2024 Irish Champion Hurdle

The feature race on Sunday is the Irish Champion Hurdle, where State Man (7/2 second favourite for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham) bids for back-to-back wins in the race.

State Man will take on five rivals at Leopardstown, including stablemate Impaire Et Passe (12/1 for the Champion Hurdle), who he beat in the Matheson Hurdle last month.

For more on the Cheltenham ante-post implications from this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown, click here.

Irish Champion Hurdle Runners Guide

Bob Olinger

  • Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
  • Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
  • Form: P253-11
  • Odds: 8/1

This nine-year-old only tasted defeat once in his first 10 starts in his career, and although he was winless in all four starts last season, this season has seen him recapture some of his early brilliance. The two-time Cheltenham Festival winner won the Lismullen Hurdle on his return before thrashing his rivals back on British soil in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham.

That form has already been well received, with the second Marie’s Rock winning a Grade 2 race at Doncaster on her next start. His best form would undoubtedly see him give State Man a fright, but he was well beaten in his only previous visit to this course, and I’m not convinced the drop-in trip to two miles is what he wants at this stage of his career.

Fils D’oudairies

  • Trainer: Gordon Elliott
  • Jockey: Jack Kennedy
  • Form: 110134
  • Odds: 100/1

A likeable winning hurdler and chaser who has stacks of good-quality form in big-field handicaps and enjoyed a good last year in 2023, winning four times in total. Those wins featured a pair of Grade 3 races, although his main market rival, Zarak The Brave, in the latest of those wins, underperformed.

He has course-winning form to his name, but has been behind State Man in his last couple of starts, and it is hard to see him getting close to the favourite, let alone cause a shock to take the spoils. He has stacks to find with the rest of the field and is likely to be outclassed again. Easily opposed.

Impaire Et Passe

  • Trainer: Willie Mullins
  • Jockey: Daryl Jacob
  • Form: 1111-22
  • Odds: 4/1

A winner of all four of his hurdles starts last season, which culminated with a smooth defeat of his stablemate Gaelic Warrior in the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle (formerly the Ballymore) at the Cheltenham Festival. The six-year-old lost his unbeaten record on his return when he finished second to Teahupoo in the Hatton’s Grace, but he looked the likely winner of that race for a long time until Teahupoo got the better of him late on.

The way he kept on well in that race did suggest he would appreciate a return to a longer distance, but connections decided to pitch him against State Man in the Matheson Hurdle over course and distance. He ultimately couldn’t get to grips with his stable companion, but he ran well in defeat and should prove an even stronger proposition this weekend.

Before his back-to-back defeats this campaign, it is worth remembering that he was initially touted as Constitution Hill’s biggest rival on paper for the Champion Hurdle.

The Stayers’ Hurdle has subsequently come under scrutiny, but it is interesting that Willie Mullins is happy to roll the dice with him again over this trip, and he might be able to bridge the gap on the defending champion. Interesting.

State Man

  • Trainer: Willie Mullins
  • Jockey: Paul Townend
  • Form: 1121-11
  • Odds: 1/3

With the exception of Constitution Hill, he is undoubtedly the best hurdler in Britain and Ireland and has looked as good as ever in his two Grade 1 wins this season. He returned with an easy success in the Morgiana Hurdle before beating stablemate Impaire Et Passe in the Matheson Hurdle over course and distance during the Christmas period.

Since falling on his stable debut at this course, he has won nine of his 10 starts, with his only defeat coming at the hands of Nicky Henderson’s superstar in the Champion Hurdle last March. This seven-year-old should have even more to come. He has three wins over track and trip and gave weight and a beating to Honeysuckle in this race 12 months ago.

It is hard to pick any holes in his form, and he seemingly beat his stablemate fair and square last time out. He beat three of today’s four rivals with ease, and there’s no reason to think why any of those should reverse the form.

He is a high-class hurdler who deserves the utmost respect, and a similar performance to last time should see him collect the eighth Grade 1 race of his career.

Echoes In Rain

  • Trainer: Willie Mullins
  • Jockey:
  • Form: F141/23
  • Odds: 20/1

The only mare in the field, whose sex allowance will be a vital asset, has two Grade 1 wins to her name as well as a Galway Hurdle. This eight-year-old is extremely consistent, like her two stable companions, but she was behind both of those last time and has yet to get near State Man in her two latest starts.

Furthermore, her record at this course is less than convincing, given that she has been beaten in all four previous starts at this venue. Her main target at Cheltenham is again likely to be Mares’ Hurdle, so I’m sure connections will be satisfied if she can finish in third place, which should set her up nicely for that contest.

Irish Champion Hurdle Tips & Prediction

The presence of the revamped Bob Olinger does spice this year’s edition of the race, but all of his best form has come over further, and I’m not sure he will have the tactical speed to overhaul STATE MAN (best price 1/3), who is a confident choice to win the race for a second time.

This brilliant hurdler already has seven Grade 1 wins in the book and beat Impaire Et Passe, and Echoes In Rain when landing back-to-back renewals of the Matheson Hurdle in December. I know he is a short price, but he ticks all the boxes, and he would have to underperform to be defeated.