12th - 15th March 2024

Switch Device Tracker Login Now

15:30 Cheltenham 12 Mar 2024 View Racecard

4 Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
Grade 1 | GBB Race | Class 1 | 4YO plus
Winner £262,078 - 8 ran
2m 87y
Heavy (Soft in places)
Draw Advantage: None
View course guide

Last year’s race

QuickBet
Winner: Constitution Hill
Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Trainer: Nicky J Henderson
Owner: Mr Michael Buckley
Age: 6 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Starting Price: 4/11
Season Form Figures: 11
Previous Best: 1st - Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1), Kempton (December 2022)

By Paul Jones

For any championship race at the Festival, revisiting last season’s renewal is the starting point for
many, with the previous season’s Champion Hurdle having featured ten of the last 24 winners.
However, no unplaced horse from the previous year’s running has won for 30 years, while a total of
26 of the last 39 winners finished in the first four the year before.

Constitution Hill is bidding to become the seventh multiple Champion Hurdle winner since 1986.
Honeysuckle became the 14th horse to win back-to-back runnings in 2022 but the hope from the
vast majority of racing fans is that the defending title holder can usurp her, so at this stage next
season we can, hopefully, be discussing whether he can emulate Hatton’s Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War,
See You Then and Istabraq as a three-time winner.

He’s still got to get the second one out the way yet, but being unbeaten under Rules and barely
having to break sweat to beat this season’s main rival State Man by 9 lengths into second 12
months ago, he is set to be sent off an even shorter-priced Champion Hurdle favourite than in 2023,
when returned at 4/11. If he can buzz in again, then he will be giving Nicky Henderson his tenth victory
in the race.

Seven Barrows are responsible for four of the 22 entries including the mare Under Control for J P
McManus, who has also lifted this trophy on nine occasions. Both Epatante and Honeysuckle (twice)
made the most of their 7lb mares’ allowance, as did Annie Power in 2016. However, I would argue that
all three won with such authority that they would have won off level weights. Honeysuckle became
the fifth successful mare in the Champion Hurdle going back to 1984, with Dawn Run and Flakey Dove
also victorious when receiving 5lb - and that probably did make the difference on both occasions.
Sorry Dawn Run fans, but she likely wouldn’t have won the Champion Hurdle or Gold Cup without her
allowance.

In a bid to try and dethrone Constitution Hill, will Willie Mullins switch one of his three entered mares
- Lossiemouth , Gala Marceau or Echoes In Rain - from the Mares’ Hurdle? Henderson has
also entered Luccia , and Harry Fry likewise with Love Envoi .

Last season’s novices are thin on the ground, with Ballymore winner Impaire Et Passe their best
hope. It took an immense talent of Constitution Hill’s stature to become the first winner of the
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to win the Champion Hurdle the following season since Bula in 1971 (has

QuickBet
provided six winners all told, including beaten horses from 12 months earlier and previous Supreme
winners in later years), but Ballymore winners have fared far better, possibly because they don’t go
an all-out gallop in that 2m5f contest and so is often decided by a turn of foot. Istabraq, Hardy
Eustace and Faugheen won six Champion Hurdles between them after winning the Ballymore.
Impressive 2021 Ballymore winner Bob Olinger could also take his chance here, having found a
new lease of life this season.

Up until Katchit won in 2008, no Fighting Fifth participant had won the Champion Hurdle for 18 years.
That victory sparked off a notable revival, however, as the 2009 and 2010 Champion Hurdlers then
also ran in the North’s premier 2m hurdle, and Buveur D’Air won both races in the 2018/19 season
before Constitution Hill completed the same double last season. However, as the race was switched
to Sandown too close to the Christmas Hurdle this season, Constitution Hill waited for Kempton,
which allowed Not So Sleepy to win a Grade 1 race nearing 12 years of age.

Constitution Hill made no mistake, as expected, in the Christmas Hurdle and now heads straight to
the Champion Hurdle like the six winners that contested that Grade 1 prize on Boxing Day (five
winners and a second) since 1990. As for Champion Hurdle winners off the back of just one run
earlier in the season, Annie Power was the latest to successfully do so eight years ago, though
Henderson has managed the feat twice with the fragile See You Then.

The International Hurdle is given a new slot in the calendar this season on Trials Day, so I don’t think
we can look at the race as a guide in the same way as previously. The Kingwell Hurdle, however, is
positioned three and a half weeks away from the Champion Hurdle for connections wanting to put
the final touches to their preparations, and was the final prep race for Hors La Loi III, Katchit and
Punjabi since 2002 and Kribensis and Alderbrook during the 1990s. It is starting to fall a little out of
fashion now.

The Irish are chasing an 18th Champion Hurdle success since 1998 and their challenge is headed by
State Man, who ahead of the Irish Champion Hurdle has been so dominant in his own back yard that
he has won the last six open Grade 1 races over 2m in Ireland.
We have four potential contenders that have the five-year-old stat to overcome. True, two have won
since See You Then in 1985, but it’s fair to say that Katchit (2008) and Espoir D’Allen (2019) both
achieved those successes in well below-par renewals, and two wins in almost 40 years is not a good
return. With Constitution Hill and State Man currently heading the market, this certainly isn't a
below-par running! Not including the 2019 winner, seven other five-year-olds have hit the frame from
38 runners in the last 16 runnings, so that’s at least a decent place return.

At the other end of the age scale, Sea Pigeon won at the age of 11 way back in 1981. Royal Gait,
Rooster Booster and Hurricane Fly have won at the age of nine since then, but when a contender
reaches the age of ten for any of the championship races at Cheltenham, we should start to get
twitchy, and only two horses have won aged 10+ in Champion Hurdle history. Significantly, they were
also both defending title holders.

QuickBet
At a glance summary

POSITIVES NEGATIVES

Trained in Ireland or by Nicky Henderson Aged 10+

Owned by J P McManus Unplaced in last season’s race

Mare

Last season's winner

Aged between 6-8

Finished in the first four at last season’s

Cheltenham Festival

Contested the Fighting Fifth Hurdle

For more betting and trends analysis visit Paul Jones Horseracing.

Stats Guides
Tuesday 12 March

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase (Grade 1)
Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)
Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Registered As The
David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) (Grade 1)
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Registered As
The Fred Winter) (Premier Handicap)
National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys'
Novices' Chase (Grade 2)
Wednesday 13 March

Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Registered
As The Broadway Novices' Chase)
Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup
Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open
National Hunt Flat Race) (Grade 1)

Thursday 14 March

QuickBet
Turners Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The
Golden Miller)
Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier
Handicap)
Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy)
(Grade 1)
Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1)
Trustatrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier
Handicap)
Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered
As The Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle)
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur
Jockeys' Handicap Chase

Friday 15 March

JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)

County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered
As The Spa Novices' Hurdle)
Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1)
St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open
Hunters' Chase
Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (Registered As The
Liberthine Mares' Chase) (Grade 2)
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
Previous winners
Year Going Ran Winner Draw Age Weight OR Form Last Trainer (Distance) Jockey SP Time
run

2023 Soft 7 Constitution 6 11 10 - 2111-11 78 N Henderson (51 Nico De 4/ 11 3:59.38

Hill days miles) Boinville

2022 Good to 10 Honeysuckle 8 11 3 - 111-111 37 H De Bromhead Rachael 8/ 11 3:50.13

Soft days Blackmore

2021 Soft 10 Honeysuckle 7 11 3 - 1111-11 38 H De Bromhead Rachael 11/ 3:54.63

days Blackmore 10

2020 Soft 17 Epatante 6 11 3 - 1119-11 75 N Henderson (51 B J Geraghty 2/ 1 4:07.03

days miles)

2019 Soft 10 Espoir D'Allen 5 11 10 - 114-111 44 G Cromwell Mark Walsh 16/ 1 3:59.07
days

2018 Heavy 11 Buveur D'Air 7 11 10 - 111-111 38 N Henderson (51 B J Geraghty 4/ 6 4:05.00

QuickBet
days miles)

2017 Good to 11 Buveur D'Air 6 11 10 - 131-111 38 N Henderson (51 Noel Fehily 5/ 1 3:51.00
Soft days miles)

2016 Good to 12 Annie Power 8 11 3 - 121F-11 27 W P Mullins Ruby Walsh 5/ 2 3:45.10

Soft days

2015 Good to 8 Faugheen 7 11 10 - 1111-11 74 W P Mullins Ruby Walsh 4/ 5 3:50.90

Soft days

2014 Good to 9 Jezki 6 11 10 - 31-1124 44 J Harrington B J Geraghty 9/ 1 3:44.60

Soft days

2013 Soft 9 Hurricane Fly 9 11 10 - 131-111 44 W P Mullins Ruby Walsh 13/ 3:59.10
days 8

2012 Good 10 Rock On Ruby 7 11 10 - 1223-12 78 P Nicholls (69 Noel Fehily 11/ 1 3:50.10
days miles)

2011 Good 11 Hurricane Fly 7 11 10 - 131-111 51 W P Mullins Ruby Walsh 11/ 4 3:53.60
days

2010 Good to 12 Binocular 6 11 10 - 113-531 38 N Henderson (51 A P McCoy 9/ 1 3:53.90

Soft days miles)

2009 Good to 23 Punjabi 6 11 10 - 1-111F3 24 N Henderson (51 B J Geraghty 22/ 1 4:00.90

Soft days miles)

2008 Good to 15 Katchit 5 11 10 - 11-1321 24 A King (44 miles) R Thornton 10/ 1 4:08.10
Soft days

2007 Good to 11 Sublimity 7 11 10 - 61444- 45 John G Carr P A Carberry 16/ 1 3:55.70

Soft 1 days

2006 Good to 18 Brave Inca 8 11 10 - F-11311 44 Colm Murphy A P McCoy 7/ 4 3:50.00

Soft days

2005 Good 15 Hardy Eustace 8 11 10 - 1-12331 31 D T Hughes Conor O'Dwyer 7/ 2 3:51.60

days

2004 Good 14 Hardy Eustace 7 11 10 - 5- 31 D T Hughes Conor O'Dwyer 33/ 3:54.50

12722 days 1

Latest Cheltenham Festival Video

JPR One targets Arkle glory

Tuesday, 12th March 2024

Gordon wishing for Cheltenham dry spell

Monday, 11th March 2024
More rain wanted for Moore squad
Monday, 11th March 2024

Frost talks Champion Bumper ride

Monday, 11th March 2024
Latest Cheltenham Festival News
Henderson talks Sprinter's comeback
Walsh salutes Mullins on 'incredible achievement' of
Monday, 11th March 2024 Festival century
Wednesday, 13th March 2024
Cheltenham Festival ground update
Monday, 11th March 2024 El Fabiolo's departure offers Cheltenham reprieve for
bookmakers
Milan Tino the perfect type for Boodles Wednesday, 13th March 2024
Friday, 8th March 2024
Magical Mullins brings up 100th Festival winner with
Bromley on Munir and Souede runners Champion Bumper success

QuickBet
Friday, 8th March 2024 Wednesday, 13th March 2024

Ricci on upcoming Cheltenham targets Captain Guinness and Blackmore rise to the occasion
in dramatic Champion Chase
Friday, 8th March 2024
Wednesday, 13th March 2024
Declan Rix's Friday Cheltenham selections
Langer Dan repeats Coral Cup victory for Skelton team
Friday, 8th March 2024
Wednesday, 13th March 2024

More Videos Envoi Allen 'in mighty form' for pursuit of back-to-back
Ryanair wins
Wednesday, 13th March 2024

Grey Dawning all set for rematch with Ginny's Destiny

Wednesday, 13th March 2024

Mullins impressed, as Fact To File proves too strong in

Brown Advisory
Wednesday, 13th March 2024

'Wow' performance sees Bally burn off rivals to claim

Gallagher glory
Wednesday, 13th March 2024

Hopes high Teahupoo has what it takes for Stayers'

Hurdle gold
Wednesday, 13th March 2024

© 2024 At The Races. All Rights reserved Privacy policy Tax Strategy Modern Slavery Statement About Us
ATR Player Terms ATR FAQs Advertising Settings Contact Us

Change website layout: Desktop

Switch Site
Site