Grade One Champion Hurdle Guide 2023

Not So Sleepy returns after 78 days off following a last of five finish in the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton over Christmas, where Paisley Park stayed on to beat Goshen and Champ.

His last victory came in the Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November 2021 and has finished fifth in the last two runnings of this race.

Wasn’t disgraced when third of five in the 2022 Fighting Fifth, finishing behind Epatante and Constitution Hill but was a fair way away from the winner and won’t be close here.

Decent hurdler for Henry De Bromhead in the past and has also won on the flat back in 2021 before making debut for new yard at this course in January, finishing ninth of 15 in a class two handicap over 2m.

That followed a fourth of five in a grade three outing at Tipperary in October last year on his last run for Henry De Bromhead and this looks like a steep task for the nine-year-old who can be dismissed easily in this company.

Third in this contest last year behind Epatante and Honeysuckle but tested positive for a banned substance, giving third to Saint Roi instead.

Has since been nowhere near his best, falling at Aintree before seventh of nine in Grade Two Lismullen Hurdle at Navan.

He was pulled up in the Jack De Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown in December before coming last of five in the Irish Champion Hurdle which suggests he has a lot to do here to challenge for victory.

His price in the market sits at 100/1 and it’s easy to see why, with him not being at his best for a while.

Unbeaten six-year-old for Willie Mullins since fall at Leopardstown in 2021. Won the Grade Three County Hurdle last year at the festival by a length before winning a grade one novice at Punchestown in April last year.

Three wins have followed since, at Punchestown and Leopardstown (twice) before heading here to take on Constitution Hill.

Was impressive last time out, beating the legendary Honeysuckle by just under five lengths at the Dublin Racing Festival in the Irish Champion Hurdle and comes into this one as the main player to rival Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill.

He looks capable of stepping up again but whether he can challenge him is another matter, and none in this contest may be able to.

Six-year-old gelding for Nigel Twiston-Davies who has had mixed success during his hurdling career, winning at the likes of Worcester and Wincanton as well as winning here multiple times but struggling somewhat when upped in grade.

Impressively won a grade two last time out at Wincanton, beating Knappers Hill by 17 lengths and this trip will suit him better than the 2m 4f he went over at this course on New Year’s Day, when finishing sixth in the Relkeel Hurdle.

Still probably won’t be enough to challenge for the victory, though.

The winner of the Triumph Hurdle last year Vauban comes into this contest with second and third place finishes in the Matheson Hurdle behind State Man and third in the Irish Champion Hurdle behind Honeysuckle and State Man again last time out.

Has been impressive since winning the Triumph, winning another grade one at Punchestown in April last year but is unlikely to be close to Constitution Hill but a top three finish is not dismissed for a horse who hasn’t been out of the top three over hurdles.

Six-year-old superstar for Nicky Henderson who is unbeaten over hurdles, including four grade one’s. Won the Supreme last year on the first day of the festival in emphatic fashion, beating stablemate Jonbon by 22 lengths, who has since been sent over fences by Henderson.

He could be one of the best hurdlers we’ve ever seen and beat Epatante by 12 lengths in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November before again beating Epatante in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton in December, this time by 17 lengths.

Nothing has come close to him so far and many think State Man might come close, but he’s 4/11 favourite for a reason and will take all the beating here.