Trainer Jeremy Scott believes Golden Ace‘s chances of doubling her Champion Hurdle tally are greater than last year.
Golden Ace won the 2025 Champion Hurdle in remarkable circumstances. Odds-on favourite Constitution Hill fell, as did State Man when clear at the final hurdle. That left Scott’s mare to come clear under Lorcan Williams for a fairytale success.
However, that victory may not be a one off. Connections have been targeting a repeat bid all season, and the eight-year-old is much shorter in the market this term.
She has also added to her Grade 1 tally since then. With Constitution Hill once again falling, Golden Ace claimed the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. That was another upset in which main rivals fell, including Champion Hurdle favourite The New Lion. However, she proved she has more than enough ability to take advantage of situations falling her way.
A second place effort behind Sir Gino, who misses Cheltenham, was respectable at Kempton on Boxing Day. Since then, Scott’s team have freshened her up for her title defence at the Cheltenham Festival.
“Our mare seems in much better nick” – Scott
Golden Ace underwent a final racecourse gallop before Cheltenham on Thursday.
She is reported to have impressed at Wincanton and will now head straight to the Champion Hurdle. Scott not only believes that she has a greater chance, but that she is in better shape in 2026 too.
He said to the Racing Post: “We’re very happy with her and the gallop went very well. I think we’re in a really good place, actually. She’s very good and as long as we keep everything in one piece it’s all systems go now.
“We do still have to put our best foot forward as any one of the top runners could be competitive. Before last year we were feeling we couldn’t be competitive at all – had State Man and Constitution Hill been on their feet at the end, we may not have been – but we’re certainly in with a better shout than last year. Our mare seems in much better nick this time as well.”
In terms of the competition, Scott admits to some disappointment that Constitution Hill will be absent.
“I’d have loved to have seen Constitution Hill run, as we all want to see our heroes race. It’s a real shame from that point of view, but it looked to me after Southwell all he’d have had to do is jump round and he’d have won.
“The way he won, I think we might have been trailing in his wake! He was so impressive. What it does mean now is we’ve got an ultra-competitive race.”
His absence has only improved Golden Ace’s chances further. She will line up on Tuesday 10 March with plenty of support behind her.