Where To Bet on "Christmas Hurdle"

Race Details:

Date: 2026.12.26
Grade: 1
Open To: Horses Four Years and Older
Track: Turf
Length: 3,219 Metres
Location: United Kingdom


The Christmas Hurdle is one of the premier two mile hurdle races in the United Kingdom and a key part of Kempton Park's Boxing Day programme.

Run at Kempton Park in Sunbury on Thames, England, the race forms an important mid season test for elite hurdlers and is widely regarded as a major stepping stone toward the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Christmas Hurdle is open to horses aged four years and older and is contested over approximately 3,219 metres on turf. The total prize fund is typically around GBP 130,000, with the winner receiving roughly GBP 75,000.


2025 Winner:

Sir Gino (FR)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Runner up: Golden Ace
Starting Odds: 4 to 7 Favourite

Sir Gino won the 2025 Grade 1 Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on December 26, 2025. The five year old maintained his unbeaten record, defeating Golden Ace by several lengths in a dominant performance.

The victory further strengthened Sir Gino's credentials as a leading contender for the 2026 Champion Hurdle and added another top level success to the record of trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Nico de Boinville.


Previous Winner:

2024 Winner: Constitution Hill
Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Trainer: Nicky Henderson

Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville have enjoyed sustained success in the race in recent years, including victories with Constitution Hill in 2022, 2023 and 2024, as well as with Epatante in 2021.

For Henderson, the race has been a cornerstone of his winter campaign, and he holds the record for the most wins in the Christmas Hurdle.


History:

The first official running of the Christmas Hurdle took place in 1969. Over the decades, it has developed into one of the most important two mile hurdles of the National Hunt season.

Because of its timing in late December, the race is often viewed as an early indicator of Champion Hurdle form. Strong performances at Kempton frequently translate into serious Cheltenham Festival ambitions.

Records and Notable Winners:

There is no upper age limit for runners, which has allowed for multiple winners across different eras.

Faugheen recorded back to back victories in 2014 and 2015.

The oldest winners were Birds Nest in 1979 and Harchibald in 2008, both successful at nine years of age.

The race has occasionally been affected by severe winter weather. In 2010, freezing conditions forced a postponement, and the event was ultimately staged on January 15, 2011.


Course and Conditions:

Kempton Park is a flat, right handed track that places emphasis on pace and fluent jumping. The sharper nature of the circuit differs from Cheltenham's undulations, meaning tactical positioning is critical.

Fast ground and strong early fractions can favour speedier types, while proven stamina is still required to see out the final climb to the line.


Betting Perspective:

As a Grade 1 contest run at level weights, the Christmas Hurdle attracts strong betting interest.

Common wagers include:

Outright Winner

Each Way

Forecast and Tricast

Match Bets

Ante post Champion Hurdle markets

Because it sits close to the Cheltenham Festival on the calendar, bettors frequently use the race to reassess Champion Hurdle odds.


Key Takeaways:

The Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 two mile hurdle run annually on Boxing Day at Kempton Park.

The 2025 winner was Sir Gino, trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by Nico de Boinville.

The race often shapes the Champion Hurdle market for the spring festival.

Nicky Henderson holds the record for the most wins in the event.

Weather and ground conditions can occasionally influence scheduling and outcomes in late December.

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