Cheltenham Festival Day 1 – Champion Hurdle Preview – Gold Cup winning jockey Andrew Thornton

Former Gold Cup winning jockey Andrew Thornton previews the Champion Hurdle
It looks like it could be a formality for State Man – He was only beaten once in his career for Willie Mullins and that was by Constitution Hill in this race last year.
Mullins has said that this season, that State Man is a better horse this year and is versatile when it comes to ground conditions – We expect a wet Cheltenham and that ground will be fine for State Man. Soft ground doesn’t bother him and it’s not going to be much drier then that. The forecast rain has come. He is also so good in terms of being ridden from the front or being held up – The tactics for State Man don’t really matter.
Gordon Elliott has put Irish Point in this race instead of the Stayers Hurdle – Now that Constitution Hill is not running everyone seems to be taking a chance. We also have Iberico Lord who for me could be the each way play here. JP McManus has paid around £18,000 to supplement him for this race trained by Nicky Henderson and we will find out if the Henderson team are firing on all cylinders for the festival.
The pick though has to be State Man with Iberico Lord the each way play.