if it loses.
New Customers Only. Sign up to Matchbook with Bonus Code: STATEMAN. Bet £50 on State Man to win the 15:30 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival 2024 on 12/03/2024. If it loses you will receive 1x £50 Free bet to use on the Matchbook Exchange. Free Bet paid within 24 hours of settlement of qualifying market. Exclusions Apply. 18+ Only. T’s and C’s Apply. Be Gamble Aware.)
Irish Point
Irish Point raced 6 times in 2023 and won 4 times. These wins came in his last 4 races and trainer Gordon Elliott will be hoping to continue this good form at Cheltenham. Due to this great form, there is definitely the possibility of Irish Point pulling off a surprise victory.
Nemean Lion
Nemean Lion has raced twice in 2024, winning the Kingwell Hurdle and coming 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle at Kempton. The 7 year old horse raced at Cheltenham in November 2023, but finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle race.
Iberico Lord
A duo of impressive wins in recent months have raised the belief that this 6-year-old could trouble the favourites in the Champion Hurdle. The youngster will have to improve to land a blow, but the impressive Betfair Hurdle performance means he can’t be discounted.
Zarak The Brave
Stablemate to the Champion Hurdle favourite State Man, a battling win at Naas in January showed he possesses a ton of heart. It will take a career-best performance to challenge at Cheltenham, but if there’s one trainer that could get that out of him, it’s Willie Mullins.
Not So Sleepy
Trainer Hughie Morrison will be happy with how Not So Sleepy has been performing lately. The 12 year old won at Sandown in December and also won at Newbury in September. Not So Sleepy raced at Cheltenham last year, featuring in the Champion Hurdle, but only managed to finished 5th.
Cheltenham Champion Hurdle past winners
The list of previous Champion Hurdle winners is something of a who’s who of jumps racing. A number of horses have won the race more than once, but securing three wins has proven to be a much rarer feat, most recently accomplished by Istabraq at the turn of the century. With Constitution Hill out of the running, a new horse will be claiming bragging rights in the Champion Hurdle.
- 2023 – Constitution Hill (4/11 fav)
- 2022 – Honeysuckle (8/11 fav)
- 2021 – Honeysuckle (11/10 fav)
- 2020 – Epatante (2/1 fav)
- 2019 – Espoir d’Allen (16/1)
- 2018 – Buveur d’Air (4/6 fav)
- 2017 – Buveur d’Air (5/1)
- 2016 – Annie Power (5/2 fav)
- 2015 – Faugheen (4/5 fav)
- 2014 – Jezki (9/1)
- 2013 – Hurricane Fly (13/8 fav)
- 2012 – Rock On Ruby (11/1)
- 2011 – Hurricane Fly (11/4 fav)
- 2010 – Binocular (9/1)
Cheltenham Champion Hurdle betting trends
We all like to have an edge when placing our bets, and looking at trends is a popular way of finding one. We’ve gone back through previous Champion Hurdles to see if there are any notable recurring themes in previous winners, making it easier to narrow down the list of potential Champion Hurdle winners.
Key Cheltenham Champion Hurdle betting trends
- 11/11 – Had previously won at least 4 races
- 10/11 – Had raced at Cheltenham previously
- 10/11 – Won at single-figure odds (9/1 or less)
- 9/11 – Won their most recent race
- 8/11 – Won by the favourite
- 8/11 – Aged 7 years old or less
- 7/11 – Had won at Cheltenham previously
- 5/11 – Won at the Cheltenham Festival in the previous year
- 4/11 – Nicky Henderson was trainer
- 3/11 – W P Mullins was trainer
- 1/11 – Aged 9 years old or older
Based on the above betting trends, a younger horse with Cheltenham experience, coming to the Festival off the back of a win, is going to appeal, while it is far less important to look for a horse that has actually won over the Prestbury Park fences.
How to watch and stream the 2024 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle
If you’re betting on the Cheltenham Festival, you’ll no doubt want to see how the races unfold, and in some cases you can do so on ITV. However not every race is screened live on free-to-air TV, so it’s worth looking for bookmakers streaming the whole event as an alternative option, especially as many offer this option without asking for any outlay.
Watching an online stream of the Cheltenham Festival on a bookmaker’s site also gives you the ability to cash out your bets midrace, locking in any profits or limiting losses, so work out the best option in advance of race day.
Cheltenham Champion Hurdle FAQs
What date is Cheltenham Champion Hurdle 2024?
The Cheltenham Festival is usually scheduled for the same week as St Patrick’s Day, with the Champion Hurdle acting as the main event on the opening day. That means this year’s race will take place on Tuesday 12th March 2024.
Who won the Champion Hurdle 2023?
Constitution Hill won the 2023 in dominant fashion, justifying punters who backed him at heavily odds-on.
What time is 2024 Champion Hurdle Cheltenham?
The Champion Hurdle is scheduled to start at 3.30pm on Tuesday 12th March 2024.
Has any horse won the Champion Hurdle three times?
Five horses have won the Champion Hurdle on three occasions, with Istabraq completing the feat most recently between 1998 and 2000.
What is the prize money for the Champion Hurdle in 2024?
Currently, the total prize fund for the 2024 Champion Hurdle is £450,000. The winner of the race receives £253,215, whilst the remaining £196,785 in the prize pot is paid out to those who finish in the top 8.
Why is Constitution Hill not running in the 2024 Champion Hurdle?
It has been confirmed by trainer Nicky Henderson that 2023 Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill has been ruled out of Cheltenham Festival. This is due to blood test results revealing that the horse is not fit enough to commence serious training at this current time.
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