The Boodles Champion Hurdle is one of the feature Grade 1 events of the Punchestown Festival, run over 2 miles and 45 yards for four‑year‑olds and upwards, with a total prize fund of 300,000 euros.
It is Ireland’s premier end‑of‑season two‑mile hurdle, and this year’s renewal has seven declared runners and will be run on yielding ground, conditions that should produce a fair test of speed and stamina.
Lossiemouth, fresh from a dominant Champion Hurdle success at Cheltenham, is odds‑on across the board and is expected to confirm her status as the leading two‑mile hurdler in training.
With William Munny, Golden Ace, and several solid Grade 1 and high‑class handicap performers in opposition, the race offers a clear line on the pecking order in the division going into next season.
Lossiemouth
Lossiemouth is a seven‑year‑old grey mare from the Willie Mullins yard, rated 172 and unbeaten in four visits to Cheltenham, where her wins include the Triumph Hurdle, two Mares’ Hurdles, and this season’s Champion Hurdle.
She was impressive when beating Brighterdaysahead by six and a half lengths in the Champion Hurdle on good to soft ground, with cheekpieces applied for the first time to good effect.
Earlier in the season, she beat the same rival in the Morgiana and Matheson Hurdles at Leopardstown and sluiced up here at Punchestown in the Morgiana equivalent, winning by 19 lengths from Glen Kiln over slightly further.
She is a star mare, and she has an unblemished record at this track, so current odds around 1/4 reflect a very solid profile.
Champion Hurdle Odds
| No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Lossiemouth | W P Mullins | Paul Townend | 1/4 |
| 5 | William Munny | Barry Connell | Sean Flanagan | 17/2 |
| 2 | Anzadam | W P Mullins | Danny Mullins | 14/1 |
| 6 | Golden Ace | Jeremy Scott | Lorcan Williams | 14/1 |
| 4 | Wilful | Jonjo & A J O’Neill | Jonjo O’Neill Jr. | 16/1 |
| 1 | Absurde | W P Mullins | H Cobden | 40/1 |
| 3 | Glen Kiln | David Harry Kelly | Brian Hayes | 100/1 |
William Munny
William Munny, trained by Barry Connell, is an eight‑year‑old gelding and an upwardly mobile novice stepping into open Grade 1 company.
He was an easy winner of a listed novice at Punchestown in February and then ran a huge race at Cheltenham when second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, beaten only by one and three-quarters lengths by Kopek Des Bordes.
Connections have long talked him up, suggesting he has the talent to be very competitive at the top level.
He has settled better since a hood was applied and now jumps more fluently, which will be vital in a race where the pace is likely to be strong from an early stage.
Golden Ace
Golden Ace is an eight‑year‑old mare for Jeremy Scott, who won last season’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham when left in front at the last after State Man fell.
She then followed it up with a fine second to State Man in this race at Punchestown, beaten just under five lengths.
This season she has won the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, beating Anzadam by a length and a half, and finished second to Sir Gino at Kempton and fifth to Lossiemouth in the latest Cheltenham Champion Hurdle.
Yielding ground at Punchestown should be more suitable, and she is trading between at around 14/1, making her a realistic each‑way contender given her proven Grade 1 form and prior good run at this meeting.
Anzadam
Anzadam is a six‑year‑old gelding from the Mullins stable who has progressed rapidly from French imports’ races into Grade 1 company.
This season, he chased home Golden Ace in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, then finished fourth to Lossiemouth in the Matheson Hurdle and seventh to her in the Champion Hurdle, having made a shocking blunder at the second flight, which left him playing catch‑up.
He can race keenly but has the tools to be a Grade 1 horse if his enthusiasm can be controlled. Current odds around 14/1 seem fair given he has yet to get near Lossiemouth when both complete cleanly.
Glen Kiln
Glen Kiln, trained by David Kelly, is a tough and likeable seven‑year‑old who has developed from handicaps into a solid graded performer.
He landed a Grade 3 at Naas in January, then chased home El Fabiolo here and, earlier in the season, was a distant second to Lossiemouth in a Grade 1 over this course and trip, beaten by 19 lengths.
His latest run at Fairyhouse in April saw him weaken into eighth behind Slade Steel, and that was his first outing since January, so he may strip fitter now.
His trainer has noted that he is a really smart hurdler who might make a good novice chaser next season, suggesting his ceiling at this level over hurdles may be just below top class.
Wilful
Wilful is a seven‑year‑old from Jonjo and A J O’Neill and now gets his first shot at Grade 1 level over hurdles.
He arrives in excellent form, having won the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in March by three lengths from Sticktotheplan, following earlier valuable handicap victories at Ascot and consistent placed efforts in strong two‑mile races.
He typically races handily and finds plenty up the hill, traits that should translate well to Punchestown’s finish, although he now faces established Grade 1 performers for the first time.
Current quotes around 16/1 look fair, and he is a reasonable each‑way alternative for those wanting to oppose the favourite without taking on the very short prices in the win market.
Absurde
Absurde is an eight‑year‑old dual‑purpose gelding, best known for his exploits on the Flat, including two attempts at the Melbourne Cup, and as a high‑class handicap hurdler.
More recently, he finished second to Ndaawi in a Cork hurdle in April, staying on but not having the pace to challenge late on, which suggests he remains a bit of a long shot in the betting.
In a small‑field Grade 1 against specialist two‑mile hurdlers, he looks up against it on ratings.
Who Will Win the 2026 Boodles Champion Hurdle?
Lossiemouth brings the strongest form, the best official rating, and a perfect record at Punchestown, having already beaten Glen Kiln decisively here and brushed aside top opposition in the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle.
She also handles the forecast, yielding ground, and has the tactical speed to adapt to whatever pace scenario develops in a small field.
William Munny appeals most as the one to chase her home, given his upward trajectory, impressive Supreme Novices’ second and prior easy win at Punchestown, plus the likelihood that a strong end‑to‑end gallop will play to his stamina.
Golden Ace is respected for a place, especially back on slightly easier ground at a track where she has already run very well, while Wilful looks capable of outrunning his price but still faces a sizeable class rise.
A likely finishing order is Lossiemouth first, William Munny second, and Golden Ace third, with Wilful and Anzadam next best.
BETFRED
