With the news State Man will miss the season with a tendon injury – this will leave horse racing punters wondering what Willie Mullins Champion Hurdle runners he’s got left.
Lossiemouth Now Expected To Be The Main Willie Mullins Champion Hurdle Runner
The State Man injury news on Wednesday 12th November prompted the bookmakers to shake up the 2026 Champion Hurdle betting odds.
Shortening up the favourite The New Lion and also making another Willie Mullins runner Lossiemouth the clear second best in the market.
Lossiemouth has mopped up the last two renewals of the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
But with no State Man – you feel she’ll now become the big Closutton Champion Hurdle hope.
Her owner Rich Ricci has also toyed in the past with her running in the big day one Festival race.
A prize he’s won twice in the past with Faugheen and Annie Power.
Lossiemouth Will Get a 7lbs Mares’ Allowance In The Champion Hurdle
Plus, she will also get a handy 7lbs mares’ allowance in the big Cheltenham Festival Tuesday feature.
And will also potentially bring an unbeaten Prestbury Park record to the race. Providing, of course, she doesn’t lose at the track prior to the 10th March race.
Lossiemouth is currently 4-from-4 at Cheltenham – having added the 2024 Unibet Hurdle and 2023 Triumph Hurdle to her two Mares’ Hurdle successes.
We can expect to see Lossiemouth next in action in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on 30th November.
A win there and we could even see the Lossiemouth Champion Hurdle odds contract even further.
Anzadam Could Be Another Big Willie Mullins Champion Hurdle Runner This Season
If the Lossiemouth connection decide to aim her at third tilt at the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival – then Anzadam looks their most likely next best.
This improving 5 year-old made a big splash at the end of 2024 and early 2025. But hasn’t been seen since winning the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas in January 2025.
He bolted up by 11 lengths that day – with Beacon Edge back in second – and with age on his side looks a big prospect for the Irish champion trainer.
Anzadam is also owned by Joe and Marie Donnelly, who have the injured State Man – so could help ease the blow of their 2024 Champion Hurdle winner missing the season.
With the recent Champion Hurdle betting shake-up, the Anzadam Champion Hurdle betting odds are now into 6/1.
Anzadam is entered in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on 22nd November.
Plus also holds an entry in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on 29th November.
Which is a race Willie Mullins is yet to win.
When Is The 2026 Champion Hurdle?
See below the 2026 Champion Hurdle race details, with the contest set to be shown LIVE on the ITV Racing schedule.
📅Date: Tuesday 10th March 2026
⌚Time: 4:00pm
🏇Racecourse: Cheltenham
💰Winner:£255,006
📺 TV: ITV/ Racing TV
Other Possible Willie Mullins Champion Hurdle Runners
Salvator Mundi
Priced at around 28/1, this possible Willie Mullins Champion Hurdle runner has an in-and-out profile.
He landed the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novices’ Hurdle last season at Punchestown, but was only 5th in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival.
Salvator Mundi, who is owned by the Donnellys, has since bounced back to win the Grade One Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree (watch below).
Ballyburn
Won the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024, but has been campaigned over fences since.
However, has only won two of his five starts over the bigger obstacles. Plus was a beaten odds-on favourite in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase last season.
There has been talk of a switch back to hurdles – but you feel if they do a longer trip than the Champion Hurdle might suit better.
Ballyburn is 33/1 in the Champion Hurdle market and a much lower 5/1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the meeting.
Kitzbuhel
Another Donnelly horse but didn’t progress after winning at Punchestown and Gowran Park last season.
Was well beaten, after pulling hard, in the Aintree Liverpool Hurdle back in April and was also a beaten jolly in the Select Hurdle at Sandown last season.
This grey would need to step up on those runs to figure at Champion Hurdle level.
He’s 33/1 in the 2026 Champion Hurdle betting odds market.
Kargese
Useful mare on her day and so another that would get the handy 7lbs allowance.
She has Festival form too, when winning the County Hurdle in 2025 (watch below). Which is the same race a former Champion Hurdle winner State Man took.
Kargese was also runner-up in the 2024 Triumph Hurdle to stablemate Majborough, so does seem to like it at Prestbury Park.
The Kargese Champion Hurdle odds are 33/1.
