Ruby Walsh mentioned the proximity of Burdett Road but I would expect Constitution Hill to come on a ton for that and, to be perfectly honest, I think Burdett Road is probably a mid-150s horse who is certainly no worse than the horses that State Man has been beating in Ireland the last couple of years (Irish Point, Colonel Mustard, Sir Gerhard, Bob Olinger, Echoes In Rain etc). I do, however, agree Constitution Hill is a little short at 1/2, I would have him somewhere between EVS and 4/5 to be honest (but I am very happy with the 9/2 I grabbed a month ago). I think we will see a very different State Man at the weekend and I expect him to win easily and shorten again for the Champion Hurdle but if Constitution Hill can stay sound he has the beating of everything out there.
Yeah I agree Burdett Road has improved but then probably Sir Gino has as well. So if (a big if) he was mine and he doesn't take to fences I’d be instructing his handler to aim for the Champion Hurdle. Re Constitution Hill given his previous dramas 1/2 is a crazy price 3 months away from the day. 9/2 however is a luverly AP voucher
Yep, I was just fantasising over having had £10K on him at 5s a while back But then, I didn' t have £10k
Brighterdaysahead smashes the Champion Hurdle picture wide open with a devastating display in the Neville Hotels Hurdle at Leopardstown. Forging clear with pacemaker King Of Kingsfield, she had State Man beaten miles out and won by 30L from Winter Fog in a time 4.8 seconds quicker than standard (note: several races on the card were quicker than standard so we shouldn't read too much into the time - nevertheless a fine performance). The mare is now as low as 3/1 for the Champion Hurdle (6/1 still available in places) and it looks like Gigginstown finally have a Champion Hurdle horse.
Its starting to bubble up nicely as we come to the final round of recognised trials. The International Hurdle at Cheltenham this coming Saturday sees entries for both Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth (plus 4 no-hopers looking for place money). 8 days later the Irish Champion Hurdle has 12 entries including Anzadam, State Man, Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth. This coming Sunday also sees the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas and some of you will remember the ill-fated Espoir D'Allen winning that before following up in the Champion Hurdle in 2019. In all likelihood Mullins will send State Man to Leopardstown, Lossiemouth to Cheltenham and Anzadam to Naas. I could imagine Brighterdayshead going straight to the festival on the Tuesday without another run - but will it be Champion or Mares? Latest odds: Constitution Hill generally between 4/6 and 4/7 but Paddypower, Betfair and Betfred going 5/6 Lossiemouth 4/1 Brighterdaysahead 4/1 State Man 10/1 Anzadam 12/1 25/1 Bar
Lossiemouth is not declared for the International Hurdle so Constitution Hill looks to have a penalty kick against vastly inferior opposition.
After Anzadam’s win yesterday, a classic statement from Willie Mullins, casting doubt over the horse’s possible participation in the Champion Hurdle……” He’s only five and I’m not sure we should be taking on Constitution Hill at this stage.” Trainers used to have ambition, Willie. Don’t you remember Kirriemuir running in the race as a four year old, finishing third, and then winning the race as a five year old the following year? Probably not, you’re too young and, like most trainers today, more interested in talking about Cheltenham than racing your horses throughout the season long. Sad.
Well the Irish Champion Hurdle became a huge anti-climax with Lossiemouth falling and State Man cantering home unchallenged. Danny Mullins's tactics seemed sensible - set decent fractions in front (although not super-fast Brighterdaysahead fractions) and make use of the mare's stamina in the latter stages of the race to maybe nick it from the front. But you have to jump them and we will never know what would have happened. Brighterdaysahead skipped the DRF and will go straight to Cheltenham but we are still guessing as to which race. I think if she and Lossiemouth both go to the Mares Hurdle it will be the end of the Mares Hurdle in its current guise - it is simply robbing us of seeing the best mares in the Champion Hurdle. 5 weeks to go and here are the best prices WITH NRNB: Constitution Hill 4/7 Brighterdaysahead 9/4 Lossiemouth 4 State Man 13/2 20/1 Bar The race looks like cutting up badly, especially if one or (perish the thought) both of the mares go to the Mares Hurdle. We could well end up with a replay of 2023 with Constitution Hill v State Man and a handful of rags making up the numbers. Such a shame that Anzadam is injured and the spectre of the Mares Hurdle looms over the field.
