Champion Hurdle Ante-post Bets: 'I'd be all over Anzadam for this race at 12-1'

Paddy Flood, Vincent Finegan, Johnny Ward and Emma Nagle discussed the 2026 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on our Jump Season Preview Show.

Vincent and Johnny highlighted a confident 12-1 pick against former winners Constitution Hill and State Man, while Paddy believes the old boys have still got what it takes to hold off younger rivals.

Paddy Flood

On Constitution Hill's falls:"The Punchestown race, I'd forgive him. The fall he got in Aintree - he got a proper slap."

“He was going too easy in Cheltenham and stepped at the hurdle.”

On the Aintree fall being the jockey's fault: "Nico (de Boinville) was at fault in Aintree. Let's call a spade a spade.

“He let horses come around him when he could have just followed, kicked on but he got stuck in a pocket, rushed them to the hurdle. He asked him, stopped asking him, and the old horse went: “you're going at speed, you have to either commit to one or the other."

On State Man: "I think State Man is 7-1 and he's 6-1. The old boys are a bit of value here. I don’t think Lossiemouth will go."

On The New Lion being favourite: "The New Lion is favourite. If The New Lion is that good then The Yellow Clay should be even money for the race really."

Selection: Constitution Hill and State Man - "I’ll stick with the two old boys. Constitution Hill to beat State Man."

Johnny Ward

On Anzadam: "I'd be all over Anzadam for this race. When you look at it, he's 5 years of age, he's run four times, he's won all four.

“These two runs in Ireland it's kind of hard to know what he's beaten.

“He's absolutely demolishing everything that runs against him."

Selection: Anzadam at 12/1 - "for me that's definitely a bet - definitely."

Vincent Finegan

On The New Lion: "I can't work out why The New Lion is favourite to be honest with you. Maybe it's the JP factor."

On William Munny: "I like William Munny now. I think he's a really nice horse. Whether he's going to step up to this level this quickly, I don't know."

On his preferred pick: "I'm with Johnny and I like Anzadam. I think he's probably the one if you’re betting on it."

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