Irish Champion Hurdle

The Irish Champion Hurdle is a prestigious Grade 1 hurdle race and is run over a trip of two miles. The race is run each in late January or early February at Leopardstown Racecourse and is open to horses aged four and older. There are eight flights of hurdles to be jumped. The race has become a firm fixture in the Dublin Racing Festival schedule.

Irish Champion Hurdle Overview

The Irish Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 hurdle race that is run usually in late January or early February at the Dublin Racing Festival. It attracts high-class hurdlers over a trip of two miles. It often serves as a trial for the Champion Hurdle itself at the Cheltenham Festival around six weeks down the line.

The race is run at Leopardstown and there are eight flights of hurdles to be jumped. The race carries a valuable first prize of almost €112,000.

Irish Champion Hurdle Betting Trends and Statistics

The leading trainer in the Irish Champion Hurdle in recent years is Willie Mullins who has won the race nine times. Those eight winners have included Hurricane Fly (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015), Faugheen (2016) and State Man (2023, 2024 & 2025). Other trainers who have recorded multiple wins in the Irish Champion Hurdle are Henry De Bromhead (5), Mrs John Harrington (2) and Colm Murphy (2). A trainer to avoid in this race is Noel Meade. He has attempted to win it six times without success.

Paul Townend is the  leading jockey in the Irish Champion Hurdle in recent years having won the race four times with Hurricane Fly (2011) and State Man (2023, 2024 & 2025). Just behind Townend, Rachael Blackmore has won the race three times with Honeysuckle (2020, 2021 & 2022).

Jockeys to avoid in this particular race include Mark Walsh and Danny Mullins. Between them, they have had twelve rides in the race and they have only managed to be placed once.

Irish Champion Hurdle History

The Irish Champion Hurdle was first established in 1950. It is considered to be one of two Irish races held that are seen as the equivalent to the Champion Hurdle which is held every year at the Cheltenham Festival. The other race is the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.

The race has undergone a number of name changes through the years due to different sponsors. It was sponsored by AIG Europe between 1993 and 2008. Toshiba then took over sponsorship in 2009 and 2010 before BHP Insurance were the race sponsor from 2011 until 2019. Since then, the race has been sponsored by PCI.

This is a very good race in which to back the favourite. Stats show that nine out of the last ten favourites have obliged in this race, with Supasundae (2018) the only horse to win that was not the market leader.

Irish Champion Hurdle Winners