Cheltenham Champion Hurdle Preview
Not too many sleeps to go now for racing fans, as the calendar continues to tick down towards the magical four days in March that represent the latest edition of the Cheltenham Festival. Kicking off on Tuesday 14th of March, and running through to Friday the 17th, the Prestbury Park event showcases the very best that the sport has to offer.
Each of the four days boasts a star attraction, and on Tuesday, it is the cream of the speedy hurdlers who take centre stage, as the runners and riders line up for the 2023 renewal of the Champion Hurdle. But who will join the pantheon of greats to have claimed this famous trophy in the past?
The Hot Favourite: Constitution Hill 1/3
Of the four championship-level contests of the week, it is the Champion Hurdle which boasts by far the warmest favourite in the shape of the Nicky Henderson-trained superstar, Constitution Hill. Variously labelled a freak of nature and a different species, this six-year-old son of Blue Bresil has at times looked on a different planet to his rivals.
Five starts over obstacles have yielded five successes, with the combined winning margins of those contests coming in at a yawning 77 lengths. Concerningly for his rivals, the biggest of those winning distances came at last year's Cheltenham Festival, when the mount of Nico De Boinville destroyed the Supreme Novices' Hurdle field by a ridiculous 22 lengths. Looking as well as ever in winning his two starts so far this season – both at Grade 1 level – if he is in anything like top form, he will likely take some stopping.
The Main Challenger: State Man 11/4
As good as Constitution Hill looks, all racing fans will no doubt be well aware that there is no such thing as a certainty. In the Sport of Kings, form can – and frequently does – go out of the window, even at the biggest meetings of all. If, for whatever reason, Constitution Hill underperforms, then the horse most likely to take advantage would look to be the Willie Mullins-trained State Man.
This one boasts Cheltenham Festival form of his own, having landed something of a gamble to win the County Hurdle at this meeting 12 months ago. Since then, he has taken his form way beyond the level of a handicapper to win four Grade 1’s on the bounce, including the Irish Champion Hurdle last time out. Looking to be still improving, he may at least give the favourite something to think about.
The Lively Outsider: I Like To Move It 16/1
There’s a big gap back to the rest of the runners in terms of the odds, with another of the Willie Mullins runners, Vauban, the only other horse available at a single-figure price. Last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner merits plenty of respect but, of the outsiders, the one I like best is the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained, I Like To Move It.
Another of the six-year-olds in the line-up, this one can throw in the odd poor display, but significantly does seem to like it around this track. His form figures over this trip on the old course read a perfect three from three, including an impressive success in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle. He also arrives on the back of what looked a big career best when slamming the field in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton, suggesting he may be finding his best form at just the right time for this. It’s tough to see him troubling Constitution Hill, but he looks decent value to hit the frame.
Race Prediction
- 1st - Constitution Hill
- 2nd - State Man
- 3rd - I Like To Move It
All prices quoted are with William Hill
Related Articles
Cheltenham Queen Mother Champion Chase Preview
Cheltenham Festival 155/1 Acca
Top 20 Betting Offers
18+. New Customers Only. Max 1 x £10 Free Bet. Qualifying bets at Odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as Bonus Token Min 4/5 Odds Req. Skrill, Neteller, Paypal not eligible. T&Cs Apply |
|||||
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 1 x £10 Football Free Bet, 1 x £10 Horse Racing Free Bet, 2 x £10 Free Bet Builders. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply. |
|||||
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required. |
|||||
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £5 free bets. Stake not returned. Restrictions + Free bet T&Cs apply. |
|||||
New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. £10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place). Receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org.Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Min deposit & bet £10 at min odds 1/2 to qualify for 4 x £10 free bets. Certain deposit methods and bet types excl. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
|||||
18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile or app & bet £10+ on any football market at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly |
|||||
New UK Customers only. Use code welcomeMB40. Sign up and place at least 3 bets of £10 or more on seperate events on your first day of betting. If account has net sportsbook losses at the end of first day's betting, Gentleman Jim will refund 50% of these as a free bet up to £40. Full Terms apply. 18+ begambleaware. |
|||||
New UK Customers. Register using code BETGETSPORTS. Must bet £10 in total on 4+ legs, min odds 4.0. £20 awarded as 4 X £5 free bets once settled, AND 50 Free Spins to use on Big Bass Splash (valued at 10p per spin). Free bet T&Cs Apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org |
|||||
18+. BeGambleAware.org. New customers only. Min. £10 deposit, debit card only. Up to 50x wagering, game contributions vary, max. stake applies, 7 day expiry. See full terms. #AD |
|||||
1st deposit only | min deposit £10 | max bonus £10 | Min Odds 1/1 (2.0) | Max winnings £100 | 5 day bonus expiry | User agreement & Bonus T&Cs apply |
|||||
New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, payment method exclusions apply; New customers only. T&C apply; 18+ |
|||||
18+. New customers only. Place a minimum £50 bet on any selection with minimum odds of Evens (2.00) and receive a £20 free bet upon bet settlement. Freebet expires after 7 days. BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs apply. |
|||||
18+. New Customers Only. Min deposit £20. Maximum one £10 Free Bet & two £5 Bet Builder Free Bets. Qualifying bet must be placed at odds of Evens (2.00) or greater. Paid as bonus tokens: Token 1 Min odds Req: 4/5 (1.80). Token 2 & 3 are valid for Bet Builder only and are subject to min odds of 2/1 (3.00). T&Cs Apply. |
|||||
New Customers place a £25 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2. Get £50 in Free Bets as: 5 x £5 free fixed odds bets + 4 x £5 free Total Goals spread bets + 50 free spins on Starburst 18+. Full promotions terms apply. |
|||||
New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
New Customers. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First qualifying bet with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00+ (2/1). If first bet loses free bets will be credited after bet settled. 100 Free Spins on Gold Blitz credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full terms apply |
|||||
New customers Deposit and place your first bet on Sports at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater. Once bet is settled you will receive 1x £10 Free Bet Token to be used on Football, 1x £10 Free Bet Token to be used on Horse Racing, and 20 Extra spins (value per spin 50p), to be used on Book of Dead. Total bonus value £30. Full terms apply. 18+ begambleaware. |
|||||
New Customers Only. Sign up with bonus code: EB20. Bet £20 and get £20 in Free Bets. Paid as £5 Free Bet on Soccer, £5 Free Bet on Horse Racing, £5 Free Bet on Multiples and a £5 Free Bet on any Market. Terms apply 18+ gambleaware.org. |
|||||
£10 min deposit. First bet mins odds 1.5 placed within 14 days of sign-up. 2 x £10 in Free Bets: valid for 7 days, free bet stakes not returned. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. 18+ T&Cs apply.
|