15:30 Tuesday

Tuesday’s feature race is the Champion Hurdle and last year’s second, State Man, heads the betting in his bid to go one place better. 

Irish Point, who was originally going to tackle the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, is the second favourite having been re-routed to this race. 

Is the path now clear for State Man to succeed? Let’s take a look at some of the leading contenders and provide you with a tip for the race.

Champion Hurdle Runners

State Man - 4/11f

A brilliant two-mile hurdler and the rightful favourite. The seven-year-old has won 11 of his 12 completed hurdle starts for trainer Willie Mullins, and the only horse to have beaten him in all completed starts was in this race 12 months ago when second at the hands of Constitution Hill. 

With that great rival now unfortunately missing the race, the door is open for Willie Mullins’ charge to capitalise on the situation. He has looked as good as ever in winning his three starts this season, including when landing the Irish Champion Hurdle for the second time last month. 

He is the clear top-rated horse in the field; he has plenty more to come, and it is hard to pick any vulnerabilities within his credentials. He is a short-priced favourite to collect the spoils, but those odds are justified given what he has already achieved. This race should, in reality, be his for the taking. 

Irish Point - 6/1

Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old concluded last season with a victory in Grade 1 company at Aintree and has looked even better in winning both his outings this term. 

His campaign started with success in a Grade 3 race at Down Royal in November prior to winning the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown when relishing the step-up in distance to three miles. 

There’s every inclination that he will be ridden positively, given that he stays a lot further, and maybe he is the horse to give the favourite most to think about. 

I think he will have no issues coping with the fast pace over this shorter distance, and his best days are sure to come. He must have excellent place possibilities. 

Iberico Lord - 11/1

Iberico Lord was supplemented for the Unibet Champion Hurdle at a cost of £18,000 following the scratching of stablemate Constitution Hill.

Trained by Nicky Henderson, connections opted to bring him forward from his original engagement in the County Hurdle due to the better prospect of soft ground on Tuesday compared to Friday.

He has a 3-7 record over hurdles, winning the Greatwood Hurdle on soft ground at Cheltenham in November and the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on heavy ground last month.

Not So Sleepy - 33/1

At the latter stages of his career, the 12-year-old has been a fantastic servant for connections and added a second Grade 1 win to his CV with a smooth success in the rescheduled Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Sandown for the second time in his career. 

Most of his best form has been on a testing surface, but he has proven he can adapt to better ground. In what will be his fifth crack at the Champion Hurdle, his best effort could be forthcoming, having fared no better than fifth in his previous efforts. 

Zarak The Brave - 25/1

An outsider you might want to consider from a place perspective! He might not be Willie Mullins' first string, but he has some strong form in the book and was last seen returning a smooth winner of the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle. 

That was his third win from just seven starts over hurdles, and his penultimate start can be excused, as something seemed amiss when pulled up in a three-runner race when sent off as the 1/8 favourite. That run can be excused. 

His win in the Galway Hurdle was good, as were his placed efforts behind Lossiemouth twice last season, as well as when he finished third in the Grade 1 Prix Alain du Breiul - Course de Hais de Printemps des Quatre Hurdle. 

He is seen to best effect in a strongly-run race, and this race should be run to suit. He is a very good horse when at his best and has done little wrong during his career under the care of Willie Mullins, so he is an outsider to consider. 

Champion Hurdle Tips & Prediction

The one runner I have taken a chance on is Willie Mullins’ ZARAK THE BRAVE (tipped at 16/1) each-way, who has strong enough form to his name to at least hit the frame. 

Whether he is capable of beating State Man is open to debate, but he is a good horse in his own right, and if you can excuse his penultimate start, his form is absolutely rock solid. 

He is at his best in a strongly-run race and should get that here. He can jump and travel at speed and has won two very good races in his last two completed starts, so he’s worth an interest.