Pre-season guide and tips for the 2025 Champion Hurdle
Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth sit first and second in the market
For the second year in a row, State Man is our top ante-post selection at 5/1
Paul Townend celebrates victory on board State Man in The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy during day one of the Cheltenham Festival 2024. (Getty)
Contents
2024 Champion Hurdle Odds
👑 The Defending Champion 👑
⚠️ The Main Dangers ⚠️
♞ The Dark Horses ♞
Day one of the Cheltenham Festival is headlined by the showpiece event of the two-mile division, the Champion Hurdle.
In the absence of Constitution Hill, State Man - who we tipped up at 8/1 in this article 12 months ago - claimed Champion Hurdle glory for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.
Here's our ante-post guide to the 2025 Champion Hurdle, including an early Cheltenham Festival tip.
2024 Champion Hurdle Odds
Name
Odds
Constitution Hill
7/4
Lossiemouth
7/2
State Man
5/1
Sir Gino
10/1
Ballyburn
12/1
Mystical Power
16/1
Bar
20/1
👑 The Defending Champion 👑
What a horse State Man is. Willie Mullins' star has won ten of his 11 starts in Grade One races and completed a five-race unbeaten campaign last term with back-to-back wins over Irish Point at Cheltenham and Punchestown.
State Man isn't flashy, he's not the greatest of jumpers and I'm not convinced that Cheltenham is his favourite track. He is, however, an out-and-out winner, with bundles of ability and a fantastic attitude. I have no doubt that he'll add to his incredible haul of Grade Ones during the 2024/25 season.
⚠️ The Main Dangers ⚠️
Despite his dominance, State Man only sits third in the current betting. Leading the market is Constitution Hill, who beat State Man by nine lengths on their only previous meeting in the 2023 Champion Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson's star was seen only once last term, when winning the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Despite a positive update over the summer, recent press clippings suggest that Henderson isn't entirely happy with his returning superstar. Many are even questioning whether we will see Constitution Hill on a racetrack ever again. Only Henderson knows the answer to that question.
Then there's Lossiemouth, who also sits ahead of stablemate State Man in the market. Following her flawless victory in the 2024 Mares' Hurdle, both Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci said that she would be aimed at the Champion Hurdle this term.
Willie, however, isn't the sort of man to put all of his eggs in one basket. If State Man remains dominant this term and Mystical Power develops into a Champion Hurdle contender, then he won't run Lossiemouth in that race as well, leaving Kargese to take on Brighterdaysahead and Golden Ace in the Mares'. I'd say there was a mere 25% chance of Lossiemouth even running in the Champion Hurdle.
Could Lossiemouth run against State Man in the 2025 Champion Hurdle?
♞ The Dark Horses ♞
If Constitution Hill remains on the sidelines, then Sir Gino will be propelled into Champion Hurdle contention. Nicky Henderson's star looked top-class last term, but we know how difficult it can be for five-year-olds in this Championship race.
Triumph Hurdle winner Majborough features in the market too, but as a ginormous chaser in the making, I'd be surprised if we saw much of Willie Mullins' charge during what could be the trickiest year of his career.
Mystical Power will surely be taken down the Champion Hurdle route, leaving Ballyburn free to explore his options over fences. Slade Steel, Firefox and Iberico Lord will also go down the novice chasing route, with Luccia, Dysart Enos and Golden Ace likely to remain within their sex.
As I mentioned earlier, precocious juveniles haven't got a great record in the following season's Champion Hurdle. Gavin Cromwell managed to buck that trend with Espoir D'Allen and he clearly thinks plenty of Bottler'secret, who'll make his four-year-old reappearance at Cheltenham's Open Mreting.
Joseph O'Brien's Nurburgring was only fourth behind Majborough in the Triumph Hurdle, but trounced his rivals when winning the Galway Plate and has run up to a good level on the flat since. Either could turn out to be dark horses for the Champion Hurdle, if the division turns out to be as weak this season as it was in the last.
Verdict
State Man has done nothing wrong, so to see odds of 5/1 available so readily is a surprise. He's the only runner I'd consider backing at this stage of the season.
Mystical Power could be interesting, if he continues the progression he showed as a novice last term. Bottler'secret and Nurburgring are worth a second look at much longer prices.
1: State Man Champion Hurdle 2025 Early Tip @5/1 at BoyleSports - 10 Units
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