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13:30Supreme Novices' Hurdle
14:10Arkle Chase
14:50Ultima Handicap Chase
15:30Champion Hurdle
16:10Mares Hurdle
16:50Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
17:30National Hunt Chase
13:30Gallagher Novices' Hurdle (Registered as The Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle)
14:10Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
14:50Coral Cup Hurdle
15:30Champion Chase
16:10(ABANDONED) Cross Country Chase
16:50Grand Annual Chase
17:30Champion Bumper
Champion Hurdle
15:30 Cheltenham Festival
2024-03-12
Winner: £262,303.74
Runners: 8
Going: Heavy
No. of hurdles: 8
Distance: 2m0f87y
The Unibet Champion Hurdle, the feature race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, is the championship contest for 2m hurdlers and has been won by some of the greatest hurdlers of all time, including Night Nurse, Persian War, Sea Pigeon and Istabraq.
NO.DRAW
FORM
FORM
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HORSE
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ODDS
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JOCKEY& TRAINER
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AGE
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WGT
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OR
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RPR
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5(0)
/355-1
Not So Sleepy
-
J: Sean Bowen
T: Hughie Morrison
12
11-10
158
164
Acts on any going; very useful dual-purpose performer who retains his ability and enthusiasm despite his advancing years; comfortably won the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, rescheduled to Sandown, when last seen three months ago; however, beaten in this race for the last four years (form figures P555) and, at the age of 12, is surely set for another supporting role.
4(0)
1-1521
Nemean Lion
-
J: Richard Patrick
T: Kerry Lee
7
11-10
151
154
Appears to need ground softer than good; progressive sort who has landed some notable prizes within the last 12 months, justifying favouritism in the Kingwell Hurdle (Grade 2; beat Colonel Mustard) at Wincanton most recently; solid fifth to Iberico Lord in major C&D handicap in November (form has worked out well); has an attractive profile and should perform well.
6(0)
21-111
State Man
-
J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
7
11-10
169
174
Versatile ground-wise; won the County Hurdle here two years ago and has been dominant at Grade 1 level since, apart from when no match for outstanding Constitution Hill in this contest last year (still ran creditably in second place); better than ever on latest start, easily winning the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown for the second time; very dependable and is clear top on ratings with Constitution Hill missing the race.
1(0)
23-252
Colonel Mustard
-
J: J J Slevin
T: Mrs Lorna Fowler
9
11-10
146
149
Has performed creditably in races won by State Man and Nemean Lion on last two attempts over hurdles; however, looks highly unlikely to turn the tables, being a well exposed 9yo who still has a modest strike-rate (only 1-13 in this sphere); faces a harder task back at Grade 1 level and needs help from the first-time blinkers.
7(0)
2-31P1
Zarak The Brave
-
J: Daryl Jacob
T: W P Mullins
5
11-10
152
156
Unraced on heavy going, seems to handle any other; ran well behind high-ranking stablemate Lossiemouth twice last term; justified favouritism in Naas Grade 3 most recently, adding to his Galway Hurdle success two starts earlier; currently well short of stablemate State Man's standard but may still rate higher and has each-way possibilities.
3(0)
411-11
Irish Point
-
J: Jack Kennedy
T: Gordon Elliott
6
11-10
159
164
Classy, versatile and still improving; has won his last four races, comprising Grade 1 events over 2m4f/2m7f and Grade 3 events over 1m7f/2m1f; easily justified favouritism in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown (2m7f, heavy) most recently, becoming a leading candidate for the Stayers' Hurdle but switches to this race with Constitution Hill absent and connections relying on Teahupoo in the three-miler; major contender, despite dropping back almost a mile in trip.
8(0)
43-231
Luccia
-
J: James Bowen
T: Nicky Henderson
6
11-3
140
153
Didn't quite get home (finished fourth) on soft going when favourite for the Dawn Run on the New course here 12 months ago; performed well in major handicaps the last twice, finishing third to Iberico Lord over C&D then winning at Ascot where she made all and took her record on good ground to 3-3; useful and generally consistent mare who has frame possibilities, getting 7lb from the males.
2(0)
12-171
Iberico Lord
-
J: Nico de Boinville
T: Nicky Henderson
6
11-10
143
151
Supplemented last week at a cost of £18,000; has flopped in both attempts on good ground; very progressive on soft/heavy otherwise, notably winning major 2m handicaps at this course in November and Newbury last month; the form is working out very well and he's the type to make his mark in even stronger company; could well improve further and post a big effort at this higher level, granted suitable conditions.
RACING POST TIP
State Man
The unfortunate absence of Constitution Hill leaves the door wide open for last year's runner-up STATE MAN to go one better. The Willie Mullins-trained 7yo has been thoroughly dominant otherwise since racing at the top level and sets a clear standard in this field. Irish Point gained his Grade 1 hurdle wins over longer trips but he has shown versatility and, being a progressive sort who has built up a good winning sequence, looks the chief threat to the selection. Constitution Hill's trainer Nicky Henderson is left represented by Iberico Lord (third choice) and Luccia, who are not supersubs as such but they bring strong 2023-24 handicap form to this higher grade.
CHAMPION HURDLE PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2023 | Constitution Hill | 1-11 | 6 | 4-11F | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2022 | Honeysuckle | 111-11 | 8 | 8-11 | Henry De Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
| 2021 | Honeysuckle | 111-11 | 7 | 9-4 | Henry De Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
| 2020 | Epitante | 119-11 | 6 | 2-1F | Nicky Henderson | Barry Geraghty |
| 2019 | Espoir D’Allen | 14-111 | 5 | 16-1 | Gavin Cromwell | Mark Walsh |
| 2018 | Buveur D’Air | 11-111 | 7 | 4-6F | Nicky Henderson | Barry Geraghty |
| 2017 | Buveur D’Air | 31-111 | 6 | 5-1 | Nicky Henderson | Noel Fehily |
| 2016 | Annie Power | 21-F-11 | 8 | 5-2F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2015 | Faugheen | 111-11 | 7 | 4-5F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2014 | Jezki | 1-1124 | 6 | 9-1 | Jessica Harrington | Barry Geraghty |
CHAMPION HURDLE TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
- Rated within 8lb of RPR top-rated, 9/10
- Won a Grade 1 hurdle, 9/10
- Won last time out, 9/10
- No more than 12 hurdle runs, 9/10
- Aged between six and eight, 9/10
- Adjusted RPR of at least 168, 8/10
Other factors
- Katchit (2008) broke a longstanding trend when he became the first five-year-old to win since See You Then in 1985 but in 2019 Espoir D’Allen became the second in just over a decade (28 from that age group had failed in the interim).
- Three winners had not run since the turn of the year (two trained by Nicky Henderson).
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WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - CHAMPION HURDLE 2023
Constitution Hill became the first since Bula in 1971 to do the Supreme/Champion Hurdle double and did so in incredible fashion, registering the highest winning RPR (177) in the history of the race. State Man who had lowered Honeysuckle’s colours in the Irish Champion Hurdle a month earlier, would be more than capable of winning a standard Champion Hurdle, but had to settle for chasing home Constitution Hill to the sum of nine lengths. Zanahyir chased the pair home a respectable 4 lengths behind with Vauban a further two and a quarter lengths back in fourth.