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2026 Champion Novice Hurdle Preview
The opening Grade 1 race of the Punchestown Festival is the Champion Novice Hurdle, a race that is run over a trip of two miles, half a furlong, where the runners will face nine hurdles. The race is open to novice hurdlers who are aged five or older.
Champion Novice Hurdle Information:
- Champion Novice Hurdle Past Winners
- Champion Novice Hurdle Trainer Statistics
- Champion Novice Hurdle Jockey Statistics
Our dedicated Punchestown tips page will not only bring you predictions from the OLBG racing tipsters for the upcoming card that includes the Champion Novice Hurdle, but will also have predictions for each meeting at Punchestown throughout the season, so be sure to head over there. We cover all of the major races at the Punchestown Festival, and below you can find links to all of the races for each of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday.
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites 2026
How competitive is the Champion Novice Hurdle market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2021, when the race had an over-round of 108%. The race in 2014 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 122%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Champion Novice Hurdle, the over-round has been 115%, which means the bookie expects to pay out ÂŁ100 for every ÂŁ115 which is bet.
Below you will find the 2026 Champion Novice Hurdle Trends. See which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal. We also have a section that looks at the Champion Novice Hurdle Trend Analysis.
These are the top three quickest-run Champion Novice Hurdle races over the last 20 renewals:
- Clopf (3:45.40) in 2007
- Jered (3:47.20) in 2008
- Shot From The Hip (3:49.70) in 2011
Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? Over the past 20 renewals, if you had followed the winner of the Champion Novice Hurdle next time out, then you would have backed a total of 8 winners. Backing all 19 runners who have been out since their win at SP next time out would have returned an LSP of -2.96. Remember to use the racing predictions along with the information on this page to find a bet on the 2026 Champion Novice Hurdle.
The runner that holds the record over the past 20 renewals for the slowest time in the race was set in the 2013 renewal when Jezki from Mrs John Harrington under the guidance of Barry Geraghty, won in a time of 4:10.60, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, Clopf, trained by E J O'Grady and ridden by Barry Geraghty set the quickest time of 3:45.40 in the 2007 renewal.
Champion Novice Hurdle Past Winners
Here are the Champion Novice Hurdle past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the race year, the winning horse, and the horse's age & weight. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the Champion Novice Hurdle are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.
| Year | Horse | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 4:01.60 | Irancy (FR) 7yo 11-12 18/1 | Mark Walsh W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2024 4:07.20 | Mystical Power (IRE) 5yo 11-12 2/1F | Mark Walsh W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2023 4:00.80 | Facile Vega (IRE) 6yo 11-12 4/6F | Paul Townend W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2022 4:02.30 | Mighty Potter (FR) 5yo 11-12 20/1 | Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2021 4:05.30 | Echoes In Rain (FR) 5yo 11-7 8/13F | Mr P W Mullins W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2019 4:00.90 | Klassical Dream (FR) 5yo 11-12 8/13F | R Walsh W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2018 4:03.70 | Draconien (FR) 5yo 11-12 25/1 | Noel Fehily W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2017 3:58.90 | Cilaos Emery (FR) 5yo 11-12 8/1 | David Mullins W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2016 4:03.20 | Dont Touch It (IRE) 6yo 11-12 16/1 | Barry Geraghty Mrs John Harrington (IRE) |
| 2015 4:01.30 | Douvan (FR) 5yo 11-12 1/6F | R Walsh W P Mullins (IRE) |
Where have the winning runners come from?
Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Champion Novice Hurdle have been based:
- IRE: 20 winners with an additional 24 placings from 127 runners
- GB: 0 winners with an additional 4 placings from 15 runners
2025 Champion Novice Hurdle Replay
Champion Novice Hurdle Trainer Statistics
The leading trainer in the Champion Novice Hurdle over the last 20 renewals is W P Mullins, who has won the race eleven times, with those eleven winners coming from Hurricane Fly (2009), Blackstairmountain (2010), Faugheen (2014), Douvan (2015), Cilaos Emery (2017), Draconien (2018), Klassical Dream (2019), Echoes In Rain (2021), Facile Vega (2023), Mystical Power (2024) and Irancy (2025). Other trainers who have recorded multiple wins in the Champion Novice Hurdle are Noel Meade (3 wins), Mrs John Harrington (2 wins) and E J O'Grady (2 wins).
Here are some of the top Champion Novice Hurdle trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| W P Mullins | 43-11-19 | +29.25 | +14.07 |
| Noel Meade | 10-3-3 | +4.50 | +0.10 |
| Mrs John Harrington | 6-2-2 | +14.00 | +7.25 |
| E J O'Grady | 2-2-2 | +7.25 | +4.49 |
| Gordon Elliott | 14-1-5 | +7.00 | +4.59 |
| Thomas Mullins | 5-1-1 | -1.50 | -2.44 |
| Nicky Henderson | 4-0-1 | -4.00 | -2.10 |
| Henry De Bromhead | 4-0-2 | -4.00 | -2.12 |
| A J Martin | 3-0-1 | -3.00 | -1.00 |
| P A Fahy | 3-0-0 | -3.00 | -3.00 |
Champion Novice Hurdle Jockey Statistics
There are two leading jockeys in the Champion Novice Hurdle over the last 20 renewals, with both Paul Townend and Mark Walsh, who have both won the race two times. Paul Townend's winners have been with Blackstairmountain (2010) and Facile Vega (2023). Mark Walsh winners have been with Mystical Power (2024) and Irancy (2025).
Here are some of the top Champion Novice Hurdle jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Townend | 11-2-3 | -3.33 | -4.18 |
| Mark Walsh | 5-2-2 | +17.00 | +9.45 |
| Jack Kennedy | 5-1-4 | +16.00 | +11.69 |
| Mr P W Mullins | 5-1-2 | -3.38 | -2.69 |
| Danny Mullins | 4-0-1 | -4.00 | -3.08 |
| Sean Flanagan | 2-0-0 | -2.00 | -2.00 |
| Jordan Gainford | 2-0-0 | -2.00 | -2.00 |
| Barry Browne | 1-0-1 | -1.00 | +12.00 |
| Conor Orr | 1-0-1 | -1.00 | +4.50 |
| Jonathan Burke | 1-0-1 | -1.00 | +0.13 |
2026 Champion Novice Hurdle Trends
Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 4, 2, 2, 3, 1, 1, 4, 2, 7, 1, 1, 3, 1, 1, 4
The percentage shown is the proportion of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones, as you would expect them to do well.
- 20 / 20 (71%) - Not in a G3/LST/Cl2/Cl5 (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (71%) - Highest Placed is not G3/Cl2-5
- 20 / 20 (72%) - Achieved an RPR of 131+ (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (74%) - Ran in 4 - 9 races (Non-Hcps)
- 20 / 20 (77%) - Achieved an RPR of 136+ (Non-Hcps)
- 20 / 20 (77%) - Break of 12 - 148 days (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (78%) - No bigger than 25/1 (Career)
- 20 / 20 (80%) - Had 2 - 5 placings (180 Days)
- 20 / 20 (80%) - Had 3 - 7 placings (Non-Hcps)
- 20 / 20 (80%) - No bigger than 25/1
- 20 / 20 (81%) - Not in a G3/LST/Cl2/Cl4 (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (82%) - Achieved an RPR of 134+ (Last 3)
- 20 / 20 (82%) - Dam is not GB/ITY/JPN/NZ bred
- 20 / 20 (82%) - Break of 12 - 121 days (Last Place)
- 20 / 20 (82%) - No bigger than 20/1 (Career Place)
Remember to use the trends listed above, along with the Punchestown racing predictions, to see if you can find the winner of the Champion Novice Hurdle. Did you know that we have an OLBG Betting School section on OLBG? It is a place to help you improve your betting experience with articles covering numerous topics.
Are you already a member? If not, then why not? With over ÂŁ6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, it is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then share your thoughts on the Champion Novice Hurdle by adding a tip on the race here.
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Champion Novice Hurdle Trend Analysis
â The trend factor, which has produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +38.04, is when runners ran over 2m last time out.
â The worst performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners had 4 career places in Non-Handicap, when backing these, the trend shows a record of 0-25.
The course which has produced the most winners of the Champion Novice Hurdle is Cheltenham; there have been a total of 8 winners of this race who ran at Cheltenham last time out. The next best course, which has produced the second most winners, is Fairyhouse; there have been a total of 6 winners of this race who ran at Fairyhouse last time out.
The race is open to both sexes, with male runners having produced a total of 19 winners from a total of 136 runners, while female runners have produced 1 winner from a total of 6 runners.
Looking over the past renewals, there is only one stallion whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Champion Novice Hurdle; that stallion, Walk In The Park, has produced 2 winners (2023,2015).
Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Draconien in 2018, winning for W P Mullins at odds of 25/1 under the guidance of Noel Fehily. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals, there have been 10 winning favourites in the race. Remember to use the best racing tipsters along with the information on this page to find a bet on the 2026 Champion Novice Hurdle.
Route to the Champion Novice Hurdle
Many trainers target races as preparation for the Champion Novice Hurdle. These are the races which the recent winners ran in before coming here:
| Info | Last Race |
|---|---|
| 2025 - Irancy Fairyhouse - 1st of 8 (5/1) | Donohue Marquees Novice Hurdle |
| 2024 - Mystical Power Aintree - 1st of 6 (11/10) | Top Novices' Hurdle |
| 2023 - Facile Vega Cheltenham - 2nd of 14 (9/4) | Supreme Novices' Hurdle |
| 2022 - Mighty Potter Cheltenham - PU of 9 (15/2) | Supreme Novices' Hurdle |
| 2021 - Echoes In Rain Fairyhouse - 1st of 9 (2/1) | Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Novice Hurdle |
| 2019 - Klassical Dream Cheltenham - 1st of 16 (6/1) | Supreme Novices' Hurdle |
| 2018 - Draconien Fairyhouse - 2nd of 9 (16/1) | Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle |
| 2017 - Cilaos Emery Cheltenham - 5th of 14 (12/1) | Supreme Novices' Hurdle |
| 2016 - Dont Touch It Naas - 3rd of 8 (13/8) | Paddy Power Shops Better Value Novice Hurdle |
| 2015 - Douvan Cheltenham - 1st of 12 (2/1) | Supreme Novices' Hurdle |
Schedule for Tuesday at the Punchestown Festival
The highlight on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival is the Grade 1 Champion Chase, which carries a purse of âŹ300,000. There are also two other Grade 1 races on the card with the Champion Novice Hurdle and the Champion Novice Chase.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle | Ascending Lark (GB) 7yo - 8/1 | Harry Derham Paul O'Brien |
| Champion Novice Hurdle | Irancy (FR) 7yo - 18/1 | W P Mullins Mark Walsh |
| Punchestown Champion Novice Chase | Champ Kiely (IRE) 9yo - 22/1 | W P Mullins Danny Mullins |
| Goffs Defender Bumper | Wonderful Everyday (IRE) 4yo - 16/1 | W P Mullins Miss R Dudfield |
| Punchestown Champion Chase | Marine Nationale (IRE) 8yo - 2/1 | Barry Connell Sean Flanagan |
Schedule for Wednesday at the Punchestown Festival
The Punchestown Gold Cup is the feature on day two of the festival. This Grade 1 is worth âŹ300,000 and is one of three G1 races on the card, with the Channor Novice Hurdle and Champion I.N.H. Flat Race being the others.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Channor Group Novice Hurdle | Jasmin De Vaux (FR) 6yo - 13/8 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| Champion INH Flat Race | Bambino Fever (IRE) 5yo - 11/8 | W P Mullins Miss J Townend |
| Punchestown Handicap Chase | James Du Berlais (FR) 9yo - 7/1 | W P Mullins J J Slevin |
| Punchestown Gold Cup | Galopin Des Champs (FR) 9yo - 5/6 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
Schedule for Thursday at the Punchestown Festival
Two Grade 1 races feature on day three, the highlight of those two being the âŹ300,000 Champion Stayers Hurdle, the other is the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle | Jeriko Du Reponet (FR) 6yo - 13/2 | Nicky Henderson James Bowen |
| Frontline Security Handicap Chase | Petit Tonnerre (FR) 7yo - 16/1 | Jonjo & A J O'Neill Richie McLernon |
| Barberstown Castle Novice Chase | Majborough (FR) 5yo - 4/11 | W P Mullins Mark Walsh |
| Champion Stayers Hurdle | Teahupoo (FR) 8yo - 5/4 | Gordon Elliott Sam Ewing |
Schedule for Friday at the Punchestown Festival
The Champion Hurdle is the feature on the Saturday; this Grade 1 is worth âŹ300,000 and is one of two Grade 1s on the card, with the Champion Novice Hurdle being the other.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Punchestown Listed Novice Handicap Chase | Sea Music (IRE) 7yo - 28/1 | Emmet Mullins Donagh Meyler |
| Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle | Final Demand (IRE) 6yo - 7/4 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| Punchestown Champion Hurdle | State Man (FR) 8yo - 9/4 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
Schedule for Saturday at the Punchestown Festival
The final day of the Punchestown Festival sees a couple of Grade 1 races, which both carry purses of âŹ125,000, and those are the Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle and the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle | Jade De Grugy (FR) 6yo - 1/1 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle | Lulamba (FR) 4yo - 11/10 | Nicky Henderson James Bowen |
| Punchestown Listed Handicap Hurdle | Hey Sunshine (IRE) 6yo - 11/2 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
Article Contributor Information
We are fortunate to have an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to the creation and maintenance of this Champion Novice Hurdle Preview are Andy and Darren. They both work on the Horse Racing Tips team, overseeing the tipsters and managing the tip settlement, while also creating and managing all the horse racing event previews for National Hunt Racing.
Darren Brett
Expert Guide
Andy Powell
Expert Guide
Other Principal Races at the Punchestown Racecourse
Here are some other notable races at the Punchestown racecourse throughout the racing season that you may be interested in.
