A mouthwatering renewal of the Champion Hurdle is the fab feature on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Constitution Hill will bid to regain the crown after missing last year’s renewal, but faces the stiffest test of his career against magnificent mare Brighterdaysahead.
She has taken her form to new heights after failing to win the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in 2024; getting the better of last season’s Champion Hurdle hero State Man in her last two outings including a demolition job at Leopardstown over the Christmas period.
A repeat of the tactics that saw stablemate King Of Kingsfield set a frenetic pace for Brighterdaysahead could be on the cards, but Constitution Hill is likely to prove tricky to shake off as the unbeaten ace has looked back to his brilliant best this term.
State Man has almost become a forgotten horse and Willie Mullins will be hoping he can bounce back to his best, although it looks a tough task for last year’s top dog to make it back-to-back successes.
Golden Ace and Burdett Road, who won the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle over C&D on seasonal reappearance, renew rivalries from their ding-dong battle in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle last month.
The oldest horse in the field by a wide margin, Winter Fog, completes the field for Tuesday’s 16:00.
The latest Champion Hurdle odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
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Champion Hurdle 2025 verdict
Timeform: CONSTITUTION HILL doesn’t look quite as invincible as 2 years ago but is still very much the one to beat in this division and can fend off Brighterdaysahead, who was mightily impressive at Leopardstown when last seen over Christmas. Last year’s winner State Man looks clear best of the rest.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Champion Hurdle 2025 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Champion Hurdle 2025.
Burdett Road
Trainer: James Owen Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies Age: 5 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Classy dual-purpose performer who won the Greatwood Handicap over C&D before a fine effort behind Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Golden Ace also had a bit too much for him in the Kingwell at Wincanton since and he’s surely playing for place money at best.
**
Constitution Hill
Trainer: Nicky Henderson Jockey: Nico de Boinville Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Exceptional unbeaten hurdler who missed last year’s Festival after a couple of setbacks but has confirmed he’s still very much the one to beat in this division with wins this winter in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and International here. Can regain his Champion Hurdle crown.
*****
King Of Kingsfield
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Danny Gilligan Age: 7 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Acted as a pacemaker for the same connections’ Brighterdaysahead at Leopardstown in December and presumably here to perform the same role again.
*
State Man
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Top-class hurdler who took advantage of Constitution Hill’s absence to win this last year. Beaten twice by Brighterdaysahead at the end of 2024 but looked back in form when winning the Irish Champion last time, although Lossiemouth’s fall made his task a lot simpler. Wears first-time cheekpieces.
***
Winter Fog
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: B. Hayes Age: 11 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Smart hurdler. Picked up the pieces for third behind State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last time and a similar outcome is almost certainly the best he can hope for.
**
Brighterdaysahead
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: J. W. Kennedy Age: 6 Weight: 11st 3lbs
Beaten at odds on in the Dawn Run at last year’s Festival but that’s her only defeat. Had State Man behind her when winning the Morgiana at Punchestown in November and Neville Hotels at Leopardstown over Christmas. The one likely to give Constitution Hill most to do.
****
Golden Ace
Trainer: Jeremy Scott Jockey: Lorcan Williams Age: 7 Weight: 11st 3lbs
Unbeaten in 4 novice hurdles last season, including the Dawn Run at this meeting (beat Brighterdaysahead). Reached the frame in Grade 2 events on first 2 outings this winter prior to proving ¾ length too strong for Burdett Road in Kingwell at Wincanton.
**
Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Tips
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
- Paddy’s Ultimate Cheltenham Cheat Sheet for day 1 of the 2025 Festival
- ITV Racing pundit Matt Chapman’s Cheltenham Tips for Tuesday
- Ruby Walsh’s Cheltenham Tips for day 1 of the meeting
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- Cheltenham Festival race times and schedule for 2025 meeting
- Paddy’s Ultimate Cheltenham Festival 2025 preview night – tips for every race, NAPs and insider info!
- The Ultimate Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide
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