January 25 / 15.00 Cheltenham

15.00

Good

Unibet Hurdle (Registered As The International Hurdle) (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £71187.5
  • 2m 0f 179y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV
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Unibet Hurdle (Registered As The International Hurdle) (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

1/10 (Won)

  • Win: £1.10
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 11/1-1 C

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 175

Form & Verdict
Still unbeaten under rules; plagued with issues last year but is evidently over them, having justified favouritism at Kempton on Boxing Day when back from 12-month absence to register a third success in the Christmas Hurdle; sets the standard even on that form, let alone his peak displays which include two spectacular performances at Cheltenham.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(4)

25th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Constitution Hill

9st 12lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Nicky Henderson

Superstar hurdler on his day and one of the best-known horses in training; having developed serious jumping issues, he was switched to the Flat in Southwell contest (1m4f) last month and showed his class by producing an impressive performance that is backed up by the figures; sets a tall standard en route to Group targets.

1/6

1st

3

(12)

20th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 2

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Constitution Hill

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Nicky Henderson

Last jumps campaign started well but ended badly, as he took back-to-back falls at Cheltenham/Aintree and then laboured when he did complete at Punchestown; suffered another tumble on his reappearance in the Fighting Fifth in November, which has prompted this switch to the Flat in the hope of restoring confidence levels ahead of a possible bid to regain the Champion Hurdle crown he won in 2023.

7/4

5th

2

2nd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

18:40 Punchestown

Constitution Hill

11st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

towards rear, overjumped 1st, soon went fourth, headway after 4 out, went third going okay 3 out, nudged along when jumped left and lost ground 2 out, soon no extra

11/10

15/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 11-220 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Form dipped at Windsor last week; however, he could well rebound as he's normally a productive and consistent sort; creditable second in Grade 2 at Wincanton the time before and has a good chance of filling the same position in this field; cheekpieces (used once on Flat) are reapplied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

14:10 Newbury

Brentford Hope

11st 12lb

J: Megan Fox

T: Harry Derham

Won by a neck at Haydock (2m, good to soft) last month under Megan Fox and is 4lb higher today; performed as well as could be expected in the face of a stiff task when third of four in Grade 2 at Cheltenham a week later and has each-way claims on this return to handicap company.

3/1

3rd

4

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Brentford Hope

11st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Took advantage of a handy mark in Haydock handicap last Saturday, bringing record over hurdles to 6-20; has the worst chance at the weights back up in class and seems unlikely to match his second-place finish, which was a realistic outcome at the time, in this race last year.

66/1

Form: 115-53 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Two wins at Exeter as a novice hurdler last term; ran creditably in C&D handicap on reappearance, then placed at Haydock last Saturday; however, he has the worst chance at the weights upped in class today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

12

7th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

14:27 Sandown

Spirits Bay

10st 13lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Ran okay when seventh in this last year and he reappeared with a win at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good to soft) in October; however, his subsequent form has been mixed (fences/hurdles) and Top Jimmy looks the yard's chief hope.

33/1

7th

4

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 3

15:25 Taunton

Spirits Bay

11st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Made a winning reappearance in Newton Abbot handicap hurdle (2m1f, good to soft) in October; switched to fences subsequently, matching his peak RPR over timber when fourth in 2m3f Exeter novice handicap (good to soft) five weeks ago; won his previous outing on heavy.

8/1

1

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 3

12:55 Warwick

Spirits Bay

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Two wins during his novice campaign included a handicap (2m, soft); 0-5 last season but ran well at the weights behind Constitution Hill at Cheltenham in January and comfortably regained the winning thread on his reappearance at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good to soft) three weeks ago; up 4lb but he's bred for fences and looks a player on debut in this sphere.

11/8

OUR TIP

Form: 134-4P D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Veteran who isn't exactly solid on this season's efforts (hurdle/chase); peak form suggests he's one of the likelier candidates for runner-up honours in this field; however, possibly past his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 0y

15:05 Killarney

Fils Doudairies

11st 9lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Mostly hurdling this year and has faced some stiff competition but acquitted himself well at times; sole win over fences came in 2020 and pulled-up last chase start in January.

14/1

7th

8

3rd Jul 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:10 Tipperary

Fils Doudairies

11st 1lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Won this in 2023 but hasn't looked the force of old this year and arrives on the back of a low-key effort.

25/1

5th

1

6th Jun 2025

Good

2m 3f 203y

18:45 Clonmel

Fils Doudairies

11st 12lb

J: Finn Brickley

T: Gordon Elliott

Has plenty of back-class and didn't run at all badly in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham; however, it was off level weights when just ahead of My Gaffer last time and will need to run better to win this, even with Finn Brickley taking off 7lb.

7/2

Form: PF-P70 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful over hurdles/fences (at up to 3m) in Ireland a while ago but has lost his form, most recently never dangerous in C&D handicap on debut for new stable; difficult task on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

14:35 Uttoxeter

Joyeux Machin

11st 1lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Appreciated eased in grade at Bangor (3m, good to soft) six weeks ago, winning readily by 10l; contests deeper race here but probably still on workable mark after 5lb rise, and quicker ground also suits.

9/2

1st

1

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 3

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Joyeux Machin

12st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

Exposed ex-Irish gelding who has yet to score for Dan Skelton (0-10); however, he has been contesting stronger races and was going nicely in clear lead when falling six out in major handicap chase at Doncaster (3m, soft; fine on good) in January; his subsequent Ascot run needs forgiving but that was a Class 1 race.

5/2

9th

6

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Joyeux Machin

10st 7lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Record of 0-9 for current yard but he ran well over hurdles on this card last year; still going nicely in clear lead when falling six out in major handicap chase at Doncaster (3m, soft) most recently; shortlisted.

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.10
Straight Forecast £2.08
Trifecta £4.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Constitution Hill

Telegraph:

Fils d'Oudairies

RP RATINGS:

Constitution Hill

TOPSPEED:

Constitution Hill

POSTDATA:

Constitution Hill

LAMBOURN:

Constitution Hill

The Times:

Constitution Hill

The Guardian:

Constitution Hill

Daily Mail:

Constitution Hill

D Express:

Constitution Hill

Daily Mirror:

Constitution Hill

The Star:

Constitution Hill

Daily Record:

Constitution Hill