Bet £10 and get £40 in free bets

Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets

Credited As 4 x £10 Bets

Credited As 2 x £15 Bets

Champion Hurdle betting

The Champion Hurdle is the 2m hurdling championship race of the season and is staged on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Ante-post Champion Hurdle odds are available all year round and it’s one of the top Cheltenham Festival betting races.

Champion Hurdle betting features a clash of the best hurdlers in Britain and Ireland. Famous past winners include Istabraq, Sea Pigeon, Dawn Run and See You Then.

Champion Hurdle betting tips

Almost all Champion Hurdle winners either won or were placed in their last race before Cheltenham.

Around half of them had previous form at the course. Most winners of this race had won at least five times over hurdles and raced twice or more that season.

Many former winners had already achieved at least one graded-race victory and had their last race within 50 days of the Cheltenham Festival.

Irish-bred horses have the best recent record, although Espoir D’Allen’s 2019 victory was a third consecutive success for French-bred horses.

Irish trainers have a good recent record in this race, notably Willie Mullins, who was responsible for Hurricane Fly, Faugheen and Annie Power.

Annie Power (2016) was the first winning mare in the Champion Hurdle since Flakey Dove in 1994. She became a hot Champion Hurdle tip when Mullins re-routed her from the Stayers’ Hurdle after an injury to ante-post favourite Faugheen.

Previous winners often return to repeat their victory. See You Then (1985- 1987) became the fifth horse to win the Champion Hurdle three times. He was trained by Nicky Henderson who was also successful with Punjabi (2009), Binocular (2010) and Buveur D’Air (2017, 2018).

The official ratings for recent Champion Hurdle winners have usually been 162 or higher.

Champion Hurdle betting trends

Favourites have a mixed record in the Champion Hurdle in recent seasons. Hurricane Fly returned favourite for both of his victories in 2011 and 2013, but was beaten at odds-on in 2012. Faugheen (2015) and Annie Power (2016) were also heavily-backed winning favourites from the Willie Mullins stable.

Buveur D’Air returned 5/1 second favourite in 2017 and was 4/6 favourite when retaining his crown the following year. He featured strongly in Champion Hurdle bets when attempting a hat-trick in 2019, but fell at the third hurdle. The race went to 16/1 shot Espoir D’Allen.

Punjabi (2009) was 22/1, while other big-priced Champion Hurdle winners include For Auction (1982) at 40/1, Beech Road (1989) at 50/1 and Hardy Eustace (2004) at 33/1.

Ages six to eight have fared best in this race over the years. It’s rare for five-year-olds to go on from the Triumph Hurdle to win the Champion Hurdle. Espoir D’Allen (2019), an early-maturing French-bred gelding, was the first five-year-old to win since Katchit in 2008.

Sea Pigeon (1981) became the oldest winner in the race for 30 years when claiming his second victory at the age of 11. Nine-year-olds Royal Gait (1992), Rooster Booster (2003), Hurricane Fly (2013) were other older horses to win in the modern era.

Champion Hurdle ante-post betting pointers

A high percentage of Champion Hurdle winners had finished in the first four at the Cheltenham Festival the previous season. Many of them ran in the Champion Hurdle, but The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle have also produced winners.

Istabraq (1997), Hardy Eustace (2003) and Faugheen (2014) all won the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and went on to win Champion Hurdles. Hors La Loi III (1999) and Brave Inca (2004) won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle before winning the Champion Hurdle.

Buveur D’Air used the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown as his final prep race when successful in 2017 and 2018. He completed a hat-trick in that race in 2019 before falling at Cheltenham.

Faugheen won the Christmas Hurdle in 2014 and did not race again until winning at the Festival in March.

The next race for winners of the Champion Hurdle is usually either the Aintree Hurdle or the Punchestown Champion Hurdle. Hurricane Fly (2011 and 2013), Jezki (2014) and Faugheen (2015) all went on to win at Punchestown. Annie Power (2016) and Buveur D’Air (2017) followed up successfully at Aintree.

Check William Hill promotions for the latest special offers, price boosts and Champion Hurdle odds.

Champion Hurdle history and memorable winners

The Champion Hurdle was first run in 1927 when it was won by Blaris. Hatton’s Grace (1949-1951) became the first horse to win the Champion Hurdle three times. He was immediately followed by Sir Ken (1952-1954).

Persian War earned his place in the history books with three successive victories from 1968 to 1970.

The 1970’s and early 1980s are fondly remembered as the Golden Age of hurdling. Champions in this period included Comedy of Errors (1973, 1975), Night Nurse (1976-1977), Monksfield (1978-1979) and Sea Pigeon (1980-1981).

Dawn Run was a popular Champion Hurdle bet in 1984 when starting 4/5 favourite for Paddy Mullins and Jonjo O’Neill. The mare went on to become the first horse in history to win both the Champion Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup (1986).

See You Then (1985- 1987) was quite fragile and would often go to Cheltenham with just one previous race that season. It was testimony to the skills of his trainer that he was able to complete three successive victories. Henderson also produced My Tent Or Yours to finish runner-up in 2014, 2016 and 2017.

Istabraq (1998-2000) became the fifth horse to win three Champion Hurdles. He was owned by JP McManus and trained by Aidan O’Brien and was denied the chance of a record fourth victory in 2001.

Istabraq was hot favourite in the ante-post Champion Hurdle odds before the meeting was abandoned due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

JP McManus has continued to enjoy unprecedented success in the Champion Hurdle. Binocular (2010), Jezki (2014), Buveur D’Air (2017, 2018) and Espoir D’Allen (2019) all carried his famous green and gold colours to victory.

Champion Hurdle odds 2020

Espoir D’Allen is the ante-post favourite in the Champion Hurdle betting after his record-breaking 15-length victory in 2019. Gavin Cromwell’s five-year-old destroyed a top-quality field after cruising into the lead at the second last. That was his eighth win in nine races over hurdles and he sets the standard for 2020.

Melon finished runner-up for the second consecutive season. He had pushed Buveur D’Air all the way to the line in 2018, but had no answer to the acceleration of Espoir D’Allen in 2019. Apple’s Jade and Laurina were never travelling and are likely to step back up in distance.

Buveur D’Air’s early exit was not entirely unexpected as his hurdling had been far from fluent in previous races. The two-time champion is likely to return in 2020 and try to regain the title at the age of nine. Comedy of Errors (1973, 1975) and Hurricane Fly (2013, 2015) were eight and nine respectively when regaining the Champion Hurdle crown.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Klassical Dream and Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winner City Island could come into the equation. Pentland Hills won the Triumph Hurdle with some authority, but the form of that race is open to question.

Band Of Outlaws is another lively contender after his victory in the Fred Winter Hurdle. It was Joseph O’Brien’s first Cheltenham Festival winner and the horse looks capable of going on to better things.

Visit news.williamhill.com for the latest big race build-up, in-depth previews and Champion Hurdle betting tips.

When you sign-up via Mobile using promo code N40 and place a bet of £10/€10 or more we will give you 4x £10/€10 free bets.

How it works:

1. Sign up using a mobile or tablet device, making sure you use N40 in the Promo Code section;

 

2. Once registered, place a £10/€10 bet (at odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater) using the mobile or tablet device;

 

3. Once the qualifying bet has settled, to access your free bet add a new selection to your bet slip.

 

Key points:

The free bets will be available in the Rewards section on the betslip.

 

Free bets will be paid as 4 x £10/€10 denominations once the first qualifying bet has been settled; free bets will expire 7 days after the qualifying bet is placed.

 

This Promotion is not available to new accounts depositing funds with Paypal, Neosurf, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay, William Hill PLUS Card.

 

Illustrated instructions showing how to redeem your free bet here.

1. The basics

a. This promotion is only available to new William Hill customers in the UK or Ireland opening an online account on their mobile or tablet device, in pound sterling or euro.

 

b. This promotion is not available to new accounts which funds are paid into by PayPal, Neosurf, Paysafe, NETELLER, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay or William Hill PLUS Card.

 

c. If you take part in this promotion, you will not be able to take part in any other promotion that is only available to new customers.

 

d. This promotion cannot apply to more than one new account per person, address, email address, debit card or credit card, or IP address.

 

e. The promotion runs from 00:01 on 21 September 2020 until otherwise cancelled by us in accordance with these promotional terms (the promotion period).

 

2. How to take part

a. To take part in this promotion, during the promotion period you must:
· open an account using promo code N40; on mobile or tablet; and
· place a bet of at least £10 or €10, from your main balance, on the William Hill Sportsbook;
· once the bet has settled, your free bets will be available.

 

b. You can place the bet before or during an event.

 

c. The odds for your bet must be 1/2 (1.5) or more.

 

d. If you place an ‘each way’ bet, only the win part of the bet will count towards the promotion. That part of the bet must be at least £10 or €10.

 

e. If a bet you place triggers a free bet, ‘Cash in my bet’ will not be available until at least one selection for the bet you placed is in play or the result has been announced. ‘Cash in my bet’ will become available at this point, as long as all the other conditions relating to it have been met.

 

3. Free bets

a. You will get 4 free bets worth either £10 or €10 each., upon settlement of the qualifying bet.

 

b. Free bets can be used on any sportsbook product (except tote, pool and lottery bets).

 

c. You cannot take the value of free bets as cash, and any free bet amount used will not be returned with winnings from it.

 

d. If you use only part of a free bet, the remaining amount will be lost.

 

e. Any unused free bet will be deleted 7 day(s) after the qualifying bet is placed on the account.

 

f. ‘Cash in my bet’ will be available for bets placed using a free bet (minus the value of the free bet).

 

g. Eligibility rules, location, market and currency restrictions and terms and conditions apply.

 

Terms and conditions 

1. Terms and conditions

a. For instructions on how to claim your free bet, go to ‘How do I find and use my free bet?' on our website.

 

b. When we convert currencies, we consider £10 to be equal to:

  • €10 (euro)
  • AU$20 (Australian dollar)
  • CA$20 (Canadian dollar)
  • CHf15 (Swiss franc)
  • Kr80 (Danish krone)
  • HK$115 (Hong Kong dollar)
  • ¥1300 (Japanese yen)
  • Kr120 (Swedish krona)
  • S$20 (Singapore dollar)
  • US$10 (US dollar)

2. General restrictions

a. We expect you to be fair when you take part in promotions. We consider certain types of play to be unfair and to break these terms and conditions. These unfair types of play include the following.

  • Using ‘minimal risk wagering patterns’ (that is, a set pattern of bets or stakes that unfairly minimises risks).
  • Using more than one account in order to get more than the number of bonuses allowed for each customer.
  • Sharing personalised promotions (that is, promotions only available to specific customers we offer them to) with others. This includes taking part in any personalised promotion forwarded to you by someone else when it was not intended for you.
  • Taking part in a promotion that is not available in the country you live in.
  • Colluding with other customers (that is, plotting with others to gain an unfair advantage).
  • Using more than one account per person, per household or per IP address.

b. If you take part in any play that we consider to be unfair or if we suspect (acting reasonably) that you may participate in (or attempt to participate in) the abuse of this promotion or any bonuses connected to it, we may cancel any bonuses or promotions applied to your account, reclaim any bonus you have received as part of any promotion we have cancelled, and either:

  • settle bets at the correct odds, not the bonus or promotion odds;
  • void any free bets or bets funded by a bonus (that is, treat them as if they had never been placed); or
  • remove any winnings relating to any bonus.
c. Payment cards which begin with the following numbers will not be accepted for this promotion.535463
  • 516859
  • 416549
  • 453755

3. General conditions

a. Regardless of anything else set out in these terms and conditions, you can withdraw funds from your main balance at any time, except where we must withhold the funds to meet our legal or regulatory obligations.

 

b. You cannot take part in this promotion if we have previously banned you from taking part in promotions, or from betting or playing any games on our website.

 

c. We can withhold or refuse to pay any winnings from a bonus if funds you paid into your main balance (including any amounts you have already used) are cancelled or denied by any payment service (for example, your card provider).

 

d. We can change or cancel this promotion, or change these terms and conditions:

  • without giving you notice, if the change or cancellation is needed because of any change in law or regulation; or
  • by giving you notice beforehand, if the change or cancellation is for any other valid reason (for example, if there is a fault in the software or systems we use to provide this promotion, or we identify a mistake in this promotion or these terms and conditions).

We can also award an equivalent bonus to the one referred to in this promotion.

 

e. We will not be responsible for any technical, hardware or software failures, or any unavailable or lost network conditions which may result in incorrect information being displayed, or affect your ability to enter or take part in the promotion.  If there is any dispute over your eligibility for the promotion, our decision will be final.

 

f. Your use of our website, and your gaming or betting, is governed by our terms and conditions of using our website or telebetting service (the general terms). You must read the general terms and these terms and conditions before you take part in this promotion. If any of these terms and conditions conflict with the general terms, these terms and conditions will apply.

 

g. These terms and conditions are governed by, and interpreted in line with, the laws of England and Wales. Any legal action in connection with these terms and conditions will be dealt with in the courts of England and Wales.

 

h. This promotion is offered, managed and made available on our website (williamhill.com) by us, WHG (International) Limited.

 

When you sign-up using promo code H30 and place a bet of £10/€10 or more we will give you 2 x £15/€15 free bets.

How it works:

1. Sign up using H30 in the Promo Code section;

 

2. Once registered, place a £10/€10 bet (at odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater);

 

3. Once the qualifying bet has settled, to access your free bet add a new selection to your bet slip.

 

The free bets will be available in the Rewards section.

 

Free bets will be paid as 2 x £15/€15 denominations once the first qualifying bet has been settled; free bets will expire 7 days after the qualifying bet is placed

 

This Promotion is not available to new accounts depositing funds with Paypal, Neosurf, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay, William Hill PLUS Card;

 

Illustrated instructions showing how to redeem your free bet here.

1. The basics

 

a. This promotion is only available to new William Hill customers in the UK or Ireland opening an online account in pound sterling or euro.

 

b. This promotion is not available to new accounts which funds are paid into by PayPal, Neosurf, Paysafe, NETELLER, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay or William Hill PLUS Card.

 

c. If you take part in this promotion, you will not be able to take part in any other promotion that is only available to new customers.

 

d. This promotion cannot apply to more than one new account per person, address, email address, debit card or credit card, or IP address.

 

e. The promotion runs from 00:01 on 21 September 2020 until otherwise cancelled by us in accordance with these promotional terms (the promotion period).

 

2. How to take part

 

a. To take part in this promotion, during the promotion period you must:

 

· open an account using promo code H30;
· place a bet of at least £10 or €10, from your main balance, on the William Hill Sportsbook;
· once the bet has settled, your free bets will be available.

 

b. You can place the bet before or during an event.

 

c. The odds for your bet must be 1/2 (1.5) or more.

 

d. If you place an ‘each way’ bet, only the win part of the bet will count towards the promotion. That part of the bet must be at least £10 or €10.

 

e. If a bet you place triggers a free bet, ‘Cash in my bet’ will not be available until at least one selection for the bet you placed is in play or the result has been announced. ‘Cash in my bet’ will become available at this point, as long as all the other conditions relating to it have been met.

 

3. Free bets

 

a. You will get 2 free bets worth either £15 or €15 each, upon settlement of the qualifying bet.

 

b. Free bets can be used on any sportsbook product (except tote, pool and lottery bets).

 

c. You cannot take the value of free bets as cash, and any free bet amount used will not be returned with winnings from it.

 

d. If you use only part of a free bet, the remaining amount will be lost.

 

e. Any unused free bet will be deleted 7 day(s) after the qualifying bet is placed on the account.

 

f. ‘Cash in my bet’ will be available for bets placed using a free bet (minus the value of the free bet).

 

g. Eligibility rules, location, market and currency restrictions and terms and conditions apply.

 

Full Terms and conditions 

1. Terms and conditions

 

a. For instructions on how to claim your free bet, go to ‘How do I find and use my free bet?' on our website.

 

b. When we convert currencies, we consider £10 to be equal to:

  • €10 (euro)
  • AU$20 (Australian dollar)
  • CA$20 (Canadian dollar)
  • CHf15 (Swiss franc)
  • Kr80 (Danish krone)
  • HK$115 (Hong Kong dollar)
  • ¥1300 (Japanese yen)
  • Kr120 (Swedish krona)
  • S$20 (Singapore dollar)
  • US$10 (US dollar)

2. General restrictions

 

a. We expect you to be fair when you take part in promotions. We consider certain types of play to be unfair and to break these terms and conditions. These unfair types of play include the following.

  • Using ‘minimal risk wagering patterns’ (that is, a set pattern of bets or stakes that unfairly minimises risks).
  • Using more than one account in order to get more than the number of bonuses allowed for each customer.
  • Sharing personalised promotions (that is, promotions only available to specific customers we offer them to) with others. This includes taking part in any personalised promotion forwarded to you by someone else when it was not intended for you.
  • Taking part in a promotion that is not available in the country you live in.
  • Colluding with other customers (that is, plotting with others to gain an unfair advantage).
  • Using more than one account per person, per household or per IP address.

b. If you take part in any play that we consider to be unfair or if we suspect (acting reasonably) that you may participate in (or attempt to participate in) the abuse of this promotion or any bonuses connected to it, we may cancel any bonuses or promotions applied to your account, reclaim any bonus you have received as part of any promotion we have cancelled, and either:

  • settle bets at the correct odds, not the bonus or promotion odds;
  • void any free bets or bets funded by a bonus (that is, treat them as if they had never been placed); or
  • remove any winnings relating to any bonus.

c. Payment cards which begin with the following numbers will not be accepted for this promotion.

  • 535463
  • 516859
  • 416549
  • 453755

3. General conditions

 

a. Regardless of anything else set out in these terms and conditions, you can withdraw funds from your main balance at any time, except where we must withhold the funds to meet our legal or regulatory obligations.

 

b. You cannot take part in this promotion if we have previously banned you from taking part in promotions, or from betting or playing any games on our website.

 

c. We can withhold or refuse to pay any winnings from a bonus if funds you paid into your main balance (including any amounts you have already used) are cancelled or denied by any payment service (for example, your card provider).

 

d. We can change or cancel this promotion, or change these terms and conditions:

  • without giving you notice, if the change or cancellation is needed because of any change in law or regulation; or
  • by giving you notice beforehand, if the change or cancellation is for any other valid reason (for example, if there is a fault in the software or systems we use to provide this promotion, or we identify a mistake in this promotion or these terms and conditions).

We can also award an equivalent bonus to the one referred to in this promotion.

 

e. We will not be responsible for any technical, hardware or software failures, or any unavailable or lost network conditions which may result in incorrect information being displayed, or affect your ability to enter or take part in the promotion.  If there is any dispute over your eligibility for the promotion, our decision will be final.

 

f. Your use of our website, and your gaming or betting, is governed by our terms and conditions of using our website or telebetting service (the general terms). You must read the general terms and these terms and conditions before you take part in this promotion. If any of these terms and conditions conflict with the general terms, these terms and conditions will apply.

 

g. These terms and conditions are governed by, and interpreted in line with, the laws of England and Wales. Any legal action in connection with these terms and conditions will be dealt with in the courts of England and Wales.

 

h. This promotion is offered, managed and made available on our website (williamhill.com) by us, WHG (International) Limited.