champion hurdle 2026

Lossiemouth has a walk-in-the-park race at Punchestown. She's 7/2 (a crazy price) after winning this mickey-mouse Morgiana renewal. She was put in her place by Constitution Hill and State Man.

When was she put in her place by State Man?

Probably after she fell and Duffy is the new one back racing

Ha Ha Bentring, no TNL of course, perhaps there was something in the back of my mind informing me that he will suffer the same fate as TNO often did where they end up continually trying to win a speed test with a stayer, not quite a freudian slip but along those lines.

Constitution s galloping companion he pulled clear of in 2nd @ newbury has just won a good novice hurdle @ Newbury.

Constitution Hill pulled clear of his galloping companion for the benefit of the paparazzi. The talk is mainly about his falls last year. He didn’t fall on Cheltenham’s trials day in January 2025 but looked like he’d lost his sparkle in finishing 3 lengths ahead of Brentford Hope. So when they say CH is back, he has to be back to the horse of 2023. I can’t see it. It’s fair to say it is a three horse race today. CH has two questions to answer. Can he deliver a clear round and does he have the speed he had two years ago. Anzadam looks like he’s there to test the water and doesn’t have the form so far to make his odds attractive. The New Lion has one question to answer - can he improve for a drop in trip? Odds of 2/1 give him a one in three chance in a three horse race. I think his chance is better than that so it’s a fair bet.

Sir Gino to the fore now with Constitution Hill and Anzadam bombing out, surely.

unclepuncle
06 Apr 25 07:56
Constitution Hill looks ready for retirement before he kills himself.

Could Constitution Hill have an eyesight issue - no idea how they check a horses eyes but it’s like he can’t see properly.
They have to retire him - imagine the optics if he falls and suffers a fatal injury at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The Champion Hurdle looks like Lossiemouth’s to lose but I hope Kargese runs in the Christmas Hurdle and at least has a chance to throw her hat in the ring.

Sir Gino is 14/1 with 'Starsports'. I might put a few quid on him tomorrow.

Dont know about horses Uncle , but dogs have something called ETS ( Early take off syndrome ) and it is almost impossible to cure . They are unable to judge the correct take off distance and frequently land on the jump pole . Pole work and the like helps but only to a degree . It should be easy to spot in a horse , but not if they do set or related distance schooling all the time .

imbecile123

I’ll lay you 1000 to 60 if you DM me.

It looked to me like Harry Skelton was having trouble keeping The New Lion straight. He nearly ran out to the left down the back straight and was veering left when he fell. Not ideal. As for Constitution Hill it’s really sad to see him reduced to that.

impossible 123 seems to have the knack of rubbing some up the wrong way

Very simple examination to test a horses eyesight. And I am 100% positive that would have been done if they had any concerns.

He has had this flaw all his racing life.

It is just him.

Shame, as the best talent we have seen for a while.

Totally confused after yesterday’s race.
Poor old Cons Hill will surely be retired from jumping. If anything happened to him if he went again Nicky would be enemy No1.
I love the New Lion but he doesn’t look a 2 miler to me after that run. Maybe he needs to be held up to show his form ? He looked cooked when he fell yesterday.  Fitness shouldn’t be an excuse as Dan said was as fit as he could get him.
Anzadam looked the winner for 95% of the race. He travelled impressively maybe too well into the straight and then either wasn’t good enough or blew up after very long absence. I’ve not seen anything from Mullins but I thought he blew up ? The reaction to push out to 20/1 after the race surprised me especially when New Lion stayed around 4/1.
Golden Ace did what she does and was obviously fit yesterday. Fair play but surely we can find something that will beat her in March.

I can see Sir Gino being rerouted here now for three reasons. Henderson said he would reroute him to Champion last year if Cons didn’t perform at Xmas. He won’t have a realistic runner in CH and finally Champion Chase probably much harder to win against established G1 horses and he’s only had one run over fences. This looks easier with Lossiemouth only established rival.
I would say he’s 70/30 to come here.

I’m having small bet on Anzadam EW at 18/1 because he has nowhere else to go and might improve dramatically for the run. If he wins at Punchestown or Kempton over Xmas he could be 4/1 or 5/1 on day.

Well done impossible123 in spotting the value about Sir Gino.  Hope you got on at 14/1!

Only a smidgeon at 48, 46 and 23. I've already lay off the stake money. I hope he runs here. And, if he's recovered from his predicament of last season he'd be near fav, and have a great chance of lifting this trophy.

I do not rate Lossiemouth (beat Gala Marceau in The Triumph) or The New Lion, another non-2 miler, I reckon.

The market looks to be crying out for you to look further down the list, to that end, and I know there is a big enough question on whether he'd be quick enough but isn't it worth them trying Ballyburn in one of the 2 mile trials pre festival, what have they got to lose they can always step back up to the stayers but he might be able to cope with a strongly run CH in the hope of being able to outstay them.

There is only SG at the top of the market that we know is a real pace horse and he has a big question mark post injury, both Lossie and TNL are horses that appreciate further, the race is likely to be strongly run on this basis, I just thought the 25/1 looked a bit tempting.

Not sure why they need to contemplate Champion when he’s already favourite for Stayers. Don’t think I’ve ever seen 3 mile G1 chaser drop back to 2 miles hurdles following year ? 1st time for everything.

Not sure why they need to contemplate Champion when he’s already favourite for Stayers. Don’t think I’ve ever seen 3 mile G1 chaser drop back to 2 miles hurdles following year ? 1st time for everything.

I agree, Duffy.
He does not look a stayer to me.
His 2m novice hurdle win at Leopardstown shows what he could do over the trip.
Bang him out in front, catch me if you can.
His best chance of victory at the festival in March.

It's a potshot because the race looks very messy, Lossies price is really tight and she prefers further, TNL had a question about him at the trip before Saturday and that question has now gotten bigger and his temperament is now also a question as well as Anzadam's who looked like he tried to bite GA when he loomed up before chucking the towel in or blowing up if you want to be charitable. Sir Gino almost died a few months ago so how he is 4/1 is complete bonkers, and from then on it's anybody's guess, Golden Ace deserves more credit because ahe appears to be benefitting from others misfortune and that might underestimate her but it'll keep happening, you've got to try and find something at bigger odds in this race this year IMO.

Yep I thought it was a smart move to have a small CH wager at 100 on Casheldale Lad post that race - younger and lots of scope , probably ideal distance at HQ etc .It never stopped drifting and hit 550 yesterday and no I didnt add to it .

I think with Lulamba winning comprehensively over fences and no doubt will be aimed at the Champion Chase in 2027 Sir Gino would more likely be this way bound now, and less likely the Champion Chase.

This year we are "hopefully" ging to really see the benefit of the Turners getting booted out, Kopek Des Bordes v Lulamba v Romeo Coolio....WOW.

Lossiemouth weak on here for the champion hurdle right at this moment if you want to lay her you need to lay 1000 and that’s only for £3

We should be a lot wiser about several festival races by January 1. With going on the soft side of good on most of the key courses, that should be similar to Cheltenham in March. Very different tracks though apart from Chepstow. My main hope is Golden Ace, both today and in the CH. She owes me nothing so very willing to keep backing her. She might be done for speed today but if she gives Sir Gino a fright she will still shorten for March.

Odds-on surely now. And, Lossiemouth would be Mares Hurdle bound, little doubt.

I was wrong. He's 2.84 here. A stonking price given his opposition, all things being equal.

Any one  else  laid sir gino at 14s.

Merry X'mas 'ronnie rails'. Not you, I hope.

Impossible.
Yes sad to say though  I was  pinching  14 quid  at 14s always  been a big believer of they don't come back.Hope you are well.Ronnie.

Surely by a process of elimination when the music stops Ballyburn will finally find himself in the CH now.

Now he has proven what was obvious, that he is not a stayer, it is surely the Champion Hurdle for him now.

Enough Mullins horses running way below par and fading badly closing stages to suggest something badly amiss with some of the horses. Ballyburn, Fact to file, Majborough, Galopin, Jimmy Du Souil and co will either bounce at DRF.

Aintree hurdle maybe best target for Ballyburn. Has no chance wth Sir Geno, Lossiemouth and even Golden Ace.

Money back on Casheldale at 100 ,(vs 415 ),fingers xd for a decent run today .

Hendo has finally stated Sir Gino is this race bound at Cheltenham or no Cheltenham. Just surprise it has taken him this long to state the obvious.

What's the matter with Hendo? The man has confirmed an entry for Constitution Hill (CH). The man is clearly batting for the bookies or a complete lunatic.

If the same Constitution Hill (CH) who fell 3x or ballooned his hurdles and finished a distance Hendo will be a laughing stock of the entire racing community.

Would JP have allowed it if he was the owner? Absolutely NOT!

Could Ballyburn turn up here considering he would have no chance in a stayers hurdle

This is shaping up to be a dire renewal looking at the top six in the betting.
Sir Gino jumps like a chaser, not a hurdler. Loses speed at hurdles unless he meets them on a good stride, but has the class to make up the ground between hurdles. Thrown in the Champion Hurdle because his stablemate is a sandwich short of a picnic.
The New Lion has never won a two mile hurdle race. Nearly ran out at Newcastle then threw himself at the second last and fell over.
Lossiemouth considered not good enough to win it last year. Connections will think it’s a poorer renewal this year so it might run.
Brighterdaysahead needs them after last year’s debacle.
Constitution Hill. a sandwich short of a picnic. Could kill himself if Henderson runs him.
Golden Ace wins when others fall over.
20/1 bar.

Have a decent amount to lay on two rags , may or may not get prices mind , but it certainly makes today's race interesting , Sir Gino been shortening all week for CH and his jumping athleticism , will probably rescue any errors , unlike his mate .

Without Sir Gino the rest will not win a Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham as far back as my horseracing interest goes.

somethings gotta win it ^^

Golden Ace or El Fabiolo, I hope.

Turned a Small profit on Wilful , to add to Casheldale's , only nominal interest now .

The one time beast Constitution Hill is only 9/2 with a run. A testament for the distinct lack of quality for this year's renewal. What price to hit the deck again, assuming he runs?

On the other hand impossible, what price would Constitution Hill be if guaranteed a clear round? 4/5.

If putting in a clear round and jumping impeccably he'd be a shortie in-running. If ballooning the hurdles like he did at Punchestwon it'll be "any price will be accommodated" by layers.

I hope he runs, and not falls again. This year's renewal is so poor unless it is the impressive winner of the valuable handicap on saturday. The rest are so poor, period.

Surely worst Schweppes or Betfair hurdle ever. Decent winner against Plumpton handicappers. Celtic Dino, Wilful and Alexei would all do the same if running yesterday ?

More likely that it was such dreadful ground yesterday, few horses go on it. The 2 m novice was also won by 27 l.

Constitution Hill would be very interesting with a clear round and I'd favour him and being a romantic would hope he wins but the assumption about him being a shoe in on that basis of a mishap free round is a bit of a stretch, he's not going to be the same horse he was and the old cliche about only needing to be 85% is a misnomer IMO.

The only tangible piece of form you can judge him on is to consider whether his run in the Xmas hurdle of 2024 would be enough to win this years CH, in that race Lossiemouth ran similarly to the other day where she was taken off her feet somewhat early but saw her stamina kicking in late as Constitution Hill began to paddle a little, if you substitute her for a younger stayer like TNL running a similar style, it's no gimme and certainly not odds on IMO.....and there has been a lot more water of the negative variety under CH's bridge since then.

Unusally for me, I do have 2 ante post bets on the CH. One is Constitution Hill at 5.6 placed before the Fighting Fifth so he is now back to a similar price despite all that has happened since November. The other is Golden Ace (who has won me more money that any other horse in the last 2 years) at 16.5. I am tempted to have some more at 9 which is her present price. I really don't fancy The New Lion at all so that will probably win. Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead can win on their best effort but which one is going to be on song on March 10? Poniros is the elephant in the room.

Alexei beat a 149 rated horse just over a length and the pundits say it’s not good enough form to win a champion hurdle. The New Lion beat a 138 rated horse just over a length and he’s favourite. Make sense of that.

Most pundits are bookies stooges. Most cannot tell a horse from a donkey. Between them they could have most of the runners in a race yet miss the winner. And, they do not play with their own money.

I might end up looking like a donkey but in a poor looking race I’d rather have a bit of fun at 26/1 than bet the favourite at 3/1 (current betfair odds).  The more I look at the form of The New Lion, the more I think it looks vulnerable and a lay at the price. I think Brighterdaysahead will go off favourite, and I think it would be a worthy favourite, but I couldn’t back it after losing twice at the festival. So far it hasn’t shown its best form there. I think it could be a year for an improver with strong handicap form.

I’ve gone EW NRNB on Alexei and Tutti Quanti. I prefer the latter as I was blown away with him in the paddock the other day. What an athlete! I assume he will run if it’s soft or worse though PN might be tempted by good to soft.

The Constitution Hill saga has become a disturbing media circus. I don’t understand how he can be made favourite off the back of an all weather flat run. His Timeform rating was 106P which is approximately 151P over hurdles. Although he proved he’s fit and well that rating doesn’t prove he’s back to what he was. In any case it’s jumping that’s the problem and it seems his participation hangs on a schooling session. Presumably he was schooling alright before his previous debacles. It looks like Yogi Breisner is being set up as the fall guy.  Henderson has been using Yogi for decades so what is he supposed to be able to do in the space of a few weeks that he wasn’t doing with CH over the last couple of years? I feel the pressure on CH to run will be too much for Henderson to resist. I don’t think it’s worth the risk.

CH being fav is mere bookie talking. Unless it's nrnb do not touch it with a barge pole. I do not think he'll show up as a runner next month at Cheltenham.

^
It’s supply and demand you complete imbecile.

Apparently, CH is 50/50 for this race. I think this is disgusting and disingenuous. If he runs here I'll not be watching; ego before safety and welfare for the horse. I'd probably lay him too on the day.

CH out so for me it is Golden Ace versus Poniros now.

Poniros? The horse came from nowhere to pip Lulamba on the line. Good luck!

That was his first ever run over hurdles impossible. Lulamba is no slouch. On the negative side is his age which is still a 5lb penalty imo and his inexperience but the market tells us that the Mullins camp fancy him and he is likely to be their main candidate. It is looking a weaker contest every day and will depend on which of the mares turn up. I still think that Golden Ace will win unless the Brighterdaysahead we saw at Leopardstown is the one that runs at Cheltenham.

It would be wrong to say Lulamba is a slouch but finishing close to him isn’t Champion Hurdle form. Not that there’s much of that about. I suppose Golden Ace can’t be overlooked as a previous winner but let’s call a spade a spade. It was a rubbish winner though the celebration in the paddock was brilliant.

I watched last year's race again yesterday - I'd forgotten how utterly bonkers it was.

If all line up I'll quit betting if Golden ace is in the 1st 3

Would Lulamba have a decent chance here too? The injury to Sir Gino was pretty late in the season otherwise Lulamba could have deputised given the owner had no silver bullet for this race.

I think Lulamba would be vying for fav in the market. I just cannot see The New Lion win. He's not a top-notch 2-miler. Also, he's a tendency to edge right when under-pressure at the business end. He's also fallen (once) as a result.

Never thought I'd say it but Lossiemouth would be my pick if she ran as I have been generally against her through the years, she wants further but so do others in the field, I'm a big BDA fan but she doesn't like Cheltenham, she can't get into that relentless grinding rhythm on that track like she can at Leopardstown whereas Lossie is infinitely better at Cheltenham, the big thing this year with her is that Mullins does not have a live viable horse for the race and also CH not running helps too so she has her best chance of running.

At the prices I don't like any of the others.

I agree. The main thing with her is, after the defection of CH, she also has the Mares Hurdle as her target. And, knowing her connections esp her trainer Mr Mullins (Ricci is only a puppet) she'll run in a race where she's the best chance of winning ie Mares Hurdle given the extra and optimum yardage.

There seems to be a lot of ideas about what can't win so but why shouldn't Golden Ace? She is a long way behind Constitution Hill and State Man but they are not running! She had The New Lion on toast when he fell at Newcastle and quite a few thought she might have run very close to State Man last year even if he had stood up. Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead are the main dangers on paper with Poniros still the one I fear because he is still totally unexposed. i don't think that Alexei or Tutti Quanti are good enough.

The RPR ratings are as follows.
Hurdles over less than 2 miles 2 furlongs.
Brighterdaysahead 173
Lossiemouth 171
Golden Ace 165
The New Lion 163
Poniros 160

If all of those run, Lossiemouth looks the most likely as she has a better Cheltenham record that brighterdaysahead. But is Lossiemouth going to run? Golden Ace has beaten Brighterdaysahead twice at Cheltenham, once in the mares novice getting 5lb and last year in the CH. The only horses that have beaten her over 2 miles are Sir Gino, State Man and in that strange 2 horse race, Kateira. None of those run on March 10.

sageform • February 28, 2026 6:02 PM GMT
There seems to be a lot of ideas about what can't win so but why shouldn't Golden Ace? She is a long way behind Constitution Hill and State Man but they are not running! She had The New Lion on toast when he fell at Newcastle and quite a few thought she might have run very close to State Man last year even if he had stood up

She’d had the benefit of a run going into the Fighting 5th, I recall Skelts saying that he’d left plenty of to work with on with the New Lion so it may be dangerous to take that race on face value.

To add to that point the jock said yesterday on the OS to at the end that the horses weren’t as far forwards this year to start with.

I think that they’re licking their lips at the chance to show the horse at his best here as they have a better record with hurdlers at the festival than jumpers.

Only negative was the race that it took in last time on the other course, doesn’t have a good record for winners.

I don’t see that Golden would have beaten Stateman or got close, he was tanking with Townsend having a double handful.

State Man would walk away with this race had he not been injured. Unless a 1st-time runner wins this renewal is one of the worst, if not the worst, renewal ever.

vgtewer

It’s always the worst race ever

The unbeatable went off 13/8 for last years and the main danger was a 9/1 poke!

Lossiemouth confirmed for Champion Hurdle

This renewal is the worst ever eg no Constitution Hill or State Man. Either will eat these lot and spit them out without the slightest discomfort one bit. Nevertheless, I do not think Lossiemouth will win. Her connections have made the correct decision, but I think the horse has regressed.

Have to agree. Will probably back BDA now for the price, which we wont know until the Decs have been announced later today

Are you confident she’ll place? Horses for courses comes to mind and she falls flat on that whereas others don’t.

Horses for course's is Lossiemouth 4 from 4 2 old 2 new

From from 4 Ben correct but I was posing the question re: Brighter Days Ahead for Andy.

Lossie will go off fav no?

Very true, but as I said I was going by price. I never fancied TNL and think that Lossie is on the decline. If BDA runs like she did at Leopardstown, she is in with a good a shout as any of them.

Fair enough Andy, there seems to be a lot of people against the Skelt runner, surely won’t be fav as over 90% of opinion seems against him.

I think we might see him bolt up in a proper ran race, this is a big thing for the the trainer to be given a JP horse and I believe that he’s left plenty to work on and we might see something special!
Well here’s hoping

And it’s not that I’ve backed to win big, but there’s a lot of negativity around the division with the likes of CH, Sir Gino and Stateman not running.
Lest we forget the latter was a 9/1 unfancied chance last year so there’s room for one to really show us something.

Well with JP turning 75 on Tuesday, all his horses will be trying

And the Skelts

I don't think she's regressed just back to the place she loves

Yeah I was very wrong too

The class horse won, Mullins clearly doesn’t have them at their pitch for the DRF, I’d read that it may leave its mark on the runners there. It’s just used as a run out.

I was unable to watch yesterday, the first time in years that I’ve not heard the roar

Wasn’t impressed with the ride by Skelts, going wide and giving a lead off a sedate pace, Ruby said she’d win in a sprint and that pretty much unfolded.

Conversely he rode on the inside on Madara at least for the first circuit, that sort of this from jocks winds me up!

He looked after TNL and all the talk of putting him into the hurdles was just that, the horse wasn’t ridden to match the talk and on watching back he doesn’t jump quick enough, lands like a dropped cat.

I’d hoped for something special that wasn’t there, but feared the entry of Lossie and wasn’t surprised that she was fav.

BDA is just unable to go quick enough and get into that rhythm at Cheltenham that she can at the flatter Leopardstown that gets Lossiemouth at it earlier in the race,consequently, although she is a 20f horse herself ideally, she is undoubtedly the quickest of the 20f horses in a sprint over 2 miles which is how it panned out and she did the race credit.

She did and I didn’t see her hitting the board, thought the winner and Lion were booked for two places, with Golden Ace and (before the addition of Lossie) the Blume runner fighting for 3rd.

She was well beaten and I didn’t think that her run proves that Cheltenham isn’t her track, as you say she’s better on a flatter track. Going up hill and down dale ain’t for her.

Had Skelton of ridden better he’d of been second, covering ground tells.

I’m glad too that there was no talk of , “what if Constitution had ran” having beaten Lossie last year, her record is second to none and he looked a slight shadow of himself in bearing her when he did to me, which is why I backed against him last year.

I read on a horsey paper it was the best CH since Constitution Hill. What a prat!

On ratings?

I fell asleep when this came on.

Too much sun?