Ruby Walsh Reveals 1-2-3 Champion Hurdle Tips 2026

Ruby Walsh Reveals Champion Hurdle Tips For Cheltenham Festival

Updated –Feb 5, 2026

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The Ruby Walsh tip for the Champion Hurdle sees the four-time winning jockey of the race opting for JP McManus to grab a record-extending tenth win in the Cheltenham Festival day one feature.

See below as Ruby Walsh lifts the lid on his 1-2-3 Champion Hurdle tips, with the race now just over four weeks away.

Ruby Walsh Champion Hurdle Tip 2026: “The New Lion Is The One To Beat”

With the 2026 Cheltenham Festival now within sight for horse racing fans, many will be keen to know the thoughts of four-time-winning jockey in the race – RUBY WALSH.

Walsh guided home Hurricane Fly twice, Annie Power and Faugheen in the day one feature during his career.

And this year thinks the race will see a new jockey on the roll of honour – Harry Skelton – for the ITV Racing contest on Tuesday 10th March.

Well, I am guessing that Skelton, who has partnered The New Lion in all his races, will keep the ride.

But who knows with all the shenanigans surrounding JP’s riders Mark Walsh and his new ‘soon-to-be’ rider Harry Cobden from next season.

Anyway, it would probably be a silly move to jock-off Harry at this stage as no pilot knows The New Lion better.

And Ruby Walsh also thinks that The New Lion is the one to beat in the 2026 Champion Hurdle after seeing Lossiemouth (who might still run in the Mares Hurdle) beaten recently in the Irish Champion Hurdle.

Winning The International Was Like “A Schooling Session”

Walsh feels that, despite The New Lion not impressing in his recent International Hurdle win (watch below), the race wasn’t run to suit the Skelton horse.

Adding “it was like a schooling session”.

WATCH: The New Lion Winning The International Hurdle at Cheltenham

But still felt he showed a good turn of foot that day, even though he only be the 138/-rated Brentford Hope (3rd) by 1 1/2 lengths, with Nemean Lion in second.

Of course, the race was also marred by the terrible injury to the favourite Sir Gino, which probably added to the race ending up a messy affair.

However, Walsh did say that Harry Skelton will probably have to ride The New Lion slightly differently in the Champion Hurdle.

“Being on the New Course with that long run in, you have time to do that, but you can’t do that in a Champion Hurdle.”

“But I think The New Lion will beat Brighterdaysahead and Golden Ace will be third.” Walsh added.

If the Ruby Walsh Champion Hurdle tip is right – The New Lion will give owner JP McManus a stonking tenth win in the race.

He first won the prize in 1998 with Istabraq, who landed two more – with his most recent Champion Hurdle winner Epatante in 2020.

Lossiemouth Champion Hurdle Not Off The Table But She’s Better Over Further, Says Walsh

Ruby Walsh also went onto say that after her defeat in the Irish Champion Hurdle to Brighterdaysahead, he thinks Lossiemouth’s Champion Hurdle is not totally off the table.

Saying that a lot can happen in the next five weeks.

But Walsh added he does feel Lossiemouth is better going further – and seems to travel that bit better over longer when the pace is a fraction slower.

Backed up by looking a bit out-paced at the Dublin Racing Festival in the Irish Champion – and always on the back-foot behind the winner Brighterdaysahead.

Lossiemouth is around 4/1 for the Champion Hurdle, but as low as 5/4 for the Mares Hurdle – a race she’s won for the last two seasons.

With that in mind, Walsh is opting for this season’s Irish Champion Hurdle winner Brighterdaysahead, who was only 4th in the 2025 Champion Hurdle, to take silver.

And last year’s winner Golden Ace to mop-up the bronze.