Cheltenham Festival entries for the Champion Hurdle, Stayers' Hurdle and Mares' Hurdle
Unbeaten superstar Constitution Hill heads 22 entries for the Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival - and we might have to wait until then to see him in action again.
Nicky Henderson’s charge was a nine-length winner of the day one feature at Prestbury Park last year, one of his eight victories under rules to date.
Constitution Hill is already long odds-on for a repeat on March 12, having made a faultless return in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day and Henderson has stated that he could head straight to Cheltenham and bypass the International Hurdle on Trials Day.
The Willie Mullins-trained State Man chased him home last year and he is among seven contenders for the trainer this time around.
Lossiemouth, winner of the Triumph Hurdle last term, features in the Closutton squad along with 2023 Champion Hurdle fourth Vauban, Echoes In Rain, Gala Marceau, Impaire Et Passe and Zarak The Brave.
Zanahiyr was third behind Constitution Hill 12 months ago and he has been entered by Gordon Elliott, with stablemates Irish Point and Pied Piper also on the list.
Henderson has alternates in First Street, Under Control and Luccia, while four-year-old Burdett Road is an intriguing entry for James Owen.
Harry Fry’s Love Envoi, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Bob Olinger and popular veteran Not So Sleepy are others of note.
The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle takes place on the same day as the Champion Hurdle and Lossiemouth, Echoes In Rain, Gala Marceau, Love Envoi and Luccia are all entered for that Grade One.
Ashroe Diamond, Magical Zoe and Jetara are others towards the head of the betting, with Jamie Snowden’s You Wear It Well looking for a second Festival win after taking the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle last term.
A total of 25 have been entered for that race – a number which is surpassed by the 36 initial contenders for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.
Run on March 14, the three-mile contest has a clutch of previous winners in the potential line-up, with Elliott’s 2023 hero Sire Du Berlais, Gavin Cromwell’s dual victor Flooring Porter and 2019 winner Paisley Park all potentially coming back for more.
Teahupoo and Irish Point are other key contenders for Elliott, with potential French raider Theleme prominent in the betting having won an Auteuil Grade One in November.
Crambo and Sir Gerhard are in the mix, with the Lucinda Russell-trained Ahoy Senor an interesting possible after a couple of disappointing chase starts this term.
Unibet Champion Hurdle 2m 87y
Tuesday 12 March
Bob Olinger (IRE) 9 11 10 Robcour Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Burdett Road 4 11 0 The Gredley Family James Owen
Colonel Mustard (FR) 9 11 10 Mrs A.Frost/P.G. Davies/R.H. Fowler Mrs Lorna Fowler Ireland
Constitution Hill 7 11 10 Mr Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson
Echoes In Rain (FR) 8 11 3 Barnane Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland
Fils d'Oudairies (FR) 9 11 10 Mr David Lestrange Gordon Elliott Ireland
First Street 7 11 10 Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford Nicky Henderson
Gala Marceau (FR) 5 11 3 Mr K. Alexander W. P. Mullins Ireland
Guard Your Dreams 8 11 10 Graham and Alison Jelley Nigel Twiston-Davies
Impaire Et Passe (FR) 6 11 10 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
Irish Point (FR) 6 11 10 Robcour Gordon Elliott Ireland
Lossiemouth (FR) 5 11 3 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins Ireland
Love Envoi (IRE) 8 11 3 Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates Love Envoi Harry Fry
Luccia 6 11 3 Pump & Plant Services Ltd Nicky Henderson
Nemean Lion (GER) 7 11 10 Mr Will Roseff Kerry Lee
Not So Sleepy 12 11 10 Lady Blyth Hughie Morrison
Pied Piper 6 11 10 Caldwell Construction Ltd Gordon Elliott Ireland
State Man (FR) 7 11 10 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland
Under Control (FR) 5 11 3 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson
Vauban (FR) 6 11 10 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins Ireland
Zanahiyr (IRE) 7 11 10 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Zarak The Brave (FR) 5 11 10 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
22 entries
13 Irish-trained
Tuesday 12 March
Anna Bunina (FR) 8 11 5 Ms Caroline Ahearn John McConnell Ireland
Ashroe Diamond (IRE) 7 11 5 Blue Blood Racing Club W. P. Mullins Ireland
Brandy Love (IRE) 8 11 5 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland
Brighterdaysahead (FR) 5 11 5 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Echoes In Rain (FR) 8 11 5 Barnane Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland
Feet of A Dancer (FR) 5 11 5 Mr Philip Byrne Paul Nolan Ireland
Gala Marceau (FR) 5 11 5 Mr K. Alexander W. P. Mullins Ireland
Hispanic Moon (FR) 7 11 5 M. K. Mariga Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Jetara (IRE) 6 11 5 Mr G. McGrath Mrs J. Harrington Ireland
Lantry Lady (FR) 6 11 5 M. K. Mariga Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Lossiemouth (FR) 5 11 5 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins Ireland
Love Envoi (IRE) 8 11 5 Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates Love Envoi Harry Fry
Luccia 6 11 5 Pump & Plant Services Ltd Nicky Henderson
Magical Zoe (IRE) 6 11 5 Patrick & Scott Bryceland Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Marie's Rock (IRE) 9 11 5 Middleham Park Racing XLII Nicky Henderson
Nurse Susan (FR) 7 11 5 Mr Colm Donlon Dan Skelton
Party Central (IRE) 8 11 5 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Saylavee (IRE) 7 11 5 Ecurie Madame Lynne Maclennan W. P. Mullins Ireland
Telmesomethinggirl (IRE) 9 11 5 Mr K. Alexander Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Theatre Glory (IRE) 7 11 5 Canter Banter Racing 2 Nicky Henderson
Under Control (FR) 5 11 5 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson
West Balboa (IRE) 8 11 5 Bullen-Smith & Faulks Dan Skelton
You Wear It Well 7 11 5 Sir Chips Keswick Jamie Snowden
Zenta (FR) 5 11 5 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland
25 entries
17 Irish-trained
Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y
Thursday 14 March
Ahoy Senor (IRE) 9 11 10 Wymer & Russell Lucinda Russell
Ashdale Bob (IRE) 9 11 10 Diarmuid Horgan Mrs J. Harrington Ireland
Asterion Forlonge (FR) 10 11 10 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland
Ballyadam (IRE) 9 11 10 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Beacon Edge (IRE) 10 11 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Blazing Khal (IRE) 8 11 10 Byrnes Bloodstock Ltd/F. McCarthy Charles Byrnes Ireland
Bold Endeavour 8 11 10 Countrywide Park Homes Ltd Nicky Henderson
Botox Has (FR) 8 11 10 John and Yvonne Stone Gary Moore
Buddy One (IRE) 7 11 10 E. Lynch/T.C.Quinn/John J. McGrath Paul John Gilligan Ireland
Champ (IRE) 12 11 10 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson
Crambo 7 11 10 Sullivan Bloodstock Ltd & Chris Giles Fergal O'Brien
Da Capo Glory (IRE) 7 11 10 Red Strand Syndicate Padraig Butler Ireland
Dashel Drasher 11 11 10 Mrs B Tully and Mr R Lock Jeremy Scott
Flight Deck (IRE) 10 11 10 The Steve, Joe and Steve Syndicate Deborah Cole
Flooring Porter (IRE) 9 11 10 Flooring Porter Syndicate Gavin Cromwell Ireland
Good Time Jonny (IRE) 9 11 10 A Shiels/Donal Gavigan/Niall Reilly A. J. Martin Ireland
Home By The Lee (IRE) 9 11 10 Mr Sean O'Driscoll Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland
Impaire Et Passe (FR) 6 11 10 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
Irish Point (FR) 6 11 10 Robcour Gordon Elliott Ireland
Janidil (FR) 10 11 10 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland
Langer Dan (IRE) 8 11 10 Mr //Colm Donlon Dan Skelton
Millers Bank 10 11 10 Millers Bank Partnership Alex Hales
Monkfish (IRE) 10 11 10 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins Ireland
Nemean Lion (GER) 7 11 10 Mr Will Roseff Kerry Lee
Noble Yeats (IRE) 9 11 10 Mr Robert Waley-Cohen Emmet Mullins Ireland
Paisley Park (IRE) 12 11 10 Mr Andrew Gemmell Emma Lavelle
Proschema (IRE) 9 11 10 Empire State Racing Partnership Dan Skelton
Shanbally Kid (IRE) 7 11 10 Gigginstown House Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland
Sire du Berlais (FR) 12 11 10 Mr John P. McManus Gordon Elliott Ireland
Sir Gerhard (IRE) 9 11 10 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland
Teahupoo (FR) 7 11 10 Robcour Gordon Elliott Ireland
Thedevilscoachman (IRE) 8 11 10 Mr John P. McManus Noel Meade Ireland
Theleme (FR) 7 11 10 JDG Bloodstock Services A. Chaille-Chaille France
Third Wind 10 11 10 Mouse Hamilton-Fairley Hughie Morrison
Nurse Susan (FR) 7 11 3 Mr Colm Donlon Dan Skelton
West Balboa (IRE) 8 11 3 Bullen-Smith & Faulks Dan Skelton
