Champion Hurdle Odds: State Man favourite to land Tuesday’s feature

Tuesday’s feature race at the Cheltenham Festival is the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle (15:30), where eight runners are due to go to post in what looks like an uncompetitive renewal. With the scratching of long-time favourite and last year’s nine lengths winner Constitution Hill, we assess the Champion Hurdle odds ahead of Tuesday’s race.

Check out Betfred’s price boost on the Champion Hurdle at 11:00 on Tuesday, March 12.

State Man @ 4/11

State Man heads the betting with Betfred at odds of 4/11. The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old was second behind Constitution Hill last year and looks like the pick on paper, worthy of his favourite tag.

A winner in 10 of his 13 starts, he’s blown away all before him in his native Ireland, including eight Grade 1 contests.

This season, he’s won all three of his races, most recently winning his second Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival when he was sent off the 2/5 favourite.

Officially rated 169, he has ten pounds in hand over the field. Back against him at your peril!

Irish Point @ 4/1

The 4/1 second favourite, Irish Point, also hails from Ireland. The six-year-old trained by Gordon Elliott has won both of his starts this season, including the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown. However, that win was over two miles and seven and a half furlongs, so there are question marks as to whether two miles would be too sharp a trip for him.

You’d think he’ll try to make this a stamina test. The question here is whether you think, at the prices, he’s each-way value to either snaffle a win or hold on for a place.

This will be his first run at Cheltenham.

Iberico Lord @ 12/1

Also at 12/1 is the Nicky Henderson-trained Iberico Lord. Henderson would have loved to have lined up here with Constitution Hill, but this six-year-old has course and distance experience, having won the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham in the Autumn.

The horse is rated two stone inferior to the favourite State Man.

Not So Sleepy @ 20/1

Hughie Morrison saddles the veteran Not So Sleepy, who can be backed at odds of 20/1 with Betfred. The 12-year-old was as big as 66/1 for the Champion Hurdle earlier in the season, but there’s been money since his eight-length win in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle.

During his long career, which includes 42 races on the flat, he's won six of his 18 runs over hurdles.

Tuesday will be his fifth appearance in the Champion Hurdle, where he’s finished fifth in the last three years and was sent off at triple-figure odds.

Luccia @ 20/1

At 20/1, we have the only mare in the race, Luccia. Another trained by Nicky Henderson, she comes here off the back of a handicap win at Ascot in December.

Stablemate Iberico Lord beat the six-year-old in the Greatwood before that, but she was giving away ten pounds in weight that day. Due to her mare's allowance in the open company of the Champion Hurdle, she will receive seven pounds and a swing of 17 pounds from their last meeting. With an official rating deficit of just three pounds to make up, she is in the mix with him based on the form.

Zarak The Brave @ 25/1

Willie Mullins-trained Zarak The Brave, who won 50% of his starts this season. Only a five-year-old, he won a Grade 3 at Naas on his last start in January and back to last summer when picking up the Galway Hurdle.

This will be his first run at Cheltenham.

Nemean Lion @ 25/1

Kerry Lee saddles outsider Nemean Lion at 25/1. The seven-year-old has won four of his eight races over obstacles and was last seen winning in front of the ITV cameras in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton in February.

He was beaten nine and a half lengths behind Iberico Lord in the Greatwood Hurdle earlier in the season, his only visit to Prestbury Park.

Colonel Mustard @ 50/1

The Lorna Fowler trained Colonel Mustard was beaten by Nemean Lion on his last start in the aforementioned Kingwell Hurdle. With one win from his 13 starts over hurdles, he might be better suited to the Cluedo board.

Find more Cheltenham Tips here at Betfred Insights.