With the Cheltenham Festival fast approaching, anticipation is building for one of the most anticipated events of day one — the Champion Hurdle.
All eyes are on Constitution Hill, the reigning champion hurdler, as he looks set to defend his crown and extend his unbeaten record.
However, the field is stacked with formidable opponents — making it essential to assess the market for this highly anticipated feature race.
While Constitution Hill may be the one to beat in the Champion Hurdle betting 2024, the competition promises to be fierce, with potential challengers waiting in the wings to stake their claim to glory.
Let’s delve into the contenders and analyse the prospects for the day one spectacle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Constitution Hill – 1/5
Despite his season not going as smoothly as planned, as he was ruled out of Cheltenham Trials Day with a dirty scope in January, Constitution Hill remains the heavy favourite to land back-to-back Champion Hurdles.
The seven-year-old, trained by Seven Barrows veteran Nicky Henderson, has appeared just once so far this season — much to the disappointment of racing enthusiasts — but marked his sole outing with a commanding win over Rubaud in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle.
The fact that Constitution Hill is heading to the Cheltenham Festival without a prep run since that Boxing Day win at Kempton shouldn’t be too much of a concern, and a record-extending 10th Champion Hurdle should be added to Henderson’s long list of honours.
State Man – 11/4
If there’s any horse who can topple Constitution Hill, or take advantage of his lengthy layoff, in the Champion Hurdle, it is likely going to be the second favourite State Man.
The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old was beaten rather comfortably by Constitution Hill in last year’s renewal of the Grade 1 race, but he’s put together another run of four straight wins.
All of those victories have been at the top level, including in the valuable Punchestown Champion Hurdle last April and the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown when last seen.
State Man will need to have progressed a fair bit in the last year, or need a bit of luck if he is to upset the Cheltenham horse race betting and beat Constitution Hill.
Lossiemouth – 4/1
There is still a lot of debate surrounding whether Lossiemouth should take on the boys and her elders in the Champion Hurdle or stick to the Mares’ Hurdle, but her odds for the day one feature are notably shortening.
Also trained by Mullins at Closutton, the Mares’ Hurdle would likely be a foregone conclusion if that is going to Lossiemouth’s landing spot.
However, when you factor in the mares’ allowance of 7lb, the Champion Hurdle could make plenty of appeal for the five-year-old’s connections.
Especially when you consider that she romped home in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in January in Constitution Hill-esque fashion, beating Love Envoi by over nine lengths.
Irish Point, who notably won the Grade 1 Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown in December, is next in the market at 14/1 but looks certain to run in the Stayers’ Hurdle instead.
