The 2025 Cheltenham Festival is almost upon us, and as anticipation builds ahead of the Prestbury Park extravaganza, one of the first major races punters and pundits alike are trying desperately to dissect is the Champion Hurdle.
The opening day’s championship race is the premier contest for two-mile hurdlers, and Constitution Hill is set to make an almighty return at the Festival in a bid to reclaim his crown after missing last year’s renewal through illness.
The Champion Hurdle 2025 odds are heavily in Nicky Henderson’s stable star’s favour based on the form we have seen so far this season, but the nine-year-old might not have it as easy as he has historically—with a number of Irish contenders out to end his 10-race career winning streak.
The Champion Hurdle ante-post market has changed drastically over the course of the season, with favourites fluctuating and new challengers throwing their names in the mix. That said, let’s take a look at its current state.
Constitution Hill – 8/13
12 months ago, we couldn’t say with certainty if we’d see Constitution Hill on the racecourse ever again, as the eight-year-old contracted a bad dose of career-threatening colic.
Even at the start of this season, it remained unclear what the future would hold following what appeared to be an issue during a workout that ultimately ruled him out of the Fighting Fifth.
However, Constitution Hill made it back in time for the Christmas Hurdle—beating Lossiemouth on Boxing Day—before going to land the International Hurdle despite a blunder at the last.
With Lossiemouth running relatively flat at Kempton and Constitution Hill, seeing off a lacklustre field on Trials Day, it’s hard to know what to expect from him if he’s involved in a proper testing race here.
Lossiemouth – 5/1
Despite being disappointing on her last two runs, Lossiemouth remains the chief danger to Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle.
The Willie Mullins-trained mare started the season impressively when beating Stayers’ Hurdle winner Teahupooin the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
That saw her shoot to favouritism for the Cheltenham championship race, but she hasn’t done much since to suggest she’ll topple the mighty Constitution Hill at Prestbury Park.
Lossiemouth’s jaw-dropping fall four out when taking on stablemate State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle perhaps hasn’t done her any favours either, but Mullins confirmed the plan is still this race.
State Man – 13/2
While Brighterdaysahead currently separates Lossiemouth and Stateman in the market with racing betting odds of 6/1, it seems more likely that the classy mare is set to go to the Mares’ Hurdle.
Therefore, we’ve moved straight on to the defending Champion Hurdle winner. With Constitution Hill absent last year, State Man was left to pick up the pieces and battled gamely to hold off Irish Point.
But his form this season has left a lot to be desired. The eight-year-old was beaten twice by Brighterdaysahead, including by over 30 lengths at the Dublin Racing Festival.
State Man has the chance to redeem himself against Lossiemouth in the Irish Champion Hurdle. However, it’s impossible to read into that race now, given the circumstances, but it still seems unlikely he’ll defend his Champion Hurdle crown.
