Champion Hurdle Runners: Check out the latest entries for Cheltenham Festival Day 1 showpiece

Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill and the Willie Mullins-trained State Man remained in the list of 18 potential Champion Hurdle Runners at the latest entry stage, but the latter’s stablemate Impaire Et Passe is a notable scratching alongside the classy Bob Olinger, who will also not take his chance in the showpiece race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival on March 12.

A stunning nine-length winner of the Champion Hurdle last March, Constitution Hill continues to be the dominant force in the two-mile hurdling division and while he’s only been seen once this season, where he sauntered to success in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park, he’s set to try and retain his Champion Hurdle crown and he’s a red-hot favourite with the bookmakers to win back-to-back renewals.

State Man continued his dominance in the Irish hurdling scene with another imperious victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle at last weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival and he’s likely to be the main challenger to Constitution Hill yet again and will be hoping he can reverse last year’s form and the pair should serve up a notable clash once again.

Impaire Et Passe, who was a stunning winner of the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle last season, has been scratched by the Mullins team as he continues to disappoint, while Bob Olinger was unable to land a blow on State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle and is another notable scratching.

Lossiemouth, who stormed to Triumph Hurdle glory last season returned with a sumptuous display at Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham a few weeks ago and she has been kept in the race, but connections are veering down the Mares’ Hurdle route with her, while beyond that five-year-old there looks to be limited talent that could ruffle the feathers of the two horses dominating the betting.

Champion Hurdle 2024 Entries