Horse Racing Tips: Ruby Walsh’s Champion Hurdle antepost fancies for the Cheltenham Festival

Ruby reckons wonder horse Constitution Hill romps home in the Champion Hurdle again with Willie Mullins' State Man following him up the hill. Again!

By / Cheltenham Festival, Horse Racing Tips / 4 months ago

*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Antepost rules.

Ruby Walsh’s Champion Hurdle Antepost Tips:

Constitution Hill to Win by 5 Lengths
1-2-3: Constitution Hill, State Man & Impaire Et Passe

In the first of this year’s Paddy Power Media’s ‘From The Horse’s Mouth’ podcast ‘Cheltenham Countdown’, host Tom Nugent together with former champion jockey turned tv pundit Ruby Walsh and well-known journalist and broadcaster Rory Delargy, look at the Champion Hurdle on day one of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. 

Ruby Walsh

It’s hard to know what Paul Townend will do on State Man come March, but he followed Constitution Hill last year and that didn’t work so I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried something different. He has to try something different, that’s pretty obvious. Fils D’Oudairies made it at Leopardstown at Christmas time in the Matheson Hurdle with State Man sitting second and Fils D’Oudairies probably not counting in the race. Essentially he made it in the race with Impaire Et Passe and Echoes In Rain in behind him, but of course Paul will do something different.

State Man has to improve – there’s no doubt about it. Paul Townend doesn’t feel he turned up and ran his race in Cheltenham last year. But even if you think ‘how close can he get to Constitution Hill’, a 10lb better run still doesn’t get State Man in front of Constitution Hill. His two runs this season have been rock solid though. Were Constitution Hill to do something wrong, he’s the one horse that can beat him.

I’m not sure there’s anything you can do against Constitution Hill. Just think how fast Jonbon and Dysart Dynamo went in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, two seasons ago. They went hammer and tongs and Constitution Hill just sat in the box seat in third right behind them and then took it off them at the third last. If you go flat out (to try and get him beaten), then Constitution Hill is an even better horse. That Supreme Novices Hurdle run was visually his most impressive performance.

If you go steady, Nico De Boinville just gets involved earlier. They went steady in last year’s Champion Hurdle. Nico got upsides good and early and he keeps it really simple on him. There doesn’t look to be an obvious flaw – Constitution Hill is a very honest horse, he’s just flawless. He’s damned close to perfect. He had a grab at the last hurdle in the Champion Hurdle last year but at Kempton over Christmas, he was perfect. He’s such a good jumper. It’s like he just lifts his knees at a gallop and just takes the jump in a galloping stride. You barely notice him getting off the ground, he’s that good at it.

     

    It’s hard to say whether Impaire Et Passe could pick up the pieces in the Champion Hurdle. I haven’t asked if they’re thinking of going the Stayers’ Hurdle route, but watching him, he doesn’t look to me like one who wants running in a Stayers’ Hurdle.

    I’d run him in the Champion Hurdle. He can improve from Leopardstown. His jumping is very good and it was better than State Man’s at Leopardstown over Christmas. Maybe in a stronger run race, if  you follow State Man and Constitution Hill, who knows what they could do to each other? Maybe Impaire Et Passe could pick up the pieces?

    I’d be for running him in the Champion Hurdle but I don’t train or own him so it’s only my opinion. If he’s going to go chasing next year as well, I would think that the Champion Hurdle is the better option for him.

    Ruby Walsh’s Champion Hurdle Antepost Tips:

    Constitution Hill to Win by 5 Lengths
    1-2-3: Constitution Hill, State Man & Impaire Et Passe

      *Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Antepost rules.

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