Scottish Champion Hurdle betting

The Scottish Champion Hurdle is a Grade 2 handicap over 2m staged at Ayr on Scottish Grand National day. Ante-post Scottish Champion Hurdle odds are available in the build-up to the big meeting in April.

The race used to be a level-weights contest and often attracted Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winners. It’s now established as the richest hurdle race in Scotland and one of the most competitive 2m handicaps of the season.

In the past it has seen several stars scoop the top prize, including Captain Christy (1973), Sea Pigeon (1977 & 1978) and Alderbrook (1996).

Scottish Champion Hurdle betting tips

Most Scottish Champion Hurdle winners had raced within the previous month, around half of them winning on their most recent start. Nearly all previous winners have raced at least six times over the distance and won two or more races.

Most winners had raced at least three times during the season and were officially rated 134 or higher.

Lowly-weighted horses between 10st and 10st 13lbs have the best recent record. Only Raya Star (2012) and Ch’tibello (2016) successfully carried a larger weight between 2007 and 2018.

Trainer Martin Pipe won the race four times, his last victory coming with Copeland in 2004. Philip Hobbs and jockey Richard Johnson have enjoyed recent success in this race. They teamed up to win with In Contrast (2003), Noble Request (2006) and Cheltenian (2015).

Scottish Champion Hurdle betting trends

Favourites have a poor record in the Scottish Champion Hurdle in recent years. Overturn was 4/1 clear favourite when successful in 2010, while Sanctuaire was joint-favourite in 2011.

There have been some longer-priced winners in the Scottish Champion Hurdle odds. Border Castle (2008) was a 40/1 outsider, while Midnight Shadow (2018) returned at 25/1. Cockney Sparrow (2014) 12/1, Cheltenian (2015) 10/1 and Chesterfield (2017) 12/1 were others to win from outside the first three in the Scottish Champion Hurdle betting.

Horses aged 5-to-7 have largely dominated this race. Notable exceptions in recent years were the nine-year-olds, Emmpat (2007) and Cheltenian (2015). Bird’s Nest won the race as an 11-year-old in 1981, although that was before it became a limited handicap.

Mister Morose won as a 10-year-old in 2000, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and ridden by Tony McCoy.

With this meeting held in spring, it tends to see quicker ground than those races held in winter. Sometimes you can see a horse improve for the better conditions or held back to feature in a race on more suitable ground.

And down the years you can see dual-purpose horses picking up the top prize. Donald McCain’s classy Overturn (2010) is a prime example. He won the Northumberland Plate and Chester Cup on the Flat, while also winning the Ascot Hurdle and Fighting Fifth Hurdle over obstacles.

So, with that in mind, keep an eye on the latest Scottish Champion Hurdle betting tips and news at news.williamhill.com.

Scottish Champion Hurdle ante-post betting pointers

Scottish Champion Hurdle winners have come from a variety of previous races. Midnight Shadow was unplaced in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree a week before winning here in 2018. 2017 winner Chesterfield had been the easy winner of a Conditional Jockey’s handicap hurdle at the same meeting.

Cockney Sparrow (2013) had finished fifth in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle and Raya Star (2012) was unplaced in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Horses that were well beaten at Aintree or Cheltenham can often show improved form at Ayr.

The going is a key factor when considering Scottish Champion Hurdle betting tips. It’s often faster ground at Ayr than at the Festival meetings.

The valuable Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock in May is the next objective for Scottish Champion Hurdle winners. All five horses that ran in that race between 2007 and 2016 were beaten, with Overturn faring best when second in 2010.

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

Scottish Champion Hurdle history and memorable winners

The Scottish Champion Hurdle was first held in 1966 with victory going to Blue Venom, trained and ridden by Wigtownshire farmer Peter Adams. The race was promoted from Listed to Grade 2 level in 1991 and later became a limited handicap to attract larger fields.

One of the most significant early Scottish Champion Hurdle winners was Captain Christy in 1973. He went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup as a novice in 1974. He also won the King George VI Chase at Kempton in 1974 and 1975, before his career was cut short by a leg injury.

The race was dominated by Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winners from 1975 to 1978. Comedy Of Errors won in 1975, the year of his second Champion Hurdle victory. Peter Easterby’s Night Nurse followed up his Cheltenham victory in 1976, while his stable companion Sea Pigeon won in 1977 and 1978.

Sea Pigeon didn’t win his first Cheltenham Champion Hurdle until 1980. He had finished second to Monksfield in 1978 and 1979. He then went on to set a record as the oldest ever winner of the race as an 11-year-old in 1981.

Although he never won the Cheltenham crown, Bird’s Nest was a popular Scottish Champion Hurdle betting tip. Andy Turnell trained him to win the race in 1979 and 1981, with stable companion Secret Ballot winning in 1980.

Granville Again (1992) and Alderbrook (1996) were other Champion Hurdle winners to win at Ayr. Granville Again went on to win the 1993 Champion Hurdle for Martin Pipe and Peter Scudamore. Alderbrook was a high-class performer on the flat, winning a Group 2 in France. He won the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle for Kim Bailey and Richard Dunwoody in 1995.

Since becoming a handicap, the race has become much more competitive and still attracts high-class hurdlers. Overturn won for Donald McCain in 2010 and showed his versatility by winning the Chester Cup on the flat the following year. Cheltenian (2015) and Ch’tibello (2016) were both Cheltenham Festival winners during their racing careers.

Scottish Champion Hurdle 2021

Scottish Grand National Day also features the Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle, which was won by Neil Mulholland’s Milkwood in 2021.

The race is now a limited handicap rather than a level-weights contest, which often attracted the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner.

In 2019, Verdana Blue was another winner for favourite backers. Nicky Henderson’s mare had previous Grade 1 form after beating Buveur D’Air in the 2018 Christmas Hurdle.

Cheltenham Festival form can play a part in the Scottish Champion Hurdle betting. Last year saw Milkwood finish third in the County Hurdle before going off 3/1 favourite to win the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

In the build-up to the race, look out for William Hill’s ante-post market with the latest Scottish Champion Hurdle odds.

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