Ratings Update: Cheltenham Festival hurdles
Tony McFadden provides the Timeform ratings reaction to the hurdle races run at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
Seven went to post in the Unibet Champion Hurdle last week - the smallest field since 1974 - but the race revolved around one horse: Constitution Hill (remains rated 177p).
Constitution Hill established himself as the highest-rated novice hurdler in Timeform's history last season when he earned a figure of 177p following his 22-length success in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, passing the benchmark of 176 set by Golden Cygnet more than 30 years earlier.
Such a performance meant Constitution Hill was rated behind only Night Nurse (182), Istabraq (180), Monksfield (180), Persian War (179) and Comedy of Errors (178) among the highest-rated horses in Timeform's experience, and wide-margin wins in the Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle did nothing to alter the view that he could potentially be the best of the lot.
Constitution Hill was sent off the 4/11 favourite at Cheltenham, the shortest-price in the history of the race, and he justified such odds with an authoritative nine-length success over State Man (167 from 167p), a top-class rival in his own right. That was the best performance in the Champion Hurdle this century according to Timeform's figures, though he didn't quite match the level he ran to in the Supreme last season, where the race was run at a strong gallop more conducive to clocking a big figure.
Tuesday was the first time Constitution Hill has failed to win by a double-figure margin, though he surely would have done so had his rider asked for more effort on the run-in, and he retains the potential to eclipse the greatest hurdlers of all time if faced with a scenario that allows him to show the limit of his ability.
One notable absentee in the Champion Hurdle was Honeysuckle (remains 159), the winner of the past two renewals who was instead aimed at the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle following defeats in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle and Irish Champion Hurdle.
That decision was fully vindicated as Honeysuckle, without needing to be at the level that had seen her dominate the Champion Hurdle division before the emergence of Constitution Hill, still produced a very smart effort to sign off in perfect style, running to a similar level on Timeform's figures as when registering her first Festival success in the 2020 Mares' Hurdle.
Honeysuckle, who took her record over hurdles to 17 wins from 19 starts, was given a typically well-judged ride by Rachael Blackmore, who had her in the perfect position on the heels of the leader in a steadily-run race, and she showed her trademark tenacity to overhaul Love Envoi (156 from 150) on the run-in to score by a length and a half.
That was a fourth Festival success for Honeysuckle and saw her join an exclusive list of horses this century to have done so. Istabraq, whose final Festival success came in 2000, Altior and Big Buck's have also achieved the feat, while Tiger Roll has five Festival wins and Quevega has six.
There may not have been the same fireworks in the Supreme as when Constitution Hill scored by 22 lengths last season, but Marine Nationale (159p from 150p) still produced a very smart effort to extend his unbeaten record, quickening three and a quarter lengths clear of Facile Vega (156 from 152) in taking fashion.
It was obviously nowhere near the level Constitution Hill achieved, but a rating of 159p is only 1 lb shy of what Appreciate It earned for his wide-margin Supreme success in 2021 and puts him on the border of high-class form according to Timeform's scale.
Just about the best performance by a novice hurdler last week, though, was put up by Impaire et Passe (162p from 149P) in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle. He showed bags of speed and impressed with how he took control on the turn for home before scooting six and a half lengths clear of stablemate Gaelic Warrior (remains 153) with Champ Kiely (151 from 148), also trained by Willie Mullins, a length further back in third.
That victory, which took Impaire et Passe's record since joining the yard to three from three, was right up there with the best performances in the Ballymore this century, with only 2012 winner Simonsig running to a similar level. He should prove at least as effective back down at two miles and the only hurdlers of any experience currently in training who are rated higher are Constitution Hill (177p) and State Man (167).
Mullins dominated the JCB Triumph Hurdle to an even greater extent, sending out the first four home, headed by the 11/8 favourite Lossiemouth (149 from 141p) who made amends for an unfortunate defeat at the Dublin Racing Festival last month.
Lossiemouth had met plenty of trouble when runner-up to Gala Marceau at Leopardstown, forfeiting her unbeaten record in the process, but she proved her superiority at Cheltenham, leading on the bridle two out and keeping on well when asked to score by two and a quarter lengths. How last year's Triumph winner Vauban has fared this season highlights the jump required to make an impact in open company, but before then Lossiemouth will take plenty of beating at Aintree or Punchestown, while the 7 lb sex allowance she receives from the geldings will aid her cause.
The British made next to no impact in the Supreme, Ballymore or Triumph but it was a different story in the Albert Bartlett with Stay Away Fay (142 from 130) winning for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden.
Stay Away Fay had looked all about stamina when runner-up in the River Don at Doncaster on his previous outing and he relished the stern test that a strong gallop around Cheltenham's stiff New Course provided. He dug in deep to get the verdict by a length from Affordale Fury (141 from 132) with Sandor Clegane a neck back in third (141 from 136) and looks a good prospect for novice chasing next season. However, the fact it was a close finish and fought out by horses with starting prices of 18/1, 150/1 and 28/1 suggests a high view of the form should not be taken. Kilbricken Storm, who struck in 2019, is the only Albert Bartlett winner in the last decade rated lower.
There was also a shock result to the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle the previous afternoon with 33/1 shot Sire du Berlais (159 from 150) becoming the first 11-year-old to win the race since Crimson Embers in 1986. Sire du Berlais has a good record at the Festival - he won the Pertemps in 2019 and 2020 and was runner-up in the Stayers' in 2021 - but he had been largely disappointing this term and was only fourth, beaten around ten lengths, behind Blazing Khal in the Boyne Hurdle on his start prior to the meeting. Still, he managed to bounce back to something like his best, at a course that clearly plays to his strengths, and he proved strong up the hill to gain the verdict by three-quarters of a length over Dashel Drasher (158 from 152), who was subsequently demoted to third, with Teahupoo (158 from 163) inheriting the runner-up spot after a stewards' inquiry into interference.
The Jack de Bromhead Mares' Novices' Hurdle was won by the front-running You Wear It Well (139p from 136) who jumped and travelled well, and responded strongly when asked for her effort to go a couple of lengths clear on the approach to the last. She kept on stoutly up the run-in to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Magical Zoe (138p from 135P), who was one of five saddled by Henry de Bromhead in an attempt to win the race named in memory of his late son. Magical Zoe, who hadn't been seen since winning at Down Royal in November, lost her unbeaten record but enhanced her reputation in defeat, keeping on well in the straight having been left with a lot to do. She remains capable of better, as does the winner whose performance was just about the best in the race since Laurina scored in 2019.
