Six runners have been declared for the Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Hurdle, run during the final big festival of the jumps season. The race is slated to take place on Friday, 2nd May and the field includes two massive names who will take each other on once again.
They include the three main protagonists from the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, with the most significant being Constitution Hill. Nicky Henderson has been intent on a trip to Ireland with his superstar after his career has been derailed by back-to-back falls at Prestbury Park and Aintree. It will be the first time he has raced in Ireland if he travels over.
The other faller in the Champion Hurdle was State Man, who had the race at his mercy when coming down at the last. Willie Mullins’ eight-year-old was putting in the performance of his life that day before that fall, which presented Golden Ace with the race for Jeremy Scott. The mare, now a two-time Cheltenham Festival heroine, will attempt to prove that was no fluke in this contest.
Kargese also represents Mullins, as she attempts to build on her own Cheltenham Festival success in the County Hurdle. She is a former Grade 1 winner as a juvenile and will back up State Man for Closutton.
The remaining duo are Break My Soul, fourth at Aintree in a career best effort, and Bottler’secret, formerly useful for Gavin Cromwell and now with first-season trainer Aidan Melia.
2025 Punchestown Champion Hurdle Entries
| Number | Horse | Trainer | Jockey |
| 1 | Bottler’secret | Aidan Melia | Danny Gilligan |
| 2 | Constitution Hill | Nicky Henderson | James Bowen |
| 3 | State Man | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 4 | Break My Soul | Ian Patrick Donoghue | Keith Donoghue |
| 5 | Golden Ace | Jeremy Scott | Lorcan Williams |
| 6 | Kargese | Willie Mullins | Danny Mullins |