Cork owned horse State Man is the new Champion Hurdle favourite after Constitution Hill flops in Kempton gallop

IT has been a day of dramatic upheavals on industry betting markets with flip flopping favourites on the exchanges ahead of the Champion Hurdle due to be run in a fortnight's time.

The Cork owned horse State Man due to be ridden by Lisgoold Jockey Paul Townend has usurped the unbeaten superstar Constitution Hill as the odds on favourite for the Unibet Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.

Constitution Hill became friendless this morning on the exchanges drifting markedly for the Champion Hurdle after a substandard display on his much heralded away day gallop at Kempton. 

This was his final prep for Cheltenham having missed a proposed outing on Trials Day. 

Several firms initially suspended their market on the unbeaten superstar, who was as short as 1/4.

The unbeaten seven year old was eased right down by jockey Nico de Boinville, left trailing in the wake of his two stable companions at the Sunbury all-weather track. 

Trainer Nicky Henderson, his owner Michael Buckley and Barry Geraghty were present. 

Geraghty bought Constitution Hill as a six month old foal with point to point trainer Warren Ewing. 

Nico De Boinville dismounted quickly from Constitution Hill after the two mile gallop. 

He'd worked with the short priced Triumph Hurdle favourite Sir Gino and Quick Draw.

Sir Gino like State Man is also owned by Joe and Marie Donnelly.

Constitution Hill was scoped by a vet at the racecourse. 

Henderson said there was significant mucus in his airway. Speaking afterwards the Seven Barrows trainer said: “Nico said he couldn’t keep tabs on them. 

"We will send off the sample to our vets this afternoon and wait for the results."

In relation to ruling him out of the Champion Hurdle he was slightly more defiant and hopeful. 

“There is no point saying that’s it, we are still going to try and get him there." 

Henderson has been criticised by many for his cautious approach with the reigning champion hurdler, who’d only been seen in public in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day when he won easily.

The Joe and Marie Donnelly owned State Man is now the new favourite with most firms, most of whom have 'non runner no bet' in place. 

State Man was 1/2 favourite with Paddy Power at the time of writing.

The Exchanges are the best barometer of all and they currently bet (2) Evens State Man and (2.56) 6/4 Constitution Hill. 

However the Exchanges is Non runner you lose. State Man has been unbeatable in the hurdling division in Ireland, winning nine of his ten outings. His only blip in Ireland, he fell when cantering on his first start for Willie Mullins on Boxing Day in 2021. 

I was present that day, he'd have definitely won but for falling.

His only defeat in the interim came at the hands of Constitution Hill by nine lengths in the 2023 Champion Hurdle. State Man clearly wasn't himself that day. 

There was growing optimism that he would get much closer in a fortnight. 

That showdown must be doubtful now after this morning's below par gallop by Constitution Hill and the subsequent discovery of mucus in his airways. 

When a horse has a cold or allergy that affects his respiratory tract, his tissues produce excessive mucous so it can better perform its important job of flushing out unwanted invaders. 

If something causes inflammation, a type of white blood cells called neutrophils rush to the area.