With the news that favourite Constitution Hill has been ruled out we take a look at the main contenders for the Champion Hurdle 2024, the featured race on Tuesday 12th March 2024.
| Champion Hurdle Horse | Champion Hurdle Odds |
|---|---|
| State Man | 2/5 |
| Lossiemouth | 7/2 |
| Vauban | 20/1 |
| Irish Point | 4/1 |
| Not So Sleepy | 14/1 |
| Luccia | 16/1 |
| Zarak The Brave | 16/1 |
| Echoes In Rain | 20/1 |
The focus is on the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy, scheduled for Tuesday, March 12 at 15:30, covering a distance of 2 miles and 87 yards.
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We begin our ante-post coverage with the Champion Hurdle, where Constitution Hill, a heavily favored contender (current odds at 1/4), seeks consecutive victories.
Constitution Hill Out
Constitution Hill was formally ruled out of contention on Monday due to his disappointing performance and subsequent health concerns last week.
This development paves the way for State Man to potentially secure the Champion Hurdle title, a prospect that seemed improbable just a couple of weeks ago.
In what appears to be a notably weakened field, State Man’s dominance in the division makes him the clear favorite for victory, with only the formidable Constitution Hill posing a significant threat.
State Man
State Man, trained by Willie Mullins, is currently the second favorite for the 2024 Champion Hurdle, with odds set at 2/5.
This seven-year-old boasts an impressive track record, having secured nine wins and two second-place finishes in twelve races.
State Man’s latest performance was at Leopardstown this month over a 2-mile distance. In this race, he emerged victorious, outperforming the field, including Bob Olinger, by a margin of 5.5 lengths.
State Man has competed at Cheltenham twice. His first appearance was in a Handicap Hurdle during the 2022 festival, where he triumphed over First Street by one and a quarter lengths.
In the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, he finished second in the Champion Hurdle, nine lengths behind the winner Constitution Hill.
Given this history, State Man appears once again poised to be a strong contender, though potentially finishing as the runner-up to Constitution Hill, mirroring last year’s outcome.
Irish Point
Irish Point, currently the fourth favorite for the 2024 Champion Hurdle, is listed at odds of 14/1.
Trained by Gordon Elliot, the six-year-old Irish Point boasts an impressive record, having achieved six wins, three second-place finishes, and one third-place finish in eleven races.
In his last race at Leopardstown in December, over a distance of 7.5 furlongs, Irish Point triumphed, finishing a substantial nine and a half lengths ahead of the runner-up, Asterion Forlonge.
Irish Point has competed twice at the Cheltenham course. His first appearance was in a Handicap Hurdle at the 2022 festival, where he emerged victorious over runner-up First Street by one and a quarter lengths.
In the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, he finished second in the Champion Hurdle, nine lengths behind the winner Constitution Hill.
His most recent win was at Cheltenham last month, adding to his consistent track record.
Given these achievements, Irish Point appears to be a strong contender for at least a place in the upcoming Champion Hurdle.
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