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The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy is the first Champion race of the week, and we get to see the biggest superstar of the National Hunt scene run for the sixth time in his career, surely nothing stops him?
This race isn't a betting race in my view, for those who like to play in the w/o favourite market, it is probably better suited for you, but still, I can't see any value in that either. This race is all about the beast that is Constitution Hill.
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Cheltenham 3:30 – No Bet
I'm only young, so I don't remember the days of Istabraq winning multiple Champion Hurdles in the late 90s, but I've seen plenty of replays and he was a total monster of a horse, producing RPRs in the 170s on a consistent basis and he had a career-best RPR of 181. But for me, Constitution Hill will surpass the legend that is Istabraq and create his own legacy as he looks like a total machine. Some will say I'm crazy comparing him to the great horse, but from what we've seen so far, this horse is on a totally different level to anything else in the 2m hurdling division.
He's won all of his races, albeit he's only run five times, over 12L in every race. He won the Supreme Novices' race last year by 22L and did it on the bridle, recording an RPR of 172. When you compare that to the likes of Altior who won it in 2016, he produced an RPR of 166 and had to really try to win that race. Constitution Hill won his in a canter, and it looks like he's only getting started.
He's since won a Fighting Fifth, battering the classy Grade 1 winning and ex-champion hurdler, Epatante. She was receiving weight of 7lbs that day and was easily dealt with, and was dealt with again at Kempton in the Christmas hurdle, losing by 17L the second time. You have the likes of Ruby Walsh saying he doesn't know how you can beat this horse as he can make his own running, he can sit behind the leaders, he can do it all. His jumping is impeccable and he has such a high cruising speed. Soak it in ladies and gentlemen because this is a horse of a generation, and I hope he absolutely smashes State Man today, to prove there are levels to this game.
It's only right to talk about State Man now, who is no mug at all. He won the County Hurdle last year but was running off a handicap mark of 141. There were strong rumours all week saying State Man was the handicap good thing of the week, which he was. He didn't win by a wide margin, but he did the job. He has progressed since then, winning four Grade 1s in Ireland. He's done them in good style, and on his latest run he beat the legend that is Honeysuckle by 4.75L. Honey is on the downgrade, we all know that, but he could only beat what was in front of him. He is officially rated 6lbs lower than Constitution Hill by the handicapper, personally, I think he is much further behind him. His price isn't great in the w/o favourite market as he is more than less guaranteed to finish as runner-up as long as CH runs like we all expect him too.
The rest aren't really worth talking about, but this is a preview so we might as well!
I Like To Move It takes his chances in the big race after running a big race in the Wincanton Grade 2, beating some decent horses like Knappers Hill and First Street, who was behind State Man in the County last year (2nd place). He won that race by 17L, so you can see why they're having a go at this race. He's a good horse who is 3/3 over C&D but might've preferred a quicker surface, even though he has won on soft ground, his best form is on good.
Vauban is another Festival winner from last year. He won the Juveniles Grade 1, and he did it well. It's always hard when the 4yo's then have to challenge the older boys, but since doing that and he is now a 5yo he hasn't run without promise, albeit put in his place by State Man on two occasions. Hard to see him reversing the form with State Man, but if you can get him in the w/o State Man and CH, that might be the bet in the race.
The others are here to make up the numbers, however, Not So Sleepy is another nutty horse who is actually a Grade 1 winner as well. He dead-heated with Epatante in the Fighting Fifth a couple of years ago, he is an old boy now, but if he gets loose on the lead, it could make for an interesting watch.
