Cheltenham Festival 2024 Best Bets: Champion Hurdle Preview

Cheltenham Festival 2024 Best Bets: Champion Hurdle Preview
Day 1 Tuesday 12th March

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Cheltenham Festival 2024 Best Bets: Champion Hurdle Preview

21.02.24

by Matthew McLaughlin-Stonham

(3 minutes read)

This is the third instalment of our Cheltenham Festival 2024 Best Bets preview series following from our Stayers Hurdle and Ryanair Chase picks. We also have a comprehensive guide to all things Cheltenham Festival 2024: just clink the link here.

There is very little difference in the field dynamic of this year’s renewal compared to last year. Constitution Hill is unsurprisingly a huge favourite with prohibitive odds and barring a fall or withdrawal, a second consecutive Champion Hurdle is just about in the bag.

CONSTITUION HILL.jpg

Therefore, we take a look at the best each ways bets for this Cheltenham Festival championship race. Best Cheltenham odds provided by our partner firms, Bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred and Boylesports.

Constitution Hill

The Nicky Henderson trained legend has not had much of a campaign due to adverse weather curtailments of his engagements this season. Nevertheless, his one run in The Christmas Hurdle was his customary and effortless coasting along victory, putting average rivals to bed with consummate ease. It is all systems go for a consecutive second Champion Hurdle barring an injury or fall. 1/3 best with Betfred.

State Man

Although he has near 10 lengths to make up on Constitution Hill based on their last meeting in the 2023 Champion Hurdle, State Man has impressed this season and is clearly an improved horse.

He will have to improve further but this would need to be on near miraculous proportions. The 11/4 (Bet365, William Hill NRNB) on offer is ludicrously short and is clearly that price to keep the forecast payouts under control for the betting firms.

The Each Way Contenders

Lossiemouth

The Willie Mullins Triumph Hurdle winner impressed many with his smooth victory in the recent Grade 2 International Hurdle at Cheltenham. However, the Mullins camp is almost certainly bypassing this for The Mares Hurdle. Bet365 offer 6/1 NRNB as best bet.

Irish Point

This Gordon Elliott trained 6-year-old enters each way calculations after his runaway success in the Grade 1 Jack De Bromhead Christmas Hurdle. He prefers a greatest test of stamina, so the Stayers Hurdle is the more likely destination. 14/1 NRNB with William Hill, Bet Victor and Boylesports.

Not So Sleepy

Far greater value can be found with Not So Sleepy who ran a superb race to win the rescheduled Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Sandown last December, beating the useful Love Envoi by some eight lengths.

He will need some cut in the ground to figure and age is certainly against him. However, he is the value each way bet at 25/1 NRNB with Bet365 and William Hill.

Pied Piper

One horse who seems to save his best performances for Cheltenham is the Gordon Elliott trained Pied Piper. He was unlucky to be just held in last year’s County Hurdle and if you add his Grade 2 win from 2022 and placing in the Triumph Hurdle in the same year, it is evident that this is a Cheltenham specialist.

He will need to improve further, however, the 40/1 on offer at Bet365 NRNB is tempting. He is also dual declared for a repeat run in the County Hurdle (16/1 William Hill, Bet Victor).

Verdict

The win market for this race is clearly misleading as any prices will reflect what bookmakers can afford to lose with forecasts involving Constitution Hill.

The 11/4 for State Man is clearly not a viable bet considering he still has to make up 9 lengths on the Nicky Henderson leviathan, regardless of how much State Man may have improved. Let us not forget that Constitution Hill also has room for improvement.

Therefore, the each way market is a more accessible way to bet on this race despite the dual declarations. Thankfully, the NRNB option offers solace here.

Irish Point would be a natural choice, but his destination is likely to be the Stayers as he prefers a greater test of stamina. The number of runners is therefore likely to be drastically reduced to possibly under eight so a little wager on the veteran Not So Sleepy is the way to go at 25/1 Bet365 and William Hill.

Selection

Not So Sleepy EACH WAY 25/1 Bet365, William Hill

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Matt is Howtobet4free's resident Horse Racing expert, writer, tipster and a huge Cheltenham Festival fan. He occasionally dabbles in Golf, Football and anything else you can gamble on!

View other articles by Matthew McLaughlin-Stonham