Cheltenham Festival 2026: Champion Hurdle runners, odds and free tips
8 hours ago
PLUMPTON
9 March 2026
Monday 9th March
DragonBet The Roar Before Cheltenham Dragonboosts Handicap Chase (Class 5) Racecard
- Channel:
- Distance: 3m 1f 157y
- Going: Good To Soft
- Runners
- 5
- Type
- Chase Turf
- Surface
- Turf
- Weather
- Mostly cloudy
Selection
Selection
Selected At
Gata Ban
Selected at:
7/2
Hurdle winner was a good second at Fakenham over 2m5f on reappearance in October and although showed little in three starts since, arrives here on the back of a wind operation off a lovely mark. Watch the betting.
Bookmaker
Offer
Best Odds
Bet Here
7/2
-
60/1 Lulamba Or Kopek Des Bordes To Win The Arkle
New customer offer. Max stake £1. Lulamba to Win the Arkle (2:00) on Day 1 of Cheltenham. Winnings paid in cash at normal odds and are topped up to the enhanced price in Free Bet Builders, Accumulators or multiples to use on any sport. Free bets are valid 30 days. Only deposits via Pay by Bank, Cards & Apple Pay will qualify. T&C's apply. Please gamble responsibly. 18+ New customer offer. Max stake £1. Kopek Des Bordes to Win the Arkle (2:00) on Day 1 of Cheltenham. Winnings paid in cash at normal odds and are topped up to the enhanced price in Free Bet Builders, Accumulators or multiples to use on any sport. Free bets are valid 30 days. Only deposits via Pay by Bank, Cards & Apple Pay will qualify. T&C's apply. Please gamble responsibly. 18+ -
Get £30 In Free Bets When You Bet £5
New UK customers. Min £10 first deposit. Place a bet of £5 at min odds of 2.0 and get £30 in Free Bets within 48 hours. Restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. -
Bet £10, Get £40 In Free Bets
New customers only. 00:00 06/03/26 – 23:59 13/03/26. Register with FRED40, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get £20 in Sports Free Bets & £20 in Acca Free Bets within 24 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment exclusions & T&Cs Apply. -
Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bet Multiples
Place a min £10 bet on Sportsbook on odds of min EVS (2.0), get 3x £10 in Free Bet Builders, Accumulators or multiples to use on any sport. Rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via Pay by Bank, Apple Pay or Debit Card will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly. 18+
Racecard
No.(Draw)
Runner
Best Odds
Dominated at Market Rasen last month and should also be suited by this left-handed track
25F331
Age: 10
Weight: 12-0
OR: 95
Days: 20
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Feb 26 | Mar Market Rasen | 24f Sft | 5NvHcCh | 11-7 | 1/6 | Worth The Walk (11L) | 9/2 | 91 | 100 |
| 25 Jan 26 | Sed Sedgefield | 26.5f GS | 5HcCh | 10-12 p1 | 3/11 | Slaney Opera (2¼L) | 8/1 | 91 | 98 |
| 28 Dec 25 | Cat Catterick | 25.5f Gd | 5HcCh | 11-2 | 3/14 | Valence d'Aumont (3¾L) | 11/1 | 91 | 96 |
| 5 Dec 25 | Sed Sedgefield | 26.5f Sft | 5HcCh | 11-2 | F/8 | Upfordebate () | 8/1 | 91 | - |
| 31 Oct 25 | Utt Uttoxeter | 20f GS | 5HcCh | 11-5 | 5/16 | Moor End (11L) | 7/1 | 92 | 92 |
| 5 Oct 25 | Utt Uttoxeter | 24f Gd | 5HcCh | 11-2 | 2/10 | Faitque de L'Isle (4L) | 22/1 | 91 | 96 |
w1
Wind Op - First run after wind operation
Promising second on seasonal/chase debut but subsequent form has been disappointing
V-2666
Age: 9
Weight: 11-9
OR: 90
Days: 50
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jan 26 | Fak Fakenham | 21f GS | 2HcChM | 9-9 p | 6/8 | Belle Montrose (25L) | 17/2 | 97 | 86 |
| 31 Dec 25 | Utt Uttoxeter | 24f GS | 5HcCh | 11-4 p1 | 6/13 | Express Surprise (32L) | 28/1 | 95 | 75 |
| 26 Nov 25 | Mar Market Rasen | 21.5f GS | 5NvHcCh | 12-0 | 6/7 | Lelant (47L) | 9/2 | 97 | 66 |
| 29 Oct 25 | Fak Fakenham | 21f GS | 4HcChM | 11-2 | 2/6 | Fancy Stuff (4½L) | 7/2 | 97 | 97 |
| 12 Feb 25 | Her Hereford | 21.5f GS | 5HcHM | 11-6 | 1/9 | Hellfire Princess (nk) | 11/4F | 92 | 93 |
| 26 Dec 24 | Fon Fontwell | 26f Sft | 4HcH | 10-6 | 4/7 | Shutupshirley (21L) | 13/2 | 94 | 82 |
CD
C&D Winner - Won before on this course at this distance
D
2 x Distance Winner - Won 2 times before at this distance
Cold Recent Form Trainer - 0 wins from 10 in the last 14 days (0%)
Unreliable nowadays but won over C&D two starts ago and is still on a good mark
553313
Age: 11
Weight: 11-8
OR: 89
Days: 8
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 26 | Hun Huntingdon | 23.5f GS | 5HcCh | 11-3 tb | 3/5 | Imperial Pride (30L) | 3/1 | 89 | 69 |
| 9 Feb 26 | Plu Plumpton | 25.5f Sft | 5HcCh | 11-0 tb | 1/6 | Minella Kaiser (2¾L) | 6/1 | 86 | 94 |
| 19 Jan 26 | Lin Lingfield | 23.5f Sft | 5HcCh | 10-11 tb | 3/8 | Icaque de L'Isle (17½L) | 10/1 | 88 | 79 |
| 1 Jan 26 | Wdr Windsor | 24.5f Gd | 5HcCh | 11-4 tb1 | 3/7 | Fortune Dancer (14½L) | 18/1 | 90 | 83 |
| 14 Dec 25 | Sth Southwell | 24.5f GS | 5HcCh | 11-8 tp | 5/8 | Ali Star Bert (41L) | 7/1 | 93 | 63 |
| 26 Nov 25 | Mar Market Rasen | 24f GS | 5HcCh | 11-4 tp | 5/6 | Seasmoke (14L) | 12/1 | 95 | 91 |
Low-mileage 7yo; well held over hurdles last time but second in C&D chase two starts ago
7-3325
Age: 7
Weight: 11-4
OR: 85
Days: 14
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Feb 26 | Plu Plumpton | 25f Sft | 5NvHcH | 11-6 | 5/9 | Junior Des Mottes (34L) | 6/1 | 85 | 58 |
| 9 Feb 26 | Plu Plumpton | 25.5f Sft | 5HcCh | 10-13 | 2/6 | Felton Bellevue (2¾L) | 2/1F | 85 | 89 |
| 26 Dec 25 | Fon Fontwell | 26f GS | 5HcCh | 11-3 | 3/6 | Esperti (8L) | 2/1F | 87 | 89 |
| 17 Nov 25 | Plu Plumpton | 25f Gd | 5NvHcH | 11-3 | 3/6 | Final Straw (17½L) | 15/8 | 89 | 79 |
| 7 Feb 25 | Kem Kempton | 21f GS | 4NvH | 11-5 | 7/8 | Slipway (85L) | 150/1 | - | 43 |
| 18 Jan 25 | Asc Ascot | 21.5f Gd | 3NvH | 11-3 | 6/6 | Jax Junior (50L) | 125/1 | - | 74 |
CD
C&D Winner - Won before on this course at this distance
C
2 x Course Winner - Won 2 times before at this course
D
2 x Distance Winner - Won 2 times before at this distance
Cold Recent Form Trainer - 0 wins from 11 in the last 14 days (0%)
C&D winner in 2024 and took step back in the right direction over hurdles on latest outing
U/P3P5
Age: 8
Weight: 10-6
OR: 73
Days: 57
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jan 26 | Fon Fontwell | 26f Sft | 5HcH | 9-11 p | 5/11 | Mr Griffiths (28L) | 28/1 | 74 | 50 |
| 16 Dec 25 | Wcn Wincanton | 25f Sft | 5HcCh | 10-4 p | PU/10 | Lightonthewing () | 25/1 | 76 | - |
| 1 Dec 25 | Plu Plumpton | 20f GS | 5HcCh | 11-0 | 3/5 | Atreides (64L) | 14/1 | 80 | 31 |
| 17 Nov 25 | Plu Plumpton | 20.5f Gd | 5HcH | 9-10 | PU/9 | Clear Storm () | 10/1 | 80 | - |
| 21 Apr 24 | Str Stratford | 27.5f GS | 5HcCh | 10-8 | UR/10 | Fast Deal () | 2/1F | 83 | - |
| 1 Apr 24 | Plu Plumpton | 25.5f Gd | 5NvHcCh | 9-13 | 1/6 | Furkash (13L) | 15/8F | 74 | 90 |
Verdict
Topweight SCOTTISH KING beat only one other finisher at Market Rasen last month but that was a dominant front-running performance.
Scottish King
Betting Forecast:
2/1 Scottish King,
11/4 Minella Kaiser,
7/2 Felton Bellevue,
11/2 Gata Ban,
7/1 Hilltown
Relevant Tips
No tips currently available.
Top News
Cheltenham Day 1: three outsiders to watch including a 20/1 shot in the Champion Hurdle
9 hours ago
'The bookies will take a pasting if these win' - 32/1 Willie Mullins Day 1 Cheltenham treble
1 day ago
'Horses as exceptional as him are rare' - Liam Bramall's Cheltenham Festival Nap
2 days ago
'Sandown suits him perfectly' - Monster 1,055/1 ITV horses for courses treble
3 days ago