The Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 race for two-mile hurdlers held at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
Run over approximately two miles, the race combines speed, accurate hurdling and tactical positioning around Kempton’s sharp, right-handed jumps course. It shares the Boxing Day card with the King George VI Chase and regularly attracts horses with ambitions of winning the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham later in the season.
Constitution Hill, Faugheen, Epatante, Binocular, Dawn Run and Lanzarote are among the horses to have won both the Christmas Hurdle and Champion Hurdle during their careers.
The connection makes the Christmas Hurdle an important part of the two-mile hurdling season, but Kempton and Cheltenham are different tests. Understanding those differences is more useful than treating the Boxing Day result as a simple prediction of what will happen in March.
Christmas Hurdle Key Facts
| Race detail | Christmas Hurdle |
|---|---|
| Racecourse | Kempton Park |
| Race type | National Hunt hurdle |
| Grade | Grade 1 |
| Distance | About 2 miles |
| Hurdles | 8 |
| Eligibility | Horses aged 4+ |
| Usual date | Boxing Day, 26 December |
| Current venue | Kempton Park |
| Leading horse since 1969 | Constitution Hill, 3 wins |
| Leading trainer since 1969 | Nicky Henderson |
| Leading jockey since 1969 | Nico de Boinville |
The Christmas Hurdle is one of the major Grade 1 races in Britain’s two-mile hurdling programme.
When Is the Christmas Hurdle 2026?
The 2026 Christmas Hurdle takes place on Saturday 26 December 2026 at Kempton Park.
It forms part of the first day of Kempton’s two-day Christmas Festival, with the Grade 1 King George VI Chase providing the principal chasing contest on the Boxing Day card.
The Christmas Hurdle is scheduled over two miles and is open to horses aged four and older.
Final declarations, going and the composition of the field will determine the precise nature of the 2026 race. Those factors become more useful close to Boxing Day, so the main guide concentrates on the characteristics that remain relevant from one renewal to another.
Why Is the Christmas Hurdle Important?
The Christmas Hurdle occupies a valuable position in the National Hunt calendar.
By Boxing Day, the leading two-mile hurdlers have normally had the opportunity to make their seasonal returns. Some may have competed in races such as the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, while others can arrive at Kempton without an autumn preparation.
Kempton then provides an important Grade 1 test before attention increasingly turns towards the spring championships.
The race has repeatedly featured horses capable of winning the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
That relationship is significant, but the two races should not be treated as identical.
Kempton is a relatively sharp, flat track where tactical speed and efficient hurdling can be particularly important. Cheltenham’s Old Course is more undulating and its uphill finish creates a different physical test.
A Christmas Hurdle performance therefore needs to be interpreted in the context of how the race was run.
Kempton Park and the Christmas Hurdle
Kempton’s National Hunt course is right-handed, relatively flat and sharp enough to place considerable emphasis on racing efficiently.
That configuration suits a high-class two-mile hurdle.
Horses do not want to waste ground around the bends, while losing momentum at a hurdle can leave them poorly positioned when the pace increases.
Kempton can favour horses capable of travelling strongly at a high cruising speed. A runner that needs sustained pressure over a longer straight to reach top speed may find the track less forgiving than a horse able to accelerate quickly.
The relatively short run-in also makes positioning important.
A jockey cannot assume that substantial lost ground will be recovered after the final hurdle. Horses need to remain within striking distance as the decisive part of the race develops.
These characteristics help explain why some exceptional two-mile hurdlers have produced dominant performances in the Christmas Hurdle.
Speed and Tactical Position at Kempton
The Christmas Hurdle is not simply a test of which horse can run fastest over two miles.
How that speed is used matters.
A small field without a natural front-runner can develop into a tactical race. The early gallop may be moderate before the contest becomes a test of acceleration during the closing stages.
A field containing an established front-runner can produce a very different race. Sustained pace places more pressure on stamina and jumping because horses have less opportunity to conserve energy.
This distinction matters when assessing previous form.
A horse that looked impressive after accelerating away from rivals in a slowly run race has demonstrated a different quality from one that maintained a strong gallop from an early stage.
Building a horse racing pace map can help identify how the Christmas Hurdle is likely to develop.
Field size alone does not tell us whether the race will be tactical. The normal running styles of the individual horses are more important.
Jumping in the Christmas Hurdle
The Christmas Hurdle contains eight hurdles, and efficient jumping is particularly valuable over Kempton’s two-mile course.
The best hurdlers lose very little momentum at an obstacle. They approach at racing speed, organise themselves quickly, land running and return immediately to their stride.
Small errors can become significant when the opposition is operating at Grade 1 level.
A horse may technically clear every hurdle but repeatedly lose half a length through slow or untidy jumps. Over an entire race, those inefficiencies can require considerably more energy to recover.
This is why watching previous races is useful when reading horse racing form.
Look beyond whether the form book records an obvious mistake. Assess how smoothly the horse moves through its hurdles when the pace increases and whether its jumping improves or deteriorates under pressure.
How the Going Affects the Christmas Hurdle
Kempton’s Boxing Day ground can vary considerably between seasons.
Soft conditions increase the emphasis on stamina and the ability to maintain speed through testing ground. Better ground can make tactical speed and slick jumping more influential.
This changes the type of performance required to win.
A horse with enough speed for two miles on soft ground may find itself under greater pressure when the same distance is covered considerably faster. Equally, a horse with an explosive turn of foot on better ground may become less effective when conditions turn the race into a prolonged stamina test.
The actual horse racing going should therefore be considered alongside previous form rather than reduced to a simple label such as “soft-ground horse”.
Look for performances under genuinely comparable conditions and consider how the ground affected the pace and finishing effort.
History of the Christmas Hurdle
The race developed into the Christmas Hurdle in its modern form in 1969 and has become one of Britain’s established Grade 1 hurdle races.
Its Boxing Day position is an important part of its identity.
Kempton’s Christmas meeting attracts national attention because the Christmas Hurdle and King George VI Chase place leading hurdlers and chasers on the same card.
The Christmas Hurdle roll of honour also charts different generations of elite two-mile hurdlers.
Lanzarote won during the 1970s before also becoming a Champion Hurdle winner. Dawn Run added the race to an exceptional career before later becoming the only horse to win both the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup.
More recently, horses including Kribensis, Binocular, Faugheen, Epatante and Constitution Hill have reinforced the race’s connection with the Champion Hurdle.
Constitution Hill’s Three Christmas Hurdle Wins
Constitution Hill won the Christmas Hurdle three consecutive times in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Those victories made him the most successful horse in the race since it took its modern form in 1969.
Trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by Nico de Boinville, Constitution Hill established his exceptional reputation during an unbeaten opening sequence over hurdles.
His first Christmas Hurdle victory in 2022 came before he went on to win the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham the following March.
He returned to Kempton in December 2023 and won the Christmas Hurdle again.
The circumstances surrounding his third victory were very different. Constitution Hill had been absent from competitive racing for a year before returning at Kempton in December 2024, when he defeated Lossiemouth to complete his hat-trick.
That performance demonstrated another aspect of analysing Grade 1 horses.
Recent racecourse activity is important, but a long absence does not automatically mean a horse lacks the fitness or class required to win. Trainer record, preparation, previous performance after breaks and the individual horse all need to be considered.
Sir Gino Wins the 2025 Christmas Hurdle
Sir Gino won the 2025 Christmas Hurdle for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville.
His victory followed Constitution Hill’s three consecutive wins and continued Henderson’s exceptional record in the race.
The result gave Henderson a 14th Christmas Hurdle victory since 1969, while de Boinville recorded his sixth win to become the most successful jockey in the race during the same period.
Sir Gino’s victory also provided another example of Henderson’s long-term strength in the two-mile hurdling division.
The trainer’s Christmas Hurdle record stretches across several generations rather than depending on one exceptional horse.
Recent Christmas Hurdle Winners
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sir Gino | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2024 | Constitution Hill | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2023 | Constitution Hill | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2022 | Constitution Hill | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2021 | Epatante | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2020 | Silver Streak | Evan Williams | Adam Wedge |
| 2019 | Epatante | Nicky Henderson | Barry Geraghty |
| 2018 | Verdana Blue | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2017 | Buveur d’Air | Nicky Henderson | Barry Geraghty |
| 2016 | Yanworth | Alan King | Barry Geraghty |
| 2015 | Faugheen | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2014 | Faugheen | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2013 | My Tent Or Yours | Nicky Henderson | A. P. McCoy |
The table demonstrates Nicky Henderson’s extraordinary recent influence on the race.
It should not, however, be turned into a system that automatically favours his next runner.
Trainer records are useful because they provide evidence that a stable understands how to prepare the right type of horse for a race. The ability and suitability of the current runner remain more important than the historical percentage.
Nicky Henderson’s Christmas Hurdle Record
Nicky Henderson is the most successful trainer in the modern history of the Christmas Hurdle.
His winners since 1969 include:
- Geos.
- Landing Light.
- Binocular.
- Darlan.
- My Tent Or Yours.
- Buveur d’Air.
- Verdana Blue.
- Epatante.
- Constitution Hill.
- Sir Gino.
Several won the race more than once.
The variety of those horses is as significant as the total. Henderson has produced Christmas Hurdle winners across several decades, including established Champion Hurdle horses and runners still developing towards the highest level.
His record is particularly relevant when a horse arrives at Kempton after a break because the stable has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to prepare elite hurdlers for major targets without requiring frequent racing.
It remains evidence rather than a reason to disregard the individual horse’s form.
Epatante
Epatante won the Christmas Hurdle in 2019 and 2021.
Her first victory formed part of a campaign that culminated in success in the 2020 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
That sequence provides a useful example of the Christmas Hurdle’s position within the season. A strong Kempton performance can confirm that a horse belongs at the top of the two-mile division without guaranteeing the outcome several months later.
Epatante returned to win the race for a second time two years later, further strengthening Nicky Henderson’s record in the contest.
Faugheen
Faugheen won consecutive Christmas Hurdles in 2014 and 2015 for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.
The first victory came during an unbeaten campaign that culminated in the 2015 Champion Hurdle.
Faugheen’s combination of cruising speed and stamina made him particularly effective over two miles. He could race prominently without wasting energy and maintain his effort when the pace increased.
His Kempton and Cheltenham successes illustrate why the Christmas Hurdle can provide meaningful championship evidence when the winner’s underlying performance is analysed rather than simply recorded.
Binocular
Binocular won consecutive Christmas Hurdles in 2010 and 2011 for Nicky Henderson.
He had already won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2010, so his Kempton victories came as an established top-level performer rather than an emerging contender.
Binocular was particularly effective over two miles and became another horse to demonstrate the connection between the Christmas Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle division.
His career also shows why historical winner profiles can vary. Some Christmas Hurdle winners are developing towards their first championship success, while others arrive with their Grade 1 credentials already established.
Dawn Run
Dawn Run occupies a unique place in National Hunt history.
She won the Christmas Hurdle in 1983 before winning the Champion Hurdle in 1984. She later switched to chasing and won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1986.
No other horse has won both the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup.
Her Christmas Hurdle success therefore forms part of one of the most remarkable careers in jump racing rather than simply being an isolated Boxing Day victory.
Christmas Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle
The Christmas Hurdle is regularly described as a Champion Hurdle trial because several horses have won both races.
Since the race adopted its modern Christmas Hurdle identity, horses to win it before going on to Champion Hurdle success include Lanzarote, Dawn Run, Kribensis, Faugheen, Epatante and Constitution Hill.
That is meaningful evidence of the quality of horse the race attracts.
It does not mean the Christmas Hurdle winner should automatically be expected to win at Cheltenham.
Kempton and Cheltenham ask different questions.
Kempton is flat, sharp and right-handed. Cheltenham’s Old Course is left-handed and undulating, with the famous uphill finish adding another demand after a strongly run championship race.
Field composition can also change dramatically between December and March as Irish-trained horses, improving novices and runners returning from different preparation routes enter the championship picture.
The most useful question is therefore not simply “Did this horse win at Kempton?”
Ask how it won.
A horse that travelled strongly, jumped accurately and maintained its effort in a genuinely run Grade 1 has produced evidence that can transfer to Cheltenham. A horse that gained a tactical advantage in a slowly run small field may have more questions to answer.
Fighting Fifth to Christmas Hurdle
The Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle occupy important positions in the early part of the two-mile hurdling season.
Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth comes first, followed by Kempton on Boxing Day.
The races are sometimes discussed as though one simply leads into the other, but their courses differ.
Newcastle provides a relatively flat test with its own configuration, while Kempton places particular emphasis on tactical speed around a sharp right-handed circuit.
A horse can therefore improve or regress between the two races for reasons beyond simple fitness.
When comparing performances, examine the pace, ground, field strength and jumping rather than treating the finishing positions as directly interchangeable.
Does Previous Kempton Form Matter?
Previous Kempton form is useful because the course has distinctive characteristics.
A horse that has already travelled comfortably around its bends and shown enough speed to remain well positioned has answered one relevant question.
Course form becomes particularly persuasive when it is supported by high-quality performances.
Repeated Christmas Hurdle winners such as Constitution Hill, Faugheen, Binocular and Epatante were not successful simply because they “liked Kempton”. They were elite two-mile hurdlers whose attributes suited the race.
That distinction matters.
Course form should strengthen a case built on ability, current form, pace and conditions rather than replace those factors.
What Are the Most Useful Christmas Hurdle Trends?
Useful trends should have a racing explanation.
Grade 1 ability matters. The Christmas Hurdle is a championship-level conditions race and regularly attracts established top-class hurdlers.
Two-mile speed matters. Kempton can expose a horse that lacks the pace to hold a position when the race quickens.
Efficient hurdling matters. Losing momentum over an obstacle is costly when competing against elite horses around a sharp track.
Tactical position matters. A horse caught too far behind can have limited time to recover after the final hurdle.
Course suitability is useful. Multiple winners are common enough to show that the Kempton test can repeatedly suit the same outstanding horses.
Current conditions matter. Soft ground can increase the stamina requirement and change a race that might otherwise favour tactical speed.
These factors tell us something about why horses succeed.
Arbitrary statistics based on a fixed number of previous winners become less useful as soon as the sample changes. A racing explanation has much greater value.
How to Analyse the Christmas Hurdle
Start with class.
A horse stepping into the Christmas Hurdle needs evidence that it can compete with Grade 1 two-mile hurdlers. An impressive handicap or lower-grade victory can demonstrate potential, but the increase in opposition still needs to be accounted for.
Next assess jumping efficiency.
Watch previous races and identify whether the horse maintains its momentum when the pace increases. A runner repeatedly losing ground over its hurdles may struggle to recover around Kempton.
Then consider pace.
Identify which horse is likely to lead and whether several runners want the same position. Decide whether the race is likely to become tactical or develop into a stronger test from an earlier stage.
Add ground and previous Kempton evidence.
Finally, assess the market.
The horse with the strongest chance of winning is not automatically the best bet. Price determines whether that chance represents value.
Our guide to finding value bets in horse racing explains how to make that distinction.
Should You Follow the Christmas Hurdle Form to Cheltenham?
The Christmas Hurdle deserves close attention when assessing the Champion Hurdle, but the entire performance matters more than the finishing order.
Look for horses that travel comfortably at Grade 1 pace, hurdle efficiently and retain enough energy to finish strongly.
Also look at the beaten horses.
A runner may perform better than its finishing position suggests after encountering an unsuitable tactical race, making an isolated error or returning from a lengthy absence.
The months between Boxing Day and Cheltenham provide additional evidence. Horses can run again, encounter setbacks or improve substantially.
The Christmas Hurdle should therefore form part of the Champion Hurdle analysis rather than determine it.
Christmas Hurdle Betting
The Christmas Hurdle can produce short-priced favourites because small fields and dominant two-mile hurdlers are common in Grade 1 conditions races.
Short odds do not automatically make a horse a poor bet, just as a bigger price does not automatically represent value.
Estimate each runner’s chance before judging the available odds.
This becomes particularly important when a high-profile horse dominates the market. Reputation can affect price, while the actual race still needs to be analysed through form, fitness, pace, ground and jumping.
For readers comparing bookmakers after completing their race analysis, our best horse racing betting sites page compares the wider racing product rather than recommending a bookmaker purely for one race.
Christmas Hurdle FAQs
What is the Christmas Hurdle?
The Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race held at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. It is run over approximately two miles and is open to horses aged four and older.
When is the Christmas Hurdle 2026?
The 2026 Christmas Hurdle takes place on Saturday 26 December 2026.
Where is the Christmas Hurdle run?
The race takes place at Kempton Park in Surrey.
How far is the Christmas Hurdle?
The Christmas Hurdle is run over approximately two miles.
How many hurdles are jumped?
Horses jump eight hurdles during the Christmas Hurdle.
Who won the Christmas Hurdle in 2025?
Sir Gino won the 2025 Christmas Hurdle for trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Nico de Boinville.
Who won the Christmas Hurdle in 2024?
Constitution Hill won the 2024 Christmas Hurdle, defeating Lossiemouth on his return from a year away from competitive racing.
How many times did Constitution Hill win the Christmas Hurdle?
Constitution Hill won the race three consecutive times in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Which horse has won the most Christmas Hurdles?
Constitution Hill holds the record since the race took its modern form in 1969, with three victories.
Which trainer has won the most Christmas Hurdles?
Nicky Henderson is the leading trainer in the modern history of the race. Sir Gino’s 2025 victory took his total to 14.
Which jockey has won the most Christmas Hurdles?
Nico de Boinville became the leading jockey since 1969 when Sir Gino gave him a sixth victory in 2025.
Is the Christmas Hurdle a Champion Hurdle trial?
Yes. The Christmas Hurdle is an important Grade 1 race for horses in the Champion Hurdle division. Several horses have won both races, although Kempton and Cheltenham provide different tests.
Which horses have won the Christmas Hurdle and Champion Hurdle?
Lanzarote, Dawn Run, Kribensis, Faugheen, Epatante and Constitution Hill are among the horses to have won the Christmas Hurdle before winning the Champion Hurdle.
Is the Christmas Hurdle on the same day as the King George?
Yes. Both races take place at Kempton on Boxing Day and form part of the course’s Christmas Festival.
Where can I find Kempton betting tips?
Our Kempton Park betting tips page covers racing at the course. For the Christmas Hurdle itself, declarations, going and likely pace should be assessed before reaching a firm view on a particular renewal.
Christmas Hurdle Summary
The Christmas Hurdle is one of the principal Grade 1 races in Britain’s two-mile hurdling season.
Kempton’s sharp, right-handed course places an emphasis on tactical speed, positioning and efficient jumping. Ground and pace can alter the balance of the race, but horses rarely succeed at this level without genuine high-class ability.
The roll of honour supports that assessment.
Dawn Run, Binocular, Faugheen, Epatante and Constitution Hill are among the Champion Hurdlers to have won at Kempton, while Constitution Hill became the race’s first three-time winner in its modern era with consecutive victories from 2022 to 2024.
Sir Gino succeeded him in 2025, extending Nicky Henderson’s exceptional record in the race.
The Christmas Hurdle also provides important evidence for the Champion Hurdle without replicating the Cheltenham test. The strongest analysis considers how a horse performed at Kempton, the pace it encountered, its jumping, the ground and how those attributes are likely to translate to Cheltenham.
The 2026 Christmas Hurdle takes place at Kempton Park on Saturday 26 December.
