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Champion Hurdle 2026

If there is anything of the remotest substance in any Champion Hurdle "Trial," Nicky Henderson is not going to be too keen to run.

Wrapped in cotton wool, both on and off the racecourse, has been his tried, tested and trusted modus operandi between Cheltenham Festivals over the years.

The only exception to this policy is any actual Grade 1s along the way.
 
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The more interesting question is what does Willie think he's got that's better than Lossiemouth for the Champion Hurdle ? Looking at the likely cast for the ICH it's hardly apparent.
 
Danny said:
The more interesting question is what does Willie think he's got that's better than Lossiemouth for the Champion Hurdle ? Looking at the likely cast for the ICH it's hardly apparent.
Click to expand...

Willie wants to win races. Nothing is beating Sir Gino.
 
Whilst I'd agree in part, 2 months is a very long time in horse racing i'd find it hard to believe they've made any concrete decisions about where Lossie is going unless they know they have something better.

I'd have thought nothing will be decided until after the ICH and if Sir Gino does run again inbetween now and tge festival I can't see it myself but the picture could well change.
 
Given that I'd want 2/1 about myself to cross the road, those odds about a beast (who still has a possible alternative target) for a contest two months hence make about as much appeal as Walsworth attempting to cook French cuisine.
 
No sign of any bookies going NRNB as yet so I'm just wondering what price the odds compilers on here would go about Constitution Hill on a NRNB basis?
 
16 entries.

Alexei (Joe Tizzard)
Anzadam (Willie Mullins, Ireland)
Ballyburn (Willie Mullins, Ireland)
Brighterdaysahead (Gordon Elliott, Ireland)
Casheldale Lad (Gordon Elliott, Ireland)
Constitution Hill (Nicky Henderson)
El Fabiolo (Willie Mullins, Ireland)
Golden Ace (Jeremy Scott)
Lossiemouth (Willie Mullins, Ireland)
Lucky Place (Nicky Henderson)
Nemean Lion (Kerry Lee)
Poniros (Willie Mullins, Ireland)
Sir Gino (Nicky Henderson)
The New Lion (Dan Skelton)
Wilful (Jonjo and AJ O'Neill)
Workahead (Henry De Bromhead, Ireland)
 
In my preperations for spring return I've had a moment of realisation so shocking that i literally had to at least try and put it into print to be able to start to accept it as a truth.

Here's how I see the next week playing out. Brighterdaysahead wins the ICH next week which basically throws Lossie back into Mares mode to go and do battle with Wodhooh in March, then we'll be looking at Joint favourites for the English Champion hurdle. At some point later that week we'll realise that joint favourites are a mare that doesn't raise a leg in the cotswolds and a complete boat.

But then we'll draw the ultimate conclusion that when Len bet Golden Ace at 40's it was possibly the greatest stroke of foresighted genius ever seen on TH. Whilst even in the midst of this amazing and sudden revelation I can't bring myself to back her at the current 10's I've probably resigned myself to the fact that its pretty inevitable that on that much awaited first day Len will quite rightly say, I told you so.
 
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Ha, ha - thank you, Danny.

Golden Ace is too good to write off, seriously! Winning form at the last two Cheltenhams, and potential challengers falling by the wayside.

However, a CH without Sir Gino might encourage connections of both BDA and Lossiemouth to think again about their targets in March.
 

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