Boodles Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 18:41 | Winning time: 3m 57.00s

Bottler'secret^p¹⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Gilligan| T: Aidan Melia| OR: 137| D

250/1

Made up into a useful novice last season but has failed to fire on 3 of his 4 starts since returning to action in October and he's out of his depth in this company.

Form: 2-35P0

Constitution Hill²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 175| BF| D

8/13

Exceptional hurdler who landed the 2023 Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Missed that race last term (stable was under a cloud at the time) and lost unbeaten record over hurdles when falling in this year's renewal. Again failed to complete at Aintree since but he's still the one to beat.

Form: 1-11FF

State Man^p⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 168| CD

9/4

Top-class hurdler who took advantage of Constitution Hill's absence to win the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last March. Would've retained his crown in this year's renewal had he not crashed out at the final flight. Winner of the last 2 runnings of this and he's a huge player.

Form: 1-231F

Break My Soul^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 140| D

125/1

Matched pick of form for Nicky Henderson when second of 6 (first time tongue tie) in Grade 3 Red Mills Hurdle starting out for new yard in February. Wasn't entirely disgraced in a Grade 1 at Aintree last time but she will need a career-best by some way in order to take this.

Form: 124224

Golden Ace⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 152| D

14/1

Unbeaten in 4 novice hurdles during 2023/24 campaign, a haul which included the Dawn Run at the Cheltenham Festival. Scaled new heights when landing the Champion Hurdle at this year's Festival but she owed plenty to fortune that day (Constitution Hill and State Man were both fallers).

Form: 1-4311

Kargese^h⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| CD

15/2

Strong-travelling mare was runner-up in 2024 Triumph before going on to land the Four Year Old Hurdle at this meeting. Turned over when odds on for her reappearance at Ascot but firmly back on song when landing the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 221-21

Forecasts

Constitution Hill (8/13), State Man (9/4), Kargese (15/2), Golden Ace (14/1), Break My Soul (125/1), Bottler'secret (250/1)

A fascinating rematch between STATE MAN and Constitution Hill in prospect. The latter has blotted his otherwise glittering copybook by falling the last twice and State Man, who is bidding to win this race for the third year running, earns the vote. He was also a faller in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival (holding a five-length lead at the time of his departure at the final flight) but he is generally a sound jumper and is 5-6 at Punchestown. Stablemate Kargese also merits respect.