Leading Contenders

CONSTITUTION HILL Trainer: Nicky Henderson

A runaway winner of last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the six-year-old has won the Fighting Fifth (by 12l) and the Christmas Hurdle (by 17l) this season and looks to be something very special. Tactically versatile, he is professional enough to make the running if necessary, but would likely improve again given a strong pace to aim at Handles any ground and at this stage, it is hard to find any holes in him A very short price, but thoroughly deserves that market position and should be very hard to beat.

STATE MAN Trainer: Willie Mullins

Won the County Hurdle at last year’s festival and has since won all four starts in Grade 1 company. Winner of the Morgiana, Matheson and Irish Champion Hurdle, he has confirmed himself to be the leading 2m-hurdler in Ireland and would appear to be the chief threat to Constitution Hill Rather like his main market rival, he ticks plenty of boxes, arriving at Cheltenham unbeaten for the season and being a second-season hurdler from one of the dominant stables in the race. He looks sure to run a huge race.

VAUBAN Trainer: Willie Mullins

Last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner, he made an encouraging reappearance behind State Man over Christmas, but was beaten a length further in the Irish Champion Hurdle and it is difficult to see him turning that form around A smooth-travelling horse, he doesn’t jump as fluently as the top two in the betting and that might be even more noticeable in this company. 5yo’s notoriously struggle in the Champion Hurdle and it is difficult to see him bucking the trend, unless anything happens to the ‘big two’

HONEYSUCKLE Trainer: Henry De Bromhead

As per the opening subsection, it seems highly unlikely that she will run here, unless we get heavy ground. If she were to line up, it would be – without doubt – her stiffest task to date Reversing Irish Champion Hurdle form would look difficult enough, without considering the looming presence of Constitution Hill, so the Mares’ Hurdle looks to be the sensible call A top-class performer, she ran a very brave race at Leopardstown, keeping on strongly after looking like dropping away Sadly, however, age even catches up with the very best

EPATANTE Trainer: Nicky Henderson

Winner of the 2020 Champion Hurdle, she has finished placed in the past two renewals and was beaten only 3½ lengths last year No match for stable-mate Constitution Hill at Newcastle or Kempton, she bolted up at Doncaster, confirming that she retains plenty of her ability The Mares’ Hurdle remains an option, although she has more than earned the right to have a fourth crack at the Champion Hurdle. Whilst it is difficult to see her beating Constitution Hill, she would again hold sound place claims.

SHARJAH Trainer: Willie Mullins

Represents the same connections as Vauban and is actually a year older than Honeysuckle Brought-down in the 2019 Champion Hurdle, he then finished runner-up in both 2021 and 2022, and missed last year’s race through injury Beaten 4 lengths by State Man in the Morgiana, he was 9¼ lengths off his stable-mate over Christmas, when he was looking to win a fifth successive Matheson Hurdle Freshened up since, he is another who will come from off the pace, in an attempt to pick up the pieces and hit the frame again.