Five races at Cheltenham, five victories. Lossiemouth has made one of jump racing’s most demanding courses look remarkably straightforward. Now the Willie Mullins-trained mare is preparing to defend her Champion Hurdle crown at the 2027 Cheltenham Festival, where a new generation of challengers will be trying to end her unbeaten record at the track.
The Champion Hurdle takes place on Tuesday, 16 March 2027, over approximately two miles and half a furlong. Lossiemouth will be eight by then, the same age as Honeysuckle when she completed consecutive Champion Hurdle victories in 2022.
Winning the race twice in succession is a considerable achievement. Honeysuckle was the last to manage it, following her 2021 victory with another success the following year. Lossiemouth has the ability and the course record to follow her example, but the competition could look rather different next March.
Why Cheltenham Brings Out the Best in Lossiemouth
Some horses need everything to fall into place at Cheltenham. Lossiemouth appears to thrive on the challenge.
Her five appearances at the course have produced five wins, including the Triumph Hurdle, two Mares’ Hurdles and the 2026 Champion Hurdle. The uphill finish, undulating track and demanding jumping test have never prevented her from delivering her best performances.
Her victory in March 2026 was arguably the most convincing of them all. Starting as the 7/5 favourite, she defeated Brighterdaysahead by six and a half lengths, reversing the form of their previous meeting at Leopardstown.
The result was significant because Brighterdaysahead had shown that Lossiemouth was not unbeatable. At Cheltenham, however, the Mullins mare proved far superior.
She subsequently won the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown as the 2/7 favourite, confirming that her Cheltenham performance was no isolated success.
Lossiemouth is quoted at 6/4 with Betfred in the ante-post market, making her the clear favourite for another victory. The price reflects her established superiority, although there is still an entire winter campaign to negotiate before the Festival.
The Younger Horses Looking to Challenge the Champion
The most immediate threat in the betting comes from Mydaddypaddy, trained by Dan Skelton.
Available at 6/1 with Betfred, the six-year-old has already shown considerable promise at Cheltenham. He finished third in the 2026 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle despite being hampered, eventually crossing the line only a length and a half behind the winner.
His earlier victories at Carlisle and Haydock demonstrated his potential, but the Supreme provided stronger evidence that he belongs among the leading young hurdlers.
There is also an interesting historical comparison. Constitution Hill was six when winning the Champion Hurdle in 2023, proving that a relatively inexperienced horse can make the transition from novice company to championship success.
Mydaddypaddy has the advantage of youth and potential improvement. What he lacks is the proven Grade 1 championship form that makes Lossiemouth such a formidable opponent.
The difference between their prices reflects that uncertainty.
Could Brighterdaysahead Turn the Tables Again?
Brighterdaysahead may be a more familiar rival, but her previous victory over Lossiemouth gives her a reason to remain in the conversation.
The Gordon Elliott-trained mare defeated Lossiemouth at Leopardstown before finishing a distant second to her at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
Those two results illustrate how differently races can unfold, even when the same leading horses are involved.
Brighterdaysahead is quoted at 22/1 with Betfred in the ante-post market published on 22 October 2026, a substantial price for a horse who has already beaten the favourite.
However, her Cheltenham performance raises a legitimate concern. Lossiemouth has repeatedly demonstrated her effectiveness at the course, whereas Brighterdaysahead has not produced the same level of form there.
There is also uncertainty about whether Brighterdaysahead will remain over hurdles, with a possible switch to chasing having been discussed.
If the two mares meet again during the winter, the result could provide an important indication of whether the gap between them has narrowed.
Idaho Sun and Alexei Offer Different Challenges
Idaho Sun is among the less exposed contenders in the Champion Hurdle market.
Harry Fry’s runner won his first three races over hurdles, including a notable victory over Mydaddypaddy at Aintree on Boxing Day 2025.
That result is particularly interesting because Mydaddypaddy is considerably shorter in the ante-post betting.
Idaho Sun missed the 2026 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle because of lameness in a hind limb, leaving his ability against the strongest novice hurdlers largely untested.
His previous Cheltenham appearance resulted in sixth place in the 2025 Champion Bumper, but his subsequent improvement over hurdles suggests he could have more to offer.
At 22/1, Idaho Sun represents a different proposition from the established contenders. His potential is evident, but his ability to compete against championship opposition remains uncertain.
Alexei, meanwhile, has already experienced the demands of the Champion Hurdle.
The Joe Tizzard-trained runner finished fourth behind Lossiemouth in March 2026, approximately nine and a half lengths behind the winner. A mistake at the final hurdle prevented him from making a stronger challenge for third place.
He subsequently finished third in the Aintree Hurdle, again showing ability without producing a completely fluent jumping performance.
Alexei is quoted at 20/1. His previous Champion Hurdle experience is an advantage, although he will need to improve his jumping and find additional speed to reverse the form with Lossiemouth.
King Rasko Grey: Another Mullins Star in the Making?
Willie Mullins has developed an extraordinary collection of leading jump horses, and King Rasko Grey could eventually become another major name.
The seven-year-old won the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival before following up in the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
Those victories demonstrated both ability and consistency, but they also created an important question about his future.
King Rasko Grey’s major novice successes came over longer distances than the Champion Hurdle. He may ultimately be better suited to another race or a switch to chasing.
His intended chasing campaign has already been discussed in early-season racing previews, making his participation in the Champion Hurdle far from certain.
He remains prominent in the ante-post betting at 14/1, but his race programme will be worth following before drawing conclusions about his chances of meeting Lossiemouth next March.
Why the Champion Hurdle Market Could Change Before March
The Cheltenham Festival attracts considerable attention months before the first race, but ante-post betting is particularly unpredictable when several leading contenders have alternative targets.
Horses can switch distances, move from hurdling to chasing or miss the Festival altogether.
The Champion Hurdle market is therefore about more than identifying the most talented horse. It also requires an understanding of trainer intentions, likely race conditions and how each contender performs during the winter.
The differences between ante-post and race-day betting are particularly important. Traditional ante-post wagers generally lose if the selected horse does not participate, whereas some later markets offer non-runner-no-bet protection.
For readers following the wider National Hunt season, Bets & Horses provides additional horse racing coverage. Its racing articles offer further context for following Cheltenham contenders and their performances during the build-up to the Festival.
The official Cheltenham Festival website also provides the race programme and event information.
Can Anyone End Lossiemouth’s Winning Streak?
Lossiemouth enters the new season with an advantage that none of her younger challengers can match: she has already proved herself against the best horses in the division and has never been beaten at Cheltenham.
Mydaddypaddy appears the most obvious emerging challenger, while Idaho Sun could become a more serious contender if he continues his improvement. Brighterdaysahead has previously demonstrated that Lossiemouth can be beaten, although repeating that achievement at Cheltenham looks considerably more difficult.
Alexei has the experience to compete at this level, and King Rasko Grey possesses obvious talent, provided the Champion Hurdle remains part of his plans.
For now, Lossiemouth remains the horse everyone else must catch. Another victory would put her alongside Honeysuckle as a back-to-back Champion Hurdle winner and extend one of the most impressive unbeaten records at the Cheltenham Festival.
The next few months will reveal whether the younger generation can finally find a way past her.
Odds referenced from Betfred’s October 2026 ante-post market and may change. Betting is for adults aged 18 and over. Gamble responsibly.
