Unibet Champion Hurdle

(Grade 1)

IT’S called jumps racing for a reason. There has hardly ever have been a more dramatic edition of the Champion Hurdle in history, with 25/1 longshot Golden Ace proof of the old adage that you’ve got to be in it to win it as two-mile supremos Constitution Hill, Brighterdaysahead and State Man each spectacularly misfired in different ways.

The carnage started when 1/2 favourite Constitution Hill saw his unbeaten record shattered with a fall at the fifth of eight hurdles. He appeared to take off too far away from the padded obstacle, which was already rattling back and forth due to apparently being clipped by Brighterdaysahead just beforehand.

With the 2023 hero out of the picture but safely up, Brighterdaysahead became the 1/3 favourite in the in-running markets, though whether she was really travelling with purpose under Jack Kennedy is hard to be sure of.

The writing was on the wall for the mare’s supporters, however, when reigning champion State Man loomed large on her outer and burned her off around the final bend. It looked a foregone conclusion in real time as the serial winner came to the last as 1/25 favourite in-running, but the final flight was to again cause heartache for an elite Willie Mullins hurdler.

Just like Annie Power and Benie Des Dieux at the same obstacle, State Man was too long at the last and came crashing down, drawing massive groans from the crowd and leaving the stage clear for a running-on Golden Ace to shoot nine lengths clear of 66/1 shot Burdett Road and 150/1 chance Winter Fog. Brighterdaysahead was already on the wane by the time she was bumped hard by State Man, beaten a total of 19 and a half lengths with only stablemate King Of Kingsfield behind her. In one sense, this result demonstrated a form of justice for Golden Ace’s connections being so bold in taking on the Champion Hurdle, in which she was 24lb wrong at the weights with Constitution Hill and 19lb off with Brighterdaysahead.

Due reward

Lorcan Williams’ mount could easily have looked more at home in the lower-key Mares’ Hurdle 40 minutes earlier, but - unlike the Lossiemouth camp – owner Ian Gosden was keen to tackle the biggest prize in hurdling and was richly rewarded. “Give me a pinch and make sure this isn’t a dream!” said trainer Jeremy Scott.

“I couldn’t even dream it – for God’s sake thump me, because I must be fast asleep at the moment. It’s a real tragedy those two horses came down; it spoiled the race entirely, but we looked certainly booked for second or third before State Man came down, so it’s marred by that, really, but I’m just delighted that the gods have favoured us.

“My owner and I were not at loggerheads, because ultimately he pays the bills, but he was very keen to have a runner here today, we thought we could nick a little bit of prize money, and we didn’t feel we could possibly beat Lossiemouth, so it’s extraordinary how things work out. This mare is now unbeaten here, so she obviously likes the track.”

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Brighterdaysahead (fourth)

“Jack said she never picked up for him at all and she normally picks up. He said she whinnied crossing the line as well so that would be a worry so we will have to get her checked out and see how she is. Jack said when she whinnied she was very distressed.”

Willie Mullins, trainer of State Man (fell)

“He was just long at it and popped the top of it, but these things happen. At least we made the right decision [as to which race to run Lossiemouth and State Man in], but the hurdles are there to be jumped. We don’t need any chat with Paul to see what happened. I’m just delighted he’s okay.”

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Constitution Hill (fell)

“He seems fine. He is very bright and breezy, but of course he hasn’t had a race. Poor old State Man as well. You couldn’t believe those two silly old fools have gone and done what they have done today. When you are jumping as fast as they jump you have got to get it deadly accurate. You have to live with these things, but it is cruel as we waited two years to get him back here.”

Michael Buckley, owner of Constitution Hill (fell)

“It feels like a crock of shit. I know that probably sounds like Donald Trump but there’s no other way to describe it. It’s pretty painful and makes you want to cry.”