2024 Champion Hurdle Result - State Man beats Irish Point at Cheltenham

With defending champion Constitution Hill missing the meeting through illness, State Man was sent off as the long odds-on favourite to win the 2024 Champion Hurdle.

Willie Mullins' star has won eight Grade Ones in Ireland, with his only defeat in top-level company coming in last year's Champion Hurdle, when he finished second to Constitution Hill.

Gordon Elliott was represented by Irish Point. Nicky Henderson ran two, including the supplemented Iberico Lord. Heavy-ground lovers Nemean Lion and Not So Sleepy were backed by each-way punters in the build-up to Tuesday's Champion Hurdle. Zarak The Brave, Luccia and Zarak The Brave completed the field.

Nemean Lion and Not So Sleepy were the first to show, with both keen to turn the race into a test of stamina. State Man and Irish Point settled nicely behind the leaders. Zarak The Brave was given a waiting ride at the rear.

Not So Sleepy was a little keen early on and his jumping was sloppy as a result. Iberico Lord, who had sat prominently early on, drifted to the rear on the approach to the fifth.

With three hurdles left to jump, Jack Kennedy moved Irish Point onto the coattails of the leaders. Not So Sleepy soon gave way, and Irish Point came through to tackle Nemean Lion at the bottom of the hill.

Paul Townend casually tracked Jack Kennedy's move and turning for home, the top two settled down for a fight. Kennedy asked Irish Point for an effort and both jumped the last well. State Man, however, was always in control and soon put the race to bed on the run to the line.

Nicky Henderson will have been pleased to see Luccia finish the race well to place third behind State Man and Irish Point. Nemean Lion and Not So Sleepy paid for their early exertions, as Zarak The Brave finished fourth.

2024 Champion Hurdle Replay