Horse Racing: Champion Hurdle

Last year's Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival. The seven-year-old had a poor workout at Kempton Park last week which led to medical checks. Trainer Nicky Henderson said at the time the horse was unwell and struggling with a build up of mucus, but hopefully would recover in time. But results from…

Cheltenham Festival 2025 is already on some punters' betslips as the odds for the big Championship races are available. The prices will vary across the year but if you can find an antepost winner this early on ahead of the 2025 renewal, you'll certainly be on for a big return.

Pound for pound, you could make the case for Dan Skelton who had a brilliant week, winning four races from his 11 runners including his first Festival Grade 1s courtesy of Grey Dawning and Protektorat and that audacious handicap double with Langer Dan and Unexpected Party. But it has to be Willie Mullins, another Cheltenham Festival Top Trainer…

Paris (AFP) - Irish training legend Willie Mullins admitted he inherited some of his late mother Maureen's traits of putting people at ease, in being diplomatic and thinking outside the box. It was the 67-year-old's son Patrick, also his assistant trainer, who told the Irish Examiner that is what sets his father apart from rivals such as Gordon…

The Cheltenham Festival is well and truly underway and day one saw successes from much-fancied State Man in the Champion Hurdle and the pre-race favourite Gaelic Warrior in the Arkle Challenge Trophy. It was a big day for jockey Paul Townend as he celebrated three triumphs, the third coming on Lossiemouth in the 16:10 Mares' Hurdle. On Wednesday,…

Although the Supreme, Arkle and Champion Hurdle dominate the headlines on Day One of the, many customers prefer the chance to find a big-priced winner in one of the handicap races that take place. These encounters are great for each-way betting and the good news is that several bookmakers offer customers the chance to get extra places. It means…

Mystical Power moved to Supreme Novices' Hurdle favouritism with a dominant display in the SkyBet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old is impeccably bred as a son of Galileo out of the brilliant Champion Hurdle-winning mare Annie Power and could hardly have made a better start to his career for the…

Nicky Henderson has confirmed that three of his horses have pulled out of Cheltenham Festival on day two. It comes less than a week after Constitution Hill, who had been among the favourites to win the Champion Hurdle, was ruled out of the meeting due to a lung infection. Henderson endured a torrid opening day of the festival, with Jeriko Du…

2 Rachael Blackmore, Harry Skelton 1 David Bass, JJ Slevin, Derek O'Connor, Patrick Mullins 6 Willie Mullins 2 Henry De Bromhead, Dan Skelton 1 Kim Bailey, Joseph O'Brien, Emmet Mullins Ireland 10 Great Britain 3 This is a genuinely astonishing achievement by Willie Mullins. He had his first winner in 1995. As recently as 2006, he came home from…

The big favourite ensured there was no upset in Tuesday's feature race Action Images via Reuters With Constitution Hill ruled out of the race, the stage was set for big favourite State Man (2-5) in Tuesday's feature race, and he did not let punters down. Paul Townend was patient, taking the last with Irish Point, who ran an impressive race in…

The Gallagher Novices' Hurdle kicks off proceedings on day two of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. There have been some outstanding winners of this 2m 5f contest over the years, such as the subsequent Champion Hurdle heroes Faugheen, Hardy Eustace and Istabraq. Willie Mullins has a particularly strong hand in this year's renewal, saddling five of the…

State Man is a worthy Champion Hurdle winner given his overall achievements this season but the form of the race has an underwhelming feel, writes BHA Handicapper Andrew Mealor. State Man (169) looked head and shoulders above the opposition after landing all three of Ireland's Grade 1 two miles races previously this season - not to mention his…

This is not the Cheltenham Festival as we know it. This is the Cheltenham Festival of sure things. Willie Mullins is the man partly responsible for that and as Gaelic Warrior (2/1), State Man (2/5) and Lossiemouth (8/13) ensured a 5.78/1 opening day treble he said: "It went very smoothly." For some this is a punting paradise. "I could kiss Willie…

Day one of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival and while the Grade One Unibet Champion Hurdle is much the lesser for the absence of Constitution Hill, that won't be of much concern to State Man, who ought to have little more than a stroll in the park. One of the most consistent hurdlers of recent seasons, his sole defeat in completed starts since joining…

The Cheltenham Festival is well and truly underway and day one saw successes from much-fancied State Man in the Champion Hurdle and the pre-race favourite Gaelic Warrior in the Arkle Challenge Trophy. It was a big day for jockey Paul Townend as he celebrated three triumphs, the third coming on Lossiemouth in the 16:10 Mares' Hurdle. On Wednesday,…

The Coral Cup is one of the fiercest handicaps of the week but I'm keen on the chances of BALLYADAM at this intermediate trip. He didn't quite reach the heights expected over fences earlier in the season, but he has finished second in a Supreme and wasn't beaten far in the last two renewals of the County Hurdle. Ballyadam was far from disgraced…

Cheltenham Festival returns with four days of glorious racing featuring some of horse racing's finest throughout the spectacle. Around 250000 spectators will be at the racecourse this week as many look forward to be part of the famous Cheltenham Roar. There has been plenty of chat in the build up of the festival with everything from best trainer to…

After weeks of conjecture about big race entries, the weather forecast and the form of Nicky Henderson's yard, the waiting is finally over and the usual buzz of anticipation greets day one of the Cheltenham Festival. The Arkle and Champion Hurdle lost their strong antepost favourites with Marine Nationale and star attraction Constitution Hill…

Willie Mullins has the bookies fearing a monster payout as the Cheltenham Festival kicks off today. The meeting's dominant trainer has six of seven favourites, led by State Man's Unibet Champion Hurdle (3.30, trb) charge. Paul Townend's big race mount sets a high standard after a health scare for 2023 titleholder Constitution Hill. State Man…

Conditions should be optimal for Jeriko Du Reponet to continue his unbeaten run The 2024 Cheltenham Festival is upon us with a stacked day of racing to open the world-famous Jumps meet on Tuesday. There are plenty of other races to look forward to on day one of the Festival, with some wide-open fields. Here, Paul O'Brien offers his best tips and…

The Cheltenham Festival is here and Paddy Power News has got you covered with our fast results service for 2024! We will be treated to four days of action-packed racing as the best National Hunt horses tackle the world-famous jumps at Prestbury Park, but who will come out on top? The opening day of the meeting could be dominated by Willie Mullins…

Cheltenham Festival is back. The first day of action has arrived, and there are seven races to soak up across Champion Day. Of course, the big news in the lead-up to the Festival is the non-participation of Constitution Hill, last year's winner of the Champion Hurdle, who was the runaway favourite to clinch glory again. Lossiemouth is the big…

The pinnacle of the jumps season, the Cheltenham Festival, is just around the corner and there is no better time to sign-up for a Monster account and take advantage of their generous £30 racing welcome bonus free bets. Monster will be familiar to many casino players, but their sportsbook is a growing force. You can enjoy a generous welcome bonus, a…

Cheltenham Festival: Hundreds of spectators attend Gold Cup Day The Cheltenham Festival starts today with the first seven of 28 races that will play out over the course of the next four days. The opening day of the Festival is usually a bombastic explosion of excitement, atmosphere and thrills with the star jockeys and trainers all hoping to get…

Day one of the Cheltenham Festival brings a bumper seven-race card this afternoon that includes four Grade 1s and two fiendishly competitive handicaps. The Championship race on day one is the Champion Hurdle (3.30pm) - and while the superstar of jumps racing, Constitution Hill, is missing because of a lingering ailment, it is still a fascinating…

The iconic Cheltenham Festival is under way, promising some of the best horse racing in the world - and you can follow all the action live with Mirror Sport here The Gordon Elliott string on the gallops at Cheltenham racecourse this morning The wait is over horse racing fans: Cheltenham Festival 2024 is upon us! There are 28 races to look forward…

For good or bad, the Cheltenham Festival has become the Willie Mullins show. So much so that it's not a question of if the multiple Irish champion trainer will eke out the half-dozen he needs to bring up his century of career Festival winners this week, but when. He might even Bazball the Brits out of Prestbury Park with a six on this first day and…

It's finally time, the Cheltenham Festival is here again - and on day one of a fantastic four in the Cotswolds, the 2024 Champion Hurdle takes centre stage this afternoon. The big race goes off at 3.30pm, with State Man expected to inherit the crown from Constitution Hill, absent because of a lingering infection. There are seven contests in all…

The 2024 Cheltenham Festival (12-15 March) is almost here and this article profiles the runners most likely to bring Nico de Boinville further glory at the Cotswolds showpiece. As stable jockey to Nicky Henderson, there is always plenty for Nico de Boinville to look forward to when the Cheltenham Festival rolls around. The 34-year-old…

Racing's showpiece Cheltenham Festival starts on Tuesday with one man set to dominate at the four-day meeting. Irish trainer Willie Mullins has the favourite in many of the 28 races and needs six victories to become the first person to have 100 Festival winners. In Tuesday's Champion Hurdle he saddles last year's runner-up State Man, with 2023…

Runners guide and betting tips for the 2024 Champion Hurdle, the feature race on the first day of the Cheltenham State Man is the bookies favourite for the Champion Hurdle The feature race on Day 1 at the Cheltenham Festival is the Unibet Champion Hurdle and it is a race that has been at the forefront of the media in recent weeks. With potential…

One of the most hotly anticipated weeks in the racing calendar gets underway on Tuesday in Cheltenham. Champion's Day kicks off four days of action, with seven races scheduled for Tuesday. The Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy is the showpiece event of the opening day, with that race getting underway at 3.30pm. Around 250000 spectators are expected…

We've grabbed the views of our expert panel at the Planet Sport Bet Cheltenham preview evening which included Planet Sport amabassador Harry Cobden, former Gold Cup winner Mick Fitzgerald, ten-time Cheltenham Festival winning jockey Tom Scudamore and the Racing Post's Paul Kealy. We also leaned onour own inhouse tipsters to give you the best steer…

Former Champion Jockey Richard Johnson spoke exclusively to BoyleSports to offer his best tips for the championship races at the Cheltenham Festival this week, along with his view on how the British contingent will do in a week likely to be dominated by the Irish. Tips Champion Hurdle: RJ: "It is a shame that Constitution Hill is not there. So, it…

The outlook on gambling sites for this year's race took a huge twist last week when defending champion Constitution Hill was withdrawn on the back of an unsatisfactory blood test. His trainer Nicky Henderson was not prepared to take any chances with his superstar horse. Hopefully, he can return at Aintree next month. Although it's a huge blow to…

The Champion Hurdle is the feature race on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival and Top Tipster Ed Quigley takes a look at this year's contest... Find the following picks for the Champion Hurdle race. Play on the races with our best expert rated horse racing betting sites: State Man - bet with Sky Bet Iberico Lord - bet with Betfred Zarak The Brave -…

The biggest show in jumps racing is here with the Cheltenham Festival this week starting on Tuesday and going on for four days until Friday jam packed with Grade 1 races. New 10bet customers can get a 50% welcome bonus up to £50 on Cheltenham. 28 races go off this week in the Cheltenham Festival across the four days. Starting with the Supreme on…

State Man looks bound for greatness with huge favourite Constitution Hill missing the Champion Hurdle Galopin Des Champs won the Irish Gold Cup again at Leopardstown last month Malik Ouzia @MalikOuzia_ 2 minutes ago The Cheltenham Festival is almost upon us as one of horse racing's most famous annual meets take centre stage once…

Ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, Irish racing pundit Emma Nagle offers readers her guide to the Championship races in the Cotswolds. You can find more from Emma Nagle over on the Irish Racing YouTube channel The countdown to the most eagerly anticipated four days in the National Hunt calendar is almost over and the 2024 Cheltenham Festival starts…

Paris (AFP) - Cheltenham, the sedate Georgian town nestled in the Cotswolds, turns green this week with the annual migration of tens of thousands of racegoers from across the Irish Sea. Their destination, Prestbury Park racecourse and the four-day Cheltenham Festival starting on Tuesday. Jump racing's Olympics pits the equine might of Ireland…

A horse that has surprised all of us with his level of ability over this two-mile trip. His breeding suggests he should be going over further, and he would have made some hunter chaser which was the original plan before it was changed and he came here to race. He jumps very well and is going to be a fantastic first ride at Cheltenham for Thomas…

Our man hopes to make a killing on day one with Colonel Mustard in the Champion Hurdle at massive odds and reckons Trelawne will go well in the Ultima Steve Jones with his picks for the Cheltenham Festival The clues are there for COLONEL MUSTARD (3.30) to run a big race in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at a massive price. His record of one win from 17…

There are always more questions than answers when it comes to the unfathomable equation that is Cheltenham, sums thrown further into chaos by the recent wet weather. But the phrase horses for courses could have been written for Ireland's raiding party - whatever the weather, whatever the going, they seem bred for success. Irish trainers will…

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL returns TOMORROW - and it's expected to be a thrilling opening day at Pretsbury Park. Hundreds of thousands will gather at Prestbury Park for the four-day horse racing bonanza. And the first race at Cheltenham will be the Champion Hurdle at 3.30pm with State Man the bookies' favourite following the withdrawal of Constitution…

The 2024 Cheltenham Festival (12-15 March) is fast approaching and this article looks at the Irish jockey's hopes of adding to his impressive career haul of 28 winners at the meeting. Born in 1990, Cork native Paul Townend rode his first winner - The Chip Chopman for trainer Seamus O'Donnell at Limerick - on June 22, 2007. He started his career as…

The Tuesday of the Cheltenham Festival is the most anticipated day in the jump racing calendar, as months of preparation and conjecture finally come to a head. The big race of the day, the Champions Hurdle, has unfortunately lost a key participant in Constitution Hill but there are still plenty of stars ready to light up the opening day of the…

Mouse Morris enjoyed his first Cheltenham Festival success in 1974. He rode Mr Midland to win the National Hunt Chase for Edward O'Grady. It was O'Grady's first victory too. That's 50 years ago, half a century, semicentennial if you're being fancy, or "a f***ing long time ago" if you're Morris. "Do I get a double pension for that!" he quips when…

The odds-on favourite to win the Champion Hurdle race at this year's Cheltenham Festival was Constitution Hill until he was ruled out of the race when blood tests revealed the horse hadn't fully recovered from an ailment, meaning State Man is now the odds-on favourite to win the race outright. Let's dive straight in and take a closer look at the…

Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival and on the brink of registering a landmark 100th winner at the showpiece meeting. He currently sits on 94 winners and if recent history is anything to go by, he is likely to bring up his century this year having been the leading trainer for nine of the last 12…

Analysing the results from races at the previous Cheltenham Festivals can be a great way of reducing the field to a smaller number of potential winners. At Bookies.com, we have gone over the previous 10 renewals of every race from all four days of the festival with a fine toothcomb to find the Cheltenham Festival trends you need to make Cheltenham…