15.20
SoftIrish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
- Prize money: £92561.98
- 2m 0f 0y
- 5 runners
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Runners: 5 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
5/4 (Won)
- Win: £2.25
- Place: £1.30
Form: 111-23 CD BF
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 168
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 |
2nd May 2025 Yielding 2m 0f 45y |
11st 12lb |
made all, jumped well, 3 lengths ahead halfway, reduced lead after 4 out, pushed along and went clear again approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in |
5/4 |
|
1st 3 |
2nd May 2025 Yielding 2m 0f 45y |
11st 12lb |
made all, jumped well, 3 lengths ahead halfway, reduced lead after 4 out, pushed along and went clear again approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in |
5/4 |
|
4 |
11th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 87y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Beaten twice by Brighterdaysahead this season, flopping badly on the second occasion, and was gifted a third Irish Champion Hurdle last month as main rival Lossiemouth fell; won a substandard edition of this race last year and was no match for highly impressive Constitution Hill 12 months earlier; dependable in the main and has a voluminous Grade 1 tally but a second Champion Hurdle win looks far from certain; wears first-time headgear. |
10/1 |
50/1
- Place: £4.20
Form: -50135 D
Last run: 71 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 147
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 |
25th May 2026 Good 2m 2f 72y |
11st 2lb |
Grade 3 and Listed winner over hurdles and rated 152; last sighted finishing well beaten in Southwell Flat maiden won by Constitution Hill; not seen over timber since Sussex Champion Hurdle second at Plumpton in April 2025; best treated by race conditions and the one to beat; cheekpieces on. |
11/10 |
|
9th 4 (1) |
20th Feb 2026 Standard 1m 4f 14y Class 2 |
9st 6lb |
Not as good a hurdler as Constitution Hill but he's smart, finishing a flattering second to State Man in last year's Irish Champion Hurdle and then competitive in two strong handicaps; last seen beaten at odds-on in a 1m5f maiden at Ballinrobe but that's turned out to be a strong race and he reportedly finished lame; ability much respected on this AW debut. |
9/2 |
16/1
Form: 414332 CD
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 12lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 150
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 |
1st Nov 2025 Good 3m 0f 26y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
11yo who appeared to be outstayed when fourth, beaten about 8l, in the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown (extended 2m7f, yielding) in May; however, that was still a good performance in today's context and he's fit from the Flat; possible player for top Irish stable. |
8/1 |
|
4th 4 |
1st Nov 2025 Good 3m 0f 26y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
11yo who appeared to be outstayed when fourth, beaten about 8l, in the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown (extended 2m7f, yielding) in May; however, that was still a good performance in today's context and he's fit from the Flat; possible player for top Irish stable. |
8/1 |
|
14 (11) |
11th Oct 2025 Good 2m 2f 0y Class 2 |
8st 5lb |
Aged 11 but he's a seriously unexposed, dark horse on Flat; smart hurdles form in Grade 1s in August 2024-May 2025; three Irish maiden races are all he's contested on Flat, when runner-up twice last year (2m/1m6f) and winning by a short head this August (2m) but he's not been hit hard with this opening Flat mark and having Willie Mullins as his trainer demands respect. |
12/1 |
40/1
Form: 34-4P4 C
Last run: 8 days
W: 11st 12lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 144
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
18th Jul 2025 Good 2m 1f 0y |
11st 9lb |
Mostly hurdling this year and has faced some stiff competition but acquitted himself well at times; sole win over fences came in 2020 and pulled-up last chase start in January. |
14/1 |
|
7th 8 |
3rd Jul 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 0y |
11st 1lb |
Won this in 2023 but hasn't looked the force of old this year and arrives on the back of a low-key effort. |
25/1 |
|
5th 1 |
6th Jun 2025 Good 2m 3f 203y |
11st 12lb |
Has plenty of back-class and didn't run at all badly in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham; however, it was off level weights when just ahead of My Gaffer last time and will need to run better to win this, even with Finn Brickley taking off 7lb. |
7/2 |
4/5
Form: 111-12 CD
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Filly
OR: 160
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 7 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 45y |
11st 5lb |
One of three for trainer; prolific and highly talented mare justified decision to line up in this year's Champion Hurdle when adding a tenth Grade 1 win to her tally (14-18 overall) in good style; had both Anzadam and Golden Ace well behind her on that occasion; 3-3 at this venue, including when 19l in front of Glen Kiln in this season's Morgiana Hurdle; this looks easier than Cheltenham and she's ground-versatile; shock result if she doesn't win. |
4/9 |
|
1st 9 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 87y Class 1 |
11st 3lb |
Versatile as regards ground; prolific and highly talented mare whose record of 13-17 features nine Grade 1 wins, including three at this meeting (Triumph and two Mares' Hurdles); 4-4 at this venue overall; failed to justify favouritism in the Irish Champion Hurdle most recently but ran creditably without managing to confirm December placings with Brighterdaysahead; has less to prove than that rival back at Cheltenham and holds a big chance at the weights; wears headgear for the first time. |
13/8 |
|
2nd 6 |
1st Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 0f 0y |
11st 5lb |
Winner of 13 of her 16 starts; bypassed the 2025 Champion Hurdle, instead winning the Mares' Hurdle readily; previously, fell mid-race in this race and beaten just over 2l by Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle; easy winner of Aintree Hurdle after Constitution Hill's fall; had a straightforward task in the Morgiana on return, and was too strong for the reappearing Brightedaysahead here at Christmas. |
10/11 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | €18.20 |
| Straight Forecast | €24.77 |
| Trifecta | €67.80 |
Selections
The Irish Sun:
State Man