March 14 / 15.30 Cheltenham

15.30

Soft

Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £253215
  • 2m 0f 87y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
ITV
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Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

4/11 (Won)

  • Win: £1.37
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 111-11 CD

Last run: 78 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 173

Form & Verdict
Established his superstar status in the Supreme on this card last year, pulverising his rivals in a fast time; similarly impressive in the Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle this season, both times beating 2020 Champion Hurdle-winning stablemate Epatante; has won his five rules starts (all on ground softer than good) by an aggregate of 77l and is a rare talent who looks destined to be one of the all-time greats the way he's going; tactically versatile, jumps superbly, oozes class, possesses a sharp turn of foot and a great temperament, so has everything; brilliance in equine form.
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

3/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 1-1111 C

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 167

Form & Verdict
Handicap snip off 141 in the County at this meeting 12 months ago (good to soft) and has subsequently completed a Grade 1 four-timer, making all to dethrone Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle most recently (tactically versatile, doesn't need to lead); comfortably beat stablemate Vauban in the Matheson (soft) the time before; 6-6 in completed starts for current yard; up-and-coming hurdler who has developed into a serious candidate for this prize; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

2nd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

18:40 Punchestown

State Man

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

made all, jumped well, 3 lengths ahead halfway, reduced lead after 4 out, pushed along and went clear again approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in

5/4

1st

3

2nd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

18:40 Punchestown

State Man

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

made all, jumped well, 3 lengths ahead halfway, reduced lead after 4 out, pushed along and went clear again approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in

5/4

4

11th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

State Man

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Beaten twice by Brighterdaysahead this season, flopping badly on the second occasion, and was gifted a third Irish Champion Hurdle last month as main rival Lossiemouth fell; won a substandard edition of this race last year and was no match for highly impressive Constitution Hill 12 months earlier; dependable in the main and has a voluminous Grade 1 tally but a second Champion Hurdle win looks far from certain; wears first-time headgear.

10/1

Form: D3F-7P5 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Third past the post in this contest 12 months ago when still a consistent sort (subsequently disqualified; banned substance in sample); first two efforts this term can be excused but latest run (behind State Man and Vauban in the Irish Champion) is harder to forgive; difficult to support on recent form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(3)

8th Apr 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 5f 180y

17:25 Gowran Park

Zanahiyr

10st 1lb

J: Sam Coen

T: Gordon Elliott

Fine dual-purpose sort has 10 wins under all codes including a Bellewstown Flat handicap last August beating a below par Light Up The Dark; won the American Grand National when last seen; handles all ground; a big player.

5/2

7

(7)

26th Aug 2025

Yielding

2m 1f 110y

19:55 Bellewstown

Zanahiyr

11st 9lb

J: Mr J H Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Useful dual-purpose sort ran a solid fourth on the Flat at Killarney in May; won over fences at Galway last time after being unplaced in the Plate earlier in the week; should run well.

2/1

3

3rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 111y

14:55 Galway

Zanahiyr

11st 3lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

High-class hurdler; has won only one of his nine starts over fences, a Thurles beginners' event the season before last; fell at the fourth in the Ultima at Cheltenham on his final start last season; had a Flat run in May; third to Pinkerton in last year's Galway Plate; beaten almost 20l in seventh behind stablemate Western Fold in Wednesday's 2025 edition.

11/8

14/1

Form: 11-123 C

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict
Looked a Champion Hurdle prospect when completing a Grade 1 hat-trick in 4yo hurdles last February-April, including a ready success in the Triumph here (good to soft); far from disgraced behind stablemate State Man in the Matheson (runner-up) and Irish Champion Hurdle (third) since switched to open Grade 1 company; this youngster could well rate higher still; in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(6)

15th Sep 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

16:45 Curragh

Vauban

9st 11lb

J: William Buick

T: W P Mullins

held up in rear, headway 2f out, ran on and went second inside final 110yds, no match for winner

11/2

1st

7

(4)

23rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Vauban

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: W P Mullins

Attentions concentrated on the Flat since his runaway handicap win at Royal Ascot last June; has not quite lived up to that dazzling display, this term running respectably in the Yorkshire Cup here and the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, seemingly stretched by 2m4f (good to firm) in the latter, before a lesser show at the Curragh five weeks ago; big player if back at his peak.

3/1

3rd

7

(3)

20th Jul 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

16:15 Curragh

Vauban

9st 11lb

J: Colin Keane

T: W P Mullins

midfield, headway and chased clear leader 3f out, 8 lengths down when lost second inside final furlong, kept on

5/2

Form: 155-35 D

Last run: 78 days

W: 11st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 156

Form & Verdict
Dead-heated for first in last season's Fighting Fifth; well-held third to Constitution Hill in same race this term and subsequently well beaten over 3m in rescheduled Long Walk at Kempton; Champion Hurdle regular, with form figures of P55 in this race, but thoroughly exposed and looks set for another supporting role at best, especially as he's now an 11yo.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(7)

21st Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 5f 61y

Class 2

14:05 Newbury

Not So Sleepy

9st 8lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Hughie Morrison

Magnificent veteran who has retained a rare zest, demonstrated last year with a front-running Flat win in this race (heavy; stays well) and a second triumph in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle; creditable fourth in his two runs back on the Flat this term, the latest at Epsom on Derby day (1m4f; finished strongly); respected on that and any significant rain over the last day or so will probably help.

14/1

4th

4

(2)

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 2

17:15 Epsom

Not So Sleepy

9st 7lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Hughie Morrison

12yo who has retained a rare zest, demonstrated last year with a front-running Flat win at Newbury (1m5f, heavy; stays well) and a second triumph in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle; creditable fourth at Newbury (2m) on return to Flat six weeks ago, which he needs to build on; won at this meeting in 2017 and he is not one to pass over lightly seven years on.

20/1

Form: 20-161 CD

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Progressive hurdler who powered clear for a 17l success in the Kingwell at Wincanton (1m7f) last month, bouncing back from his Relkeel flop over 2m4f; rated by trainer as being as good as the yard's best hurdlers in the past, including two horses who were placed in the Champion Hurdle; 3-3 over C&D, the most recent in this season's Greatwood (defied top weight in emphatic style); has raced mostly on good/good to soft; should go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

2

8th Oct 2023

Soft

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

14:45 Uttoxeter

I Like To Move It

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Very smart hurdler with good-ground wins in the Greatwood Handicap at Cheltenham and the Grade 2 Kingwell at Wincanton, easily the best of his five runs last season; his two heaviest defeats last term were on soft but best run the previous campaign was on good to soft; has much the best form in this small but select field; the one to beat if the ground is okay.

1/2

5th

2

13th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

I Like To Move It

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Well-beaten sixth of seven in last month's Champion Hurdle and he weakened on his sole previous attempt at this sort of trip; however, the ground was soft for both of those runs and perhaps he's better served by a sounder surface; has won the Greatwood Handicap and the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle and he's an each-way contender if able to produce his best form.

25/1

6th

2

14th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

15:30 Cheltenham

I Like To Move It

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Progressive hurdler who powered clear for a 17l success in the Kingwell at Wincanton (1m7f) last month, bouncing back from his Relkeel flop over 2m4f; rated by trainer as being as good as the yard's best hurdlers in the past, including two horses who were placed in the Champion Hurdle; 3-3 over C&D, the most recent in this season's Greatwood (defied top weight in emphatic style); has raced mostly on good/good to soft; should go well.

20/1

Form: /73-49 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Suited by soft/heavy ground; smart on his day for Henry de Bromhead but was nowhere near best, albeit on a faster surface than ideal, on final run for that stable; faded into ninth off top weight in 2m1f handicap here on debut for Phil Kirby; bare recent evidence suggests he's not the force of old.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

26th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

13:30 Perth

Jason The Militant

11st 13lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Was always up against it at the Cheltenham Festival last month but his good days for Henry De Bromhead are a fading memory; remains opposable.

25/1

8th

3

26th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

13:30 Perth

Jason The Militant

11st 13lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Was always up against it at the Cheltenham Festival last month but his good days for Henry De Bromhead are a fading memory; remains opposable.

25/1

22

15th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

17:30 Cheltenham

Jason The Militant

10st 4lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Capable of very useful form for Henry de Bromhead; however, record for current stable is far from convincing and latest defeat came in lower grade at Newcastle; hopes of revival are pinned on first-time blinkers (replacing cheekpieces worn the last twice).

100/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.70
Straight Forecast £1.68
Trifecta £9.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Constitution Hill

WEST COUNTRY:

I Like To Move It

RP Ratings:

Constitution Hill

TOPSPEED:

Constitution Hill

POSTDATA:

Constitution Hill

LAMBOURN:

Constitution Hill

The Times:

Constitution Hill

Telegraph:

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