There was unbelievable drama at the end of Tuesday's Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, with both Consitution Hill and State Man falling in the headline race of day one.
Constitution Hill went into the race as the heavily backed favourite for victory, with the eight-year-old bidding to win its second title in this event having previously triumphed in 2023.
However, there were dramatic scenes as the horse fell early in the race, blowing the race wide open and opening up a massive shot at victory for the chasing pack.
Paul Townend and State Man would take control of the race from there, with the Cork jockey seeking a third win of the day for Willie Mullins.
The drama was not yet over.
With just one hurdle remaining, State Man was cruising out in front, before a nasty fall saw yet another major contender eliminated right at the very end.
State Man falls at the LAST!
Golden Ace wins a RIDICULOUS Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 😳#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @williams_lorcan pic.twitter.com/OqeggDUgSm
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2025
It was an extraordinary conclusion to the day's headline race and opened the door for 25/1 outsider Golden Ace to win a memorable Champion Hurdle. The top three was made up entirely of underdogs, with 2nd-placed Burdett Road starting at 66/1 and Winter Fog coming in 3rd at 150/1.
A remarkable race at Cheltenham and one which Ruby Walsh said would stay with the jockeys - particularly Townend - for a long time.
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Ruby Walsh assesses madness at end of Cheltenham Champion Hurdle
As those around Cheltenham caught their breath after a madcap Champion Hurdle on Tuesday, Ruby Walsh dissected the chaos that had brought about an unexpected win for Golden Ace.
Walsh first assessed the fall that brought down pre-race favourite Constitution Hill, pinpointing a critical, unrecoverable mistake.
Constitution Hill - we have a better angle than the one ye just watched. He absolutely steps onto the hurdle...watch his front feet.
He puts them both on the ground - on the hurdle, actually, on the front of the hurdle. He goes to jump it, then doesn't, steps clean into the middle of the hurdle, and that trips him over. You can't stand up when you do that.
🔎 Ruby Walsh Analysis 🔍
Ruby watches back a truly classic Champion Hurdle in which Constitution Hill and State Man both fell 😳#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @Ruby_Walsh pic.twitter.com/kdQalmNKGs
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2025
It was a basic error from Constitution Hill and, somehow, it was not even the most dramatic fall of the race.
State Man's fall at the last had echoes of Annie Power's in 2015, and Paul Townend was in disbelief as he fell.
Ruby Walsh said on ITV that he did not feel Townend had done anything wrong in his approach. However, he said the pain of being eliminated was something that would haunt Townend "forever."
Paul Townend, he commits to the last...I don't know, I don't think you're always wrong once you make a decision and you commit to it. And that's what he does.
1-2-3-go on, horse stands out, doesn't quite get the height in front, toes clip the top of the hurdle, and over he goes.
That'll live with him forever, trust me.
One of the most memorable finishes in Cheltenham for quite some time, and one that will haunt the memories of everyone backing Constitution Hill and State Man.
However, the race produced the most unlikely of top threes and captured the unpredictability of the festival in superb fashion on day one.
Three more to go.
SEE ALSO: Paul Townend Overcome With Emotion After Memorable Tribute To Michael O'Sullivan
