
There’s a new race favourite for the feature race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival as fitness concerns over last year’s winner, Constitution Hill
There’s a new race favourite for the feature race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival as fitness concerns over last year’s winner, Constitution Hill sees Nicky Henderson’s star leapfrogged in the Unibet Champion Hurdle betting by State Man.
Constitution Hill has long been the overwhelming favourite for the race and was available at 1/4 in William Hill’s ‘No Runner, No Bet’ market but he has now been displaced by last year’s runner-up, State Man following the news that broke on Tuesday regarding fitness concerns over Constitution Hill.
The seven-year-old is the leading Irish challenger in the race and has been in excellent form since finishing second to Constitution Hill in the Champions Hurdle at Prestbury Park last year. The Willie Mullins-trained State Man has clinched three Grade 1 wins already this season, landing the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown before a double at Leopardstown in the Matheson Hurdle and Irish Champion Hurdle.
State Man has defeated some top-quality horses including Bob Olinger, Impaire Et Passe, Vauban and Honeysuckle but victory over Constitution Hill in the Unibet Champion Hurdle would be arguably his greatest performance to date.
Unibet Champion Hurdle Odds
(courtesy of William Hill)
State Man | 1/2 |
Constitution Hill | 4/6 |
Lossiemouth | 5/2 |
Irish Point | 5/1 |
Not So Sleepy, Zarak The Brave | 10/1 |
Echoes In Rain, Nemean Lion, Pied Piper | 12/1 |
Luccia | 14/1 |
Zanahiyr, Love Envoi | 16/1 |