2024 Champion Hurdle News - Key quotes from connections

Willie Mullins talks about State Man

He’s in great order. I thought his performance at Christmas was huge, beating Impaire Et Passe.

I don’t know if State Man wasn’t at his best behind Constitution Hill last year. But he’s a lot more experienced now and he’ll be very race fit. We’re just happy to have the horse in as good order as he is.

State Man certainly isn’t in the league of the pizazz of Faugheen or the speed of Hurricane Fly, but he has other things, like he jumps well and he’s so consistent at home. I don’t know if he’s better, but he’s stronger. State Man hasn’t won a Champion Hurdle yet, but he’ll have a crack this year and maybe next year.

Gordon Elliott talks up Irish Point's chances

We've obviously been talking about it for a while and it looks like there will be plenty of cut in the ground on Tuesday so we've decided to give the Champion Hurdle a shot. Why not?

State Man is obviously brilliant but I would much rather take him on around Cheltenham than around Leopardstown or Punchestown. Irish Point has a big future and if he's on the premises turning for home nothing will be coming home stronger. He seems in great form and everything has gone great since you saw him last over Christmas. We're very happy with him.

Iberico Lord has been supplemented by Nicky Henderson

He is obviously a very progressive young hurdler that keeps improving having won both the Greatwood and the Betfair handicaps.

He loves soft ground which it seems that it might well be on Tuesday and therefore possibly not so soft on Friday when he was originally intended to run in the County.

Obviously with the unfortunate defection of Constitution Hill, the race has a different complexion and so he is due to join Luccia in the line-up.

Henderson also spoke about Luccia

It sounds like Luccia is going to run in the Champion Hurdle. He owner Sandy is a real enthusiast and has been in the game for years. She is a home bred and he is very keen to run her. The ratings tell you it’s not a great idea, but there is a lot of prize money and if that is his wish then it will be my command.

Update on Not So Sleepy from Hughie Morrison

On his day, he’s a really good horse and he deserves to be there – on a good day, he should be in the money. Over the years, he has run four times in the Champion Hurdle and has run reasonably well, but I’ve always thought I could have had him better.

We are there to do our best and we’re slightly concerned about the weather forecast looking dry all week, but hopefully the rain will reappear at the weekend for us.

I’m actually quite disappointed Constitution Hill is not turning up at the Cheltenham Festival. I don’t think I should be excited really and I’m quite disappointed. At the end of the day, we want the best to be there and the best probably isn’t going to be there. We would have liked to have taken him on – you always want to take on the best. Let’s hope we now get there in one piece.

Kerry Lee talks about Nemean Lion

He’s been really good since Wincanton, he came out of the race very well. He loved the conditions and ran a great race, it was lovely to watch and we were really pleased with him.

He wasn’t stopping at the end of the Lanzarote but he relished the two miles too, you’d have to say he was even better over the two. There are very few options for him and as long as the ground is good to soft or softer, he will run. It looks to be wide open for third and realistically in racing, anything can happen.

I think off 151 he deserves the chance to prove himself so we can see what he can do. It is a pleasure to have such a good horse, we’ll keep our fingers crossed that he can go and run a good race but as long as he comes back safe and well then we’ll be happy.

Lorna Fowler discusses Colonel Mustard's prospects

He’s done it in the best company on I don’t know how many occasions, lest we forget how lucky we are to have him.

He’s completely genuine, 100 per cent, but he’s always had a little look around him to see what everyone else is doing, whereas this time he really had his eye on the one in front and he put his head down and battled.

We’re going to go for the Champion Hurdle, it’s not easy to find races for him to win. How often do you have a chance to run in a Champion Hurdle?

At the end of the day, horse racing is unpredictable on every single level, we’ve got to get there but so does every other horse – Constitution Hill has got to get there, State Man has got to get there. He is the kind of horse that just loves a big occasion, he does raise his game. 

You’re on a tightrope at all times and little things can happen and change the landscape, so you’ve got to take the opportunities that are staring you in the face.