Wednesday afternoon marked the latest key date as the countdown continues to the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. Whilst we don’t quite know the final fields for the opening day, the picture became a little clearer following the latest confirmation stage.
The three handicaps on the card remain oversubscribed at this stage, but the numbers in the feature Grade 1 contests are becoming far more manageable. In the case of the headline act of the Champion Hurdle, only eight horses remain, including the 2023 and 2024 winners and a pair of talented fillies with their eyes on the prize.
Constitution on Course to Reclaim the Title
Sitting pretty atop the market at a general price of 4/6 is the Nicky Henderson-trained Constitution Hill. Variously labelled a freak (in the nicest possible way) and the greatest hurdler of the modern era, this son of Blue Bresil has yet to taste defeat in 10 outings under rules.
Kicking off his life at Seven Barrows with a wide-margin win at Sandown, a subsequent 12-length romp in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle suggested that this was a horse out of the top drawer. Then came the 2022 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and a jaw-dropping 22 demolition of a high-class field.
On the back of that display, Constitution Hills’ reputation was upgraded from top-drawer to generational talent. Fast forward to 2025, and he has done little to dispel that notion – adding six further Group 1s to his CV, including a nine-length slamming of State Man in the 2023 Champion Hurdle.
Constitution Hill started at odds of just 4/11 when claiming the 2023 crown. He would likely be a shorter price this year but for a slight doubt as to whether he retains his brilliance following a year-long absence from the track. In fairness to the horse, he is two from two since his return and reportedly flying on the gallops at home, but this will provide the acid test.
Gigginstown Make Brave Decision with Brighterdaysahead
If there is one horse who is holding up the odds of Constitution Hill, it is surely the Gordon Elliott-trained, Gigginstown House Stud-owned Brighterdaysahead. Having traded as short as 1/2 for the Mares’ Hurdle, connections could have been forgiven for taking the easy route and picking up a theoretically “easy” Cheltenham Festival win. Happily for racing fans, Elliott has confirmed that his star mare will instead go for the big one.
Brighterdaysahead Cheltenham decision has been made 👇https://t.co/NgDlrF7x9U pic.twitter.com/6jQNhfqIb2
— Gordon Elliott (@gelliott_racing) March 3, 2025
Tasting defeat only once in ten outings under rules, the six-year-old has a perfect three-from-three record in Grade 1 company and was last sighted winning by the best part of a furlong in the Neville Hotels Hurdle at Leopardstown. Visually, that was the most impressive performance in any National Hunt race this season. If she can replicate that effort here, we could be in for a thrilling battle on the run to the line.
Mullins Duo Round Out the Big Four
So far, and still no mention of Willie Mullins. Rest assured, the Cheltenham Festival maestro is never far away, with the two other runners trading at single-figure odds hailing from his Closutton operation.
State Man arrives as the defending champ but has questions to answer on this season’s form. Narrowly beaten by Brighterdaysahead in the Morgiana Hurdle, he was amongst those in the rearview mirror of the flying mare at Leopardstown. He did get back in front in the Irish Champion Hurdle, but the race effectively ended as a contest when Lossiemouth fell four from home. He couldn’t be in better hands but has nine lengths to find with the favourite from their clash in the 2023 edition.
Lossiemouth remains in the field and will hand Paul Townend a difficult decision if lining up on the day. She was two and a half lengths behind Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle, but that is closer than many have got to the unbeaten star. She’s also a perfect two from two at the festival, having claimed the 2023 Triumph Hurdle and 2024 Mares’ Hurdle.
The Champion Hurdle has reportedly been the long-term plan, but with Brighterdaysahead confirmed for this race, Lossiemouth is now odds on across the board for the Mares’ Hurdle.
The Rest
Barring accidents, it would be a major surprise if the winner didn’t emerge from the quartet already discussed. However, the following four still hold an entry in the Day 1 centrepiece.
- Burdett Road – Nine lengths behind Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle and beaten in Grade 2 company last time out. Also holds an entry in the County Hurdle
- Golden Ace – The only horse to beat Brighterdaysahead to date, having stormed home to claim the 2023 Mares’ Novices Hurdle at this meeting. Not so good this season, but back to winning ways in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton. Interesting contender, but connections appear to be leaning towards the Mares Hurdle
- King Of Kinsfield – Trailblazer who acted as a pacemaker for Brighterdaysahead in the Irish Champion Hurdle. Likely to be assigned similar duties here
- Winter Fog – Well beaten on his only previous visit to Cheltenham and has a zero-from-three record in Grade 1 company. 30 lengths behind Brighterdaysahead in the Irish Champion and more than 15 lengths adrift of State Man last time out