Champion Hurdle picture so far - 'Forgotten champion'

Day one of the Cheltenham Festival tends to centre on the Champion Hurdle, the feature race and the two-mile hurdling Championship for senior stars.

This year's race could be one of the most open in years in betting terms, with underperforming stars, absentees and unproven contenders aplenty.

As the National Hunt season reaches the midpoint, we are taking a look at the Champion Hurdle picture so far.

Golden Ace - the forgotten champion?

Jeremy Scott's mare Golden Ace is the reigning Champion Hurdler and she just won the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle on her most recent start - a bona fide test for this race.

You might anticipate she'd be a warm order to retain her crown, but Golden Ace is 14/1 for Champion Hurdle glory in March.

Her win last year was in a race where the three major contenders in the betting - Constitution Hill (fell), State Man (fell) and Brighterdaysahead (flopped) - all fluffed their lines.

She may not be the most talented in this division, but she jumps well and finishes her races and that means Golden Ace has an advantage on some of her would-be rivals.

Enda McElhinney

She was turned over on her seasonal comeback in a match race at Wetherby though scoped dirty afterwards.

Remarkably, history repeated itself at Newcastle as Constitution Hill took his latest tumble and rising start The New Lion also crashed out, while Anzadam cut out as Golden Ace powered home.

She may not be the most talented in this division, but she jumps well and finishes her races and that means Golden Ace has an advantage on some of her would-be rivals.

The Constitution Hill conundrum and Henderson's alternative

Constitution Hill won this race in 2023 with a virtuoso display, defeating State Man by an easy nine lengths. He was set for superstardom, won the Aintree Hurdle on his next start and was being feted as one of the greatest hurdlers of all time.

He'd win his next three starts despite some setbacks at home, but he took an early fall in the Champion Hurdle last spring and things have spiralled downward since.

He fell again at Aintree, was beaten out of sight at Punchestown and lunged at the second flight in the Fighting Fifth as he tumbled down for the third time in four runs. All of his falls are eerily similar and his connections are at a loss to find the root problem.

At eight years old, can his jumping career be rescued from the fire?

With one star in such despair, Henderson could instead turn to Sir Gino, now second-favourite in most books, for a helping hand.

The unbeaten five-year-old has been off the track since his breathtaking success in last season's Wayward Lad Chase at Kempton, but his trainer has confirmed the Christmas Hurdle at the Sunbury-on-Thames venue is the target.

Mullins loses a star as Lossiemouth emerges

State Man, who had the Champion Hurdle at his mercy when he crashed out at the final flight last season, has succumbed to an injury and will miss this season entirely, Willie Mullins has confirmed.

That leaves the mare Lossiemouth as the top contender for the champion trainer. She dodged this race last year in favour of the Mares' race and won easily.

She won the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on her seasonal bow and it appears as though owner Rich Ricci will settle on this target for the spring - though nothing is ever set in stone.

The New Lion needs to roar back

Constitution Hill's early demise at Newcastle meant The New Lion was left in the lead, far from ideal for an established hold up horse.

Harry Skelton's partner fell at the second last when things were getting serious. It was the first defeat of his career and he's unlikely to be making the running in any scenario soon in the future. He could bounce back as this season progresses.

Brighterdaysahead was a major player in this division last season, but delivered nothing come Cheltenham in March, despite the race falling apart around her.

Gordon Elliott 's mare was beaten again at Punchestown and novice chasing was on the cards this season, but the Cullentra handler has recently identified the Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle as the first target for her.

Elliott's Wodhooh, a Festival winner last March, could be a dark horse, while William Munny is well thought of by Barry Connell too and could throw his hat in the ring.