tuesday's Races
wednesday's Races
thursday's Races
friday's Races
13:30Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle
14:10Arkle Chase
14:50Ultima Handicap Chase
15:30Champion Hurdle
16:10Mares Hurdle
16:50Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
17:30National Hunt Chase
13:30Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
14:10Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
14:50Coral Cup Hurdle
15:30Champion Chase
16:10Cross Country Chase
16:50Grand Annual Chase
17:30Champion Bumper
Champion Hurdle
15:30 Cheltenham Festival
2023-03-14
Winner: £253,215
Runners: 7
Going: Soft
No. of hurdles: 8
Distance: 2m0f87y
The Unibet Champion Hurdle, the feature race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, is the championship contest for 2m hurdlers and has been won by some of the greatest hurdlers of all time, including Night Nurse, Persian War, Sea Pigeon and Istabraq.
NO.DRAW
FORM
FORM
Sort by Saddle Number
HORSE
Sort by Horse Name
ODDS
Sort by Best Odds
JOCKEY& TRAINER
Sort by Trainer
AGE
Sort by Horse Age
WGT
Sort by Weight
OR
Sort by Official Rating
RPR
Sort by Racing Post Rating
4(0)
155-35
Not So Sleepy
-
J: Jonathan Burke
T: Hughie Morrison
11
11-10
156
161
Dead-heated for first in last season's Fighting Fifth; well-held third to Constitution Hill in same race this term and subsequently well beaten over 3m in rescheduled Long Walk at Kempton; Champion Hurdle regular, with form figures of P55 in this race, but thoroughly exposed and looks set for another supporting role at best, especially as he's now an 11yo.
3(0)
/73-49
Jason The Militant
-
J: Joe Williamson
T: Philip Kirby
9
11-10
150
156
Suited by soft/heavy ground; smart on his day for Henry de Bromhead but was nowhere near best, albeit on a faster surface than ideal, on final run for that stable; faded into ninth off top weight in 2m1f handicap here on debut for Phil Kirby; bare recent evidence suggests he's not the force of old.
7(0)
D3F-7P5
Zanahiyr
-
J: Davy Russell
T: Gordon Elliott
6
11-10
157
164
Third past the post in this contest 12 months ago when still a consistent sort (subsequently disqualified; banned substance in sample); first two efforts this term can be excused but latest run (behind State Man and Vauban in the Irish Champion) is harder to forgive; difficult to support on recent form.
5(0)
1-1111
State Man
-
J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
6
11-10
167
172
Handicap snip off 141 in the County at this meeting 12 months ago (good to soft) and has subsequently completed a Grade 1 four-timer, making all to dethrone Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle most recently (tactically versatile, doesn't need to lead); comfortably beat stablemate Vauban in the Matheson (soft) the time before; 6-6 in completed starts for current yard; up-and-coming hurdler who has developed into a serious candidate for this prize; respected.
2(0)
20-161
I Like To Move It
-
J: Sam Twiston-Davies
T: Nigel Twiston-Davies
6
11-10
157
169
Progressive hurdler who powered clear for a 17l success in the Kingwell at Wincanton (1m7f) last month, bouncing back from his Relkeel flop over 2m4f; rated by trainer as being as good as the yard's best hurdlers in the past, including two horses who were placed in the Champion Hurdle; 3-3 over C&D, the most recent in this season's Greatwood (defied top weight in emphatic style); has raced mostly on good/good to soft; should go well.
6(0)
11-123
Vauban
-
J: Danny Mullins
T: W P Mullins
5
11-10
160
165
Looked a Champion Hurdle prospect when completing a Grade 1 hat-trick in 4yo hurdles last February-April, including a ready success in the Triumph here (good to soft); far from disgraced behind stablemate State Man in the Matheson (runner-up) and Irish Champion Hurdle (third) since switched to open Grade 1 company; this youngster could well rate higher still; in the mix.
1(0)
111-11
Constitution Hill
-
J: Nico de Boinville
T: Nicky Henderson
6
11-10
173
180
Established his superstar status in the Supreme on this card last year, pulverising his rivals in a fast time; similarly impressive in the Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle this season, both times beating 2020 Champion Hurdle-winning stablemate Epatante; has won his five rules starts (all on ground softer than good) by an aggregate of 77l and is a rare talent who looks destined to be one of the all-time greats the way he's going; tactically versatile, jumps superbly, oozes class, possesses a sharp turn of foot and a great temperament, so has everything; brilliance in equine form.
RACING POST TIP
Constitution Hill
It's the moment that everyone has been waiting for, as CONSTITUTION HILL bids to cement his superstar status by adding a Champion Hurdle to his burgeoning CV. He's taking on some up-and-coming hurdlers who have good profiles but has proved so outstanding that he sets a tall standard on ratings and, having raced only five times over hurdles, has the potential to produce even bigger figures. State Man has developed into the most credible danger, having completed a Grade 1 four-timer since landing last year's County. I Like To Move It, who has an unblemished record over C&D, is third choice narrowly ahead of Vauban.
Verdict
CHAMPION HURDLE PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2022 | Honeysuckle | 111-11 | 8 | 8-11 | Henry De Bromhead |
Rachael Blackmore
|
| 2021 | Honeysuckle | 111-11 | 7 | 9-4 | Henry De Bromhead |
Rachael Blackmore
|
| 2020 | Epitante | 119-11 | 6 | 2-1F | Nicky Henderson |
Barry Geraghty
|
| 2019 | Espoir D’Allen | 14-111 | 5 | 16-1 | Gavin Cromwell | Mark Walsh |
| 2018 | Buveur D’Air | 11-111 | 7 | 4-6F | Nicky Henderson |
Barry Geraghty
|
| 2017 | Buveur D’Air | 31-111 | 6 | 5-1 | Nicky Henderson | Noel Fehily |
| 2016 | Annie Power | 21-F-11 | 8 | 5-2F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2015 | Faugheen | 111-11 | 7 | 4-5F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2014 | Jezki | 1-1124 | 6 | 9-1 | Jessica Harrington |
Barry Geraghty
|
| 2013 | Hurricane Fly | 31-111 | 9 | 13-8F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
CHAMPION HURDLE TRENDS AND STATS
- No more than 12 hurdle runs, 8/10
- Rated within 8lb of RPR top-rated, 9/10
- Adjusted RPR of at least 168, 8/10
- Won a Grade 1 hurdle, 9/10
- Aged between six and eight, 8/10
- Won last time out, 9/10
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - CHAMPION HURDLE 2022
Superstar mare Honeysuckle became the fourth dual winner of the race this century, following the likes of Hardy Eustace, Hurricane Fly and Buveur D’Air as two-time winners of Tuesday’s feature event. Honeysuckle justified odds-on favouritism under Rachael Blackmore to extend her unbeaten sequence to 15 under rules and seal a Cheltenham Festival victory for the third successive season. The margin of victory was not as emphatic as when she dispatched Sharjah by six and a half lengths 12 months earlier, but there were still three and a half lengths back to 2020 champion and fellow mare Epatante, who stumbled at the final hurdle, with outsider Zanahiyr completing the places.