Wodhooh the value in Champion Hurdle ante-post market

The recent Grade 1 BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle blew apart the ante-post market for the 2026 Unibet Champion Hurdle, the latest crashing fall for Constitution Hill potentially being the last time the great horse will be seen over timber, writes Paul Alster.

Much has been written in the aftermath of that stunning race that not only saw Nicky Henderson’s outstanding former champion hurdler Constitution Hill fall at the second flight – his third successive tumble in top races – but also saw his main market rival, the Dan Skelton-trained The New Lion fall at the second-last flight when still in front, leaving the reigning champion hurdler, Golden Ace, to once again pick up the pieces on her way to a battling defeat of the previously unbeaten Anzadam.

The ‘will he-won’t he’ media circus surrounding Constitution Hill looks set to rumble on indefinitely, but the likelihood is that he won’t run again over hurdles and may instead have a crack at a new career on the Flat. Given his high cruising speed it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that even at the age of ten he might prove a force to reckon with in his new career.

The previously unbeaten The New Lion was making his seasonal return at Newcastle and tackling the minimum trip for the first time in his career having ended last season with Grade 1 wins in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury and the Turners Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He was no more than a length in front and was just coming under pressure from Golden Ace when he fell in a very similar manner to Constitution Hill who departed at the same flight on the previous circuit.

Most observers seem to believe that The New Lion would have have kept his perfect record intact had he stood up, but I am not so certain as Golden Ace – the Jeremy Scott-trained mare who had remarkably triumphed in a ridiculous champion hurdle in the spring that saw not only Constitution Hill, but also State Man hit the deck – was picking up strongly and is a specialist two-miler. The only certainty in the debate is that we shall never know.

What we do know at this point is that The New Lion is probably going to be as smart at two miles as he was over further. We know that Golden Ace is classy, tough as old boots and jumps really well so will always give herself a chance in the showcase races, and we know that in the aftermath of the Newcastle race the prolific and hugley popular Willie Mullins-trained Lossiemouth is now clear 5/2 ante-post favourite for the champion hurdle, having controversially been denied her chance to compete in the race last season when connections took the easier route and she duly hacked up in the Grade 1 Mares Hurdle.

Following her Cheltenham win last March, Lossiemouth went on to Aintree where she was forced to work hard to get the better of the 5yo mare Wodhooh in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle over two-and-a-half miles, a race that cemented the ascent of Wodhooh from decent handicapper in the autumn of 2023, to winning the 2025 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last March, making it seven wins in a row.

Last season alone, Wodhooh improved 24lb from a mark of 130 to 154, while the 7yo Lossiemouth maintained her form improving from a mark of 156 to 160, on official figures. The stats suggest that Wodhoo’s rapid improvement entitled her to give Lossiemouth a race at Aintree even before Constitution Hill fell two out when still close up. In the end, the grey Lossiemouth prevailed over Wodhoo (the pair pictured above at Aintree) by almost three lengths , although the runner-up was eased once held in the last seventy-five yards.

Given that both mares have already shown their respective well-being this season – Lossiemouth has beaten some inferior rivals with any amount in hand in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown, while Wodhooh landed the Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle – the price differential between the two mares suggests the current ante-post value could lie with Gordon Elliott’s charge who is at an age where she is most likely still improving. Lossiemouth is generally a 2/1 shot while Wodhooh can be backed at 20/1.

Of course, with Lossiemouth probably heading to the feature event and a showdown with The New Lion and Golden Ace at the Cheltenham Festival in March, the path appears clear for Wodhooh to take the Grade 1 Mares Hurdle (for which she is only a 7/4 shot), but I would not be surprised, especially if Lossiemouth were not to run for some reason, if Wodhooh were to have a crack at the champion hurdle itself, given that she could still be on the upgrade and the stiff two miles will bring her proven stamina into play.

One way or another, the permutations surrounding this year’s champion hurdle will become clearer after the Christmas period when most of the leading contenders are expected to be in action on one side of the Irish Sea or the other.

Paul Alster has broadcast and reported on the British racing industry for four decades as a commentator, journalist, TV and radio presenter, betting correspondent, SP Returner, tipster and form analyst, among other things.