Champion Hurdle 2025 - Can Brighterdaysahead scale Constitution Hill?

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 11 Mar 2025

Jon Vine 11 Mar 2025

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Free guide to the 2025 Champion Hurdle
This race will take place on day one of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday 11th March
Constitution Hill is the overwhelming favourite

Expired

Nico de Boinville after riding Constitution Hill to win The Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham. (Getty)

The first of four Championship races staged at the Cheltenham Festival is the Champion Hurdle, which headlines the card on day one. This year's renewal will see the return of 2023 winner Constitution Hill, who missed the defence of his crown through injury 12 months ago.

Here's our free guide to the 2025 Champion Hurdle, featuring the latest odds, expert analysis and our best betting tips.

*Note - Best bets won't be finalised until the field has been confirmed*

2025 Champion Hurdle Odds

Name	Odds
Constitution Hill	8/13
Brighterdaysahead	9/4
State Man	9/1
Golden Ace	40/1
Burdett Road	40/1
Winter Fog	150/1
King Of Kingsfield	150/1

2025 Champion Hurdle Tips - The Return Of The King

It's been wonderful to see Constitution Hill back and in full working order this season. I, like many, feared we might never see Nicky Henderson's star on a racetrack again after that disastrous gallop with Sir Gino at Newbury. Any doubts were dispelled when Constitution Hill won the Christmas Hurdle on his reappearance and Henderson's star impressed during that routine victory in the International Hurdle.

Lossiemouth went into the Christmas Hurdle with a run under her belt and a seven-pound pull at the weights. Willie Mullins' star was outpaced from the start and jumped terribly by her standards. Constitution Hill wasn't at his brilliant best either - which was understandable as it was his first start for a year - but Nico De Boinville's mount had enough left in the tank to hold his rallying rival at bay.

Barring that near-catastrophe at the final flight, Nicky Henderson's star barely came out of first gear when striking on his long-awaited return to Cheltenham. Constitution Hill has produced incredible performances on his two previous appearances at the Cheltenham Festival and few trainers know how to ready a Champion Hurdler better than Nicky Henderson.

2025 Champion Hurdle Tips - The Chasing Pack

Will Brighterdaysahead turn up here? I really hope so. Gordon Elliott's mare did well to hold off State Man in the Morgiana Hurdle, before destroying her rivals with a monstrous performance at Leopardstown over Christmas.

In recent weeks, Elliott has said a number of times that the team will "pick the best option for the mare", which suggests to me that the Mares' Hurdle is still the number one objective. She and stablemate, King Of Kingsfield will ensure that this year's Champion Hurdle is run at a red-hot gallop if they pitch up. The problem with that is, nothing has ever been able to go quick enough for Constitution Hill. A rapid pace is exactly what he wants.

undefined — Nico de Boinville riding Constitution Hill (white) clear the last to win The Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle from Paul Townend and Lossiemouth. (Getty)

Fans were robbed of a seismic showdown between Lossiemouth and State Man when the mare capsized at the third-last. State Man simply had to stand up to claim his first victory of the season, which he did, beating Daddy Long Legs by six lengths.

State Man has dominated a weak division in Constitution Hill's absence. The 160 RPR that Willie Mullins' star received when winning this race 12 months ago is one of the lowest winning Champion Hurdle ratings ever handed to a gelding. That sort of performance wouldn't be good enough to place this year - providing the first three in the betting all turn up in one piece.

None of the remaining entrants have any hope of winning this historic contest. Burdett Road could potentially hang on for place money, but I doubt he'll be able to dominate from the front, as is his want. Golden Ace, Brentford Hope, Winter Fog and Senecia aren't good enough, and King Of Kingsfield is there simply to make the pace for Brighterdaysahead.

2025 Champion Hurdle - Best Bets

For all Brighterdaysahead has been impressive this season, I wouldn't fancy her to beat CONSTITUTION HILL (8/13). I have great respect for the mare and her allowance will come in handy. Yet, we're talking about one of the best horses of the modern era, trained by a man who has won this race more than any other handler.

The quicker they go, the better for Constitution Hill, whose cruising speed is unrivalled. Two of the best performances ever produced by a hurdler have come from this horse over this course and distance. Still the king. Still unbeaten. Still, Constitution Hill.

Verdict

Champion Hurdle 2025

Constitution Hill isn't available at prices that I generally take, but I'll certainly be cheering him home when the field straightens up for the final flight.

Constitution Hill

2025 Champion Hurdle Tips

@8/13 - 5 Units

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