Boodles Champion Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 18:00 €300,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1  |
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Despite suffering rare lapses at both Cheltenham and Aintree, Constitution Hill remains unbeaten when completing and firmly on track for a blockbuster showdown at the Punchestown Festival, according to trainer Nicky Henderson.
There are a few questions to answer following those two uncharacteristic falls, but if all goes to plan, he'll lock horns with a stellar cast here. State Man, Lossiemouth, Brighterdaysahead, and the new queen of Cheltenham, Golden Ace, could all lie in wait.
“It is very much our intention to come to Punchestown,” Henderson confirmed, sounding upbeat from Seven Barrows. “It was always in the plan post-Cheltenham and he came out of that so well, we couldn’t resist Aintree. Luckily, I think he’s come out of that just as fresh. He’s bouncing.”
With four weeks to regroup before Punchestown – one more than the three between his last two starts – Henderson sees no reason to pull stumps.
“And don’t forget – in neither Cheltenham nor Aintree has he actually had a proper race,” he added. “He’s as fresh as paint and in tremendous nick. We’re hopeful.”
While the final declarations remain a few weeks away, the potential line-up has race fans already talking. A head-to-head between Constitution Hill and State Man has long been anticipated, and the possible presence of Golden Ace, Lossiemouth, and Brighterdaysahead would elevate it to a true generational clash.
“It’s what everyone wants,” Henderson said. “We’ve talked about Constitution and State Man for long enough. Imagine them turning in together at Punchestown – that’s what dreams are made of. The sport deserves that.”
It wouldn’t be Henderson’s first time tasting glory on Irish soil. He fondly recalled the thunderous reception afforded to Sprinter Sacre when he completed a rare Cheltenham-Aintree-Punchestown treble.
“That day will live with me forever,” he said. “The way the Irish crowd greeted Sprinter – before and after – was just unbelievable. He might’ve been French-bred and trained in England, but that didn’t matter. It meant a great deal.”
DRAMA IN THE BIG ONE! 😲
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 11, 2025
Golden Ace wins the @UnibetRacing Champion Hurdle after both Constitution Hill and State Man fall 🤯 pic.twitter.com/P1VnlHSPXs
Meanwhile, Jeremy Scott is under no illusions about the circumstances surrounding Golden Ace’s Champion Hurdle win, but remains proud – and hopeful – ahead of her trip to Kildare.
“She came out of Cheltenham really well,” Scott said. “We’ve never had a Punchestown winner, although we’ve gone close, so we’re excited.”
Golden Ace capitalised on the chaos left behind by the falls of Constitution Hill and State Man, and Scott is refreshingly honest in his assessment.
“We were probably fortunate winners,” he admitted. “Had we finished a close second to State Man, it might’ve almost felt more satisfying. But you don’t say no to a Champion Hurdle win, do you?
“This trip is a bonus – the pressure’s off. If she runs well, we’ll be delighted. But to be involved in a race of this calibre, assuming the big names turn up, is what it’s all about. That division is red-hot, and we’re just proud to be part of it.”
Punchestown Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
€300,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1
14 entries
Going:
NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1 6P41-3 Absurde 7 11-12 W P Mullins
2 2-35P0 Bottler'secret 5 11-12 Aidan Melia
3 1-11FF Constitution Hill 8 11-12 Nicky Henderson
4 013529 Daddy Long Legs 6 11-12 W P Mullins
5 P2-F2F El Fabiolo 8 11-12 W P Mullins
6 4-2255 King Of Kingsfield 7 11-12 Gordon Elliott
7 12-115 Kitzbuhel 5 11-12 W P Mullins
8 1-231F State Man 8 11-12 W P Mullins
9 433233 Winter Fog 11 11-12 W P Mullins
10 124224 Break My Soul 6 11-5 Ian Patrick Donoghue
11 1-1114 Brighterdaysahead 6 11-5 Gordon Elliott
12 1-4311 Golden Ace 7 11-5 Jeremy Scott
13 221-21 Kargese 5 11-5 W P Mullins
14 -12F11 Lossiemouth 6 11-5 W P Mullins
PAST RESULTS
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2024 State Man 7 11-12 Mrs J Donnelly W P Mullins Paul Townend 2/7F
2023 State Man 6 11-12 Mrs J Donnelly W P Mullins Paul Townend 2/5F
2022 Honeysuckle 7 11-07 Kenneth Alexander Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 1/5F
2021 Honeysuckle 7 11-07 Kenneth Alexander Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 4/7F
2020 Abandoned - Covid-19
2019 Buveur D'Air 8-11-12 John P McManus Nicky Henderson Davy Russell 2/1J
2018 Supasundae 8-11-12 Wicklow B’stock (Ire) Ltd Mrs J Harrington RM Power 12/1
2017 Wicklow Brave 8-11-12 Wicklow B’stock (Ire) Ltd Willie Mullins Mr Patrick Mullins 12/1
2016 Vroum Vroum Mag 7-11-5 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 4/6 Fav
2015 Faugheen 7-11-12 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 1/6 Fav
2014 Jezki 6-11-12 J P McManus Jessica Harrington A P McCoy 4/5 Fav
2013 Hurricane Fly 9-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 1/4 Fav
2012 Hurricane Fly 8-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 4/11 Fav
2011 Hurricane Fly 7-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 1/2 Fav
2010 Hurricane Fly 6-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Paul Townend 3/1
2009 Solwhit 5-11-12 Top Of The Hill Syndicate Charles Byrnes Davy Russell 2/1 Jt Fav
2008 Punjabi 5-11-12 Raymond Tooth Nicky Henderson GB Barry Geraghty 2/1
2007 Silent Oscar 8-11-12 Patrick Convery Harry Rogers Robbie Power 20/1
2006 Macs Joy 7-11-12 Mac’s J Racing Jessica Harrington Barry Geraghty 11/4
2005 Brave Inca 7-11-12 Novices Syndicate Colm Murphy A P McCoy 2/1
2004 Hardy Eustace 7-11-12 Lar Byrne Dessie Hughes Conor O’Dwyer 3/1
2003 Quazar 5-11-13 David Carr Jonjo O’Neill GB Tony Dobbin 7/2
2002 Davenport Milenium 6-11-12 Mrs Noel O’Callaghan Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 11/2
*2001 Moscow Flyer 7-12-00 Brian Kearney Jessica Harrington Barry Geraghty 6/1
2000 Grimes 7-11-09 J P McManus Christy Roche Charlie Swan 6/1
1999 Istabraq 7-12-00 J P McManus Aidan O’Brien Charlie Swan 1/4 Fav
1998-96 No race
1995 Fortune And Fame 8-11-08 Michael Smurfit Dermot Weld Richard Dunwoody 4/7 Fav
1994 Fortune And Fame 7-11-08 Michael Smurfit Dermot Weld Brendan Sheridan 4/9 Fav
1993 Camden Buzz 5-11-05 Carmel Byrne Paddy Mullins Charlie Swan Evs Fav
* Run at Leopardstown
