Cheltenham Champion Hurdle 2025 Preview – Will Constitution Hill Win?
Nicky Henderson may have had the worst luck in 2024 when most of his stable were ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival but he is back with Constitution Hill as one of his most bankable runners in the Champion Hurdle 2025.
Among the races that headline this four-day event, the Champion Hurdle is often considered the leading two-mile test for specialists who can combine agility, pace, and accurate jumping of smaller obstacles.
In 2025, excitement is already building around this race, scheduled for Tuesday, 11th March. Many racing fans are focused on the likely participation of Constitution Hill, a horse widely regarded as a phenomenon in recent times.
Will the 2023 winner triumph again, or will a new challenger take centre stage?
To answer that, it is worth examining the intended runners, and analysing each contender’s potential.
Constitution Hill – Nicky Henderson
Constitution Hill is the name on everyone’s lips for the Champion Hurdle 2025. Trained by the legendary Nicky Henderson, he has produced flawless efforts when faced with top competition.
His form figures are about as impressive as they come. In 2022, he won the Supreme Novices’ at Cheltenham and then went on to capture this race in 2023.
Over the past season or so, Constitution Hill has confirmed his place as a generational talent with his blend of cruising speed and near-perfect jumping style.
Some experts believe he could go down as one of the all-time greats if he secures another victory this year.
The main concern, if any, might be the weight of expectation. Races at this elite level are rarely a simple formality.
Still, if he arrives in his usual shape, Constitution Hill is unquestionably the horse everyone must surpass.
Brighterdaysahead – Gordon Elliott
Another Gordon Elliott trainee, Brighterdaysahead looks like a rising star.
Still, the confidence around this horse is high and deservedly so after three Grade 1 wins at Aintree, Punchestown and Leopardstown.
Elliott would not be pitching her in this race if he did not believe there was genuine ability. That said, there are also options in the Mare’s Hurdle and nothing has been decided yet.
Lossiemouth – Willie Mullins
Lossiemouth is yet another Willie Mullins representative with strong form. A star filly in juvenile events, she made a splash by winning the Triumph Hurdle in 2023 before returning in 2024 to win the Mares Hurdle.
Again, and like Brighterdaysahead, she has options in that race in 2025, with connections still debating which route she will take.
When she is on song, she travels beautifully and has a lethal turn of foot. Whether she can topple the rest of the field is uncertain, but she definitely adds intrigue.
Still, if she arrives confident and fully fit, Lossiemouth could be a dark horse in the final stages.
State Man – Willie Mullins
State Man is the current Champion Hurdle winner and with 11 Grade 1 successes cannot be underestimated.
Known for traveling strongly and quickening off a strong pace, State Man can certainly worry Constitution Hill if everything goes right.
He may have come off second best when the duo went head-to-head in this race in 2023 but his win in the Irish Champion Hurdle in February suggests he still has what it takes to get the job done.
Burdett Road – James Owen
Burdett Road is lightly raced under National Hunt rules but has made an immediate impact.
With a third place at Grade 1 level, James Owen has indicated that this five-year-old is on the up, though it’s tough to measure whether Burdett Road can handle the pressure of a Champion Hurdle.
He’s shown a neat style of jumping, and if he continues improving, a place in the top four is not out of reach. Still, the leap to top class company in the Champion Hurdle 2025 will be daunting.
Golden Ace – Jeremy Scott
Golden Ace, trained by Jeremy Scott, has shown steady progress.
Although not as well-known as some bigger stable names, Golden Ace has a knack for battling to the line.
The main doubt is his overall class. He was a worthy winner in his latest Grade 2 outing at Wincanton, suggesting he is still able to find an extra gear when needed.
That said, Cheltenham can bring out a top effort, and Jeremy Scott will be eager to see if his charge can earn a place in the finishing frame.
Brentford Hope – Harry Derham
Brentford Hope has shown promise on the flat in the past and has made a fairly smooth transition to jumping.
In his recent races over hurdles, he hasn’t always looked entirely fluent, but he has still managed to place respectably.
His form might not scream champion, but he should not be dismissed. If the race sets up with a steady early pace, Brentford Hope could stay on well late.
However, he might lack the outright speed to trouble the top names.
King of Kingsfield – Gordon Elliott
King Of Kingsfield has been around good company. Although he has not always hit the heights that some observers once predicted, he remains an interesting prospect.
Gordon Elliott has often brought horses along steadily, peaking them for the Festival.
His form might not wow on paper, and unless Elliott can wave a magic wand, his very long odds suggest he will more than likely be outclassed on the day.
Winter Fog – Willie Mullins
Winter Fog from Willie Mullins has shown ability in staying handicaps and has placed in graded company.
Mullins has mentioned that the horse has speed, but it is unclear if it matches the raw pace required to win this championship contest.
He seldom runs a poor race and I was to have a longshot in this race, it would be Winter Fog each-way.
A place finish could be a possibility, especially if others fade in the closing stages.
Senecia – Vincent Halley
Senecia’s record is patchy: pulled up, unseated, a third, and so on. In all honesty, this horse enters the race as a long shot.
Senecia might have ability lurking beneath the surface that the rest of us can’t see, but it is tough to imagine him beating Constitution Hill or other standouts here.
Any sign of improvement may place him in contention for a minor spot, but the evidence so far suggests that even a finish in the top half would be a pleasant surprise.
Champion Hurdle Odds
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Constitution Hill | 4/7 |
| Brighterdaysahead | 2/1 |
| Lossiemouth | 4/1 |
| State Man | 6/1 |
| Golden Ace | 20/1 |
| Burdett Road | 25/1 |
| King Of Kingsfield | 40/1 |
| Brentford Hope | 50/1 |
| Winter Fog | 50/1 |
| Senecia | 100/1 |
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Does Constitution Hill Have the Best Chance?
On balance, it seems that Constitution Hill is the one to beat. His past form in major races indicates that he has a rare blend of speed and accurate jumping, plus the ability to quicken away from good horses.
His trainer, Nicky Henderson, knows exactly what it takes to win a Champion Hurdle, having guided the likes of Buveur d’Air and Epatante to success in recent years.
If he turns up healthy, it will likely take something extraordinary from another contender to dethrone him.
State Man stands out as the main danger. He pushed Constitution Hill in previous meetings, though ultimately came up short.
A horse with a consistent record, he’s in the perfect stable to give him every chance of success. If the tactics go his way, or if Constitution Hill underperforms, State Man may well seize the opportunity.
Among the rest, Brighterdaysahead appears the most exciting, given her unblemished run of wins at the highest level.
Lossiemouth, if she recaptures her top juvenile form, could run above expectations too.
However, the logical conclusion is that Constitution Hill does indeed have the best chance of winning.
Racing fans will be eager to see whether he can deliver another star performance and perhaps secure his status as one of the modern greats. Still, the race must be run to find out.
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