Punchestown Champion Hurdle: latest odds and confirmed runners as Constitution Hill meets State Man in six-horse showdown

The rematch between Constitution Hill, State Man and Golden Ace is officially on after they were declared for the Boodles Champion Hurdle (6.40) on day four of the Punchestown festival.

Constitution Hill will run in Ireland for the first time since finishing second in his sole point-to-point in April 2021 and bids to get his career back on track, having fallen in the Champion Hurdle and Aintree Hurdle on his last two starts. As expected, James Bowen has been declared to ride with Nico de Boinville injured.

• 'There would be no pressure and it's always been a dream of mine' - door open for Constitution Hill to run at Royal Ascot 

The Nicky Henderson-trained star's fall at the Cheltenham Festival looked to have handed the Champion Hurdle to State Man, before he dramatically fell at the last with the race at his mercy, which left Golden Ace to cause a 25-1 shock.

State Man has his first run since then and bids to complete a Boodles Champion Hurdle hat-trick, emulating the great Hurricane Fly. 

However, Golden Ace is out to prove that her Champion Hurdle win was no fluke and complete a famous double. She will be partnered by her regular rider Lorcan Williams.

County Hurdle heroine Kargese, Bottler'secret and Break My Soul complete the six-strong field.

Turners Novices' Hurdle two-three The Yellow Clay (right) and Final Demand (centre) renew rivalry at Punchestown on FridayCredit: Patrick McCann

A field of nine has been declared for the day's other Grade 1, the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (6.05), in which Final Demand will bid to avenge his Cheltenham Festival defeat.

An impressive winner at the Dublin Racing Festival, the six-year-old could finish only third behind The New Lion in the Turners Novices' Hurdle. He is one of three runners for Willie Mullins, who also saddles Funiculi Funicula and Belloccio.

Turners runner-up and Lawlor's of Naas hero The Yellow Clay is also set to line up for Gordon Elliott, while Dovecote Novices' Hurdle winner Tripoli Flyer runs for Fergal O'Brien.

He is one of two British-trained runners alongside Queensbury Boy for Harry Derham, who is a big-race mount for popular owner and amateur jockey David Maxwell.

Boodles Champion Hurdle final field

Bottler'secret Danny Gilligan
Constitution Hill James Bowen
State Man Paul Townend
Break My Soul Keith Donoghue
Golden Ace Lorcan Williams
Kargese Danny Mullins

Boodles Champion Hurdle (6.40 Punchestown, Friday)
Paddy Power: 5-4 Constitution Hill, State Man, 6 Golden Ace, 16 Kargese, 66 Break My Soul, 100 Bottler'secret

Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle final field

Belloccio Rachael Blackmore
Eastern Legend Kieren Buckley
Final Demand Paul Townend
Funiculi Funicula Danny Mullins
Lovely Hurling Mark Walsh
Mr Percy JJ Slevin
Queensbury Boy David Maxwell
The Yellow Clay Sam Ewing
Tripoli Flyer Jonathan Burke

Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (6.05 Punchestown, Friday)
Paddy Power: 11-8 The Yellow Clay, 7-4 Final Demand, 10 Lovely Hurling, 12 Funiculi Funicula, 14 Mr Percy, 16 Queensbury Boy, Tripoli Flyer, 40 Belloccio, 50 Eastern Legend

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