Fans were left in disbelief after both favourites Constitution Hill and State Man crashed out in the most dramatic Cheltenham race ever.
The roar of the Cheltenham crowd on March 11, 2025, was unlike anything the historic festival had heard before—a mix of thunderous anticipation and, moments later, a collective gasp that hung in the crisp Cotswold air. The Unibet Champion Hurdle, the pinnacle of jump racing, promised a clash of titans: Constitution Hill, the unbeaten superstar trained by Nicky Henderson, and State Man, the defending champion from Willie Mullins’ powerhouse stable. With odds of 1-2 on Constitution Hill and State Man not far behind as the second favourite, punters had poured millions into what seemed a foregone conclusion. Instead, the opening day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival delivered a script worthy of a Hollywood disaster flick, as both favourites tumbled in a sequence of falls that left the track in stunned silence and handed an improbable victory to 25-1 outsider Golden Ace.
From the off, the race crackled with tension. A field of eight lined up under a pale blue sky, the Prestbury Park turf firm after a dry winter that had racing purists debating the going. Lorcan Williams on Golden Ace, a lightly raced mare with just three prior wins, settled quietly in the pack, her trainer Jeremy Scott having gambled on the big prize over the more winnable Mares’ Hurdle. Up front, State Man, ridden by the evergreen Paul Townend, set a steady gallop, his trademark fluency over the hurdles belying the pressure of defending his crown. Constitution Hill, with Nico de Boinville in the plate, loomed large as ever, cruising effortlessly just behind the leaders, his powerful stride eating up ground with that effortless arrogance that had carried him to nine straight victories.
Disaster struck at the fifth flight. Constitution Hill, misjudging the take-off amid a slight clip from a rival’s wing, crashed down in a heap, sending shockwaves through the stands. De Boinville rolled clear unharmed, but the sight of the horse—Cheltenham’s golden boy, absent through injury in 2024—floundering on the turf was a gut punch to the 60,000-strong crowd. Whispers of conspiracy rippled through the enclosures: Was it the ground? Bad luck? Or the weight of expectation finally cracking the unbeaten facade? Henderson, watching from the unsaddling enclosure, buried his head in his hands, later admitting, “It’s a cruel sport sometimes. He was traveling like a dream until that split-second lapse.”
The race, far from derailed, twisted further into chaos. With Constitution Hill out, State Man inherited the spotlight, injecting pace and pulling clear by five lengths turning for home. Townend, sensing glory, drove him at the final flight, the horse’s ears pricked and stride long. But in an inexplicable blunder, State Man rapped the hurdle hard, pitching forward in a somersault that unseated Townend and clipped the trailing Brighterdaysahead, trained by Gordon Elliott. The Irish raider, who had led early but faded, stumbled but stayed on her feet, only to lack the turn of foot to challenge. In the void left by the fallen giants, Golden Ace surged through the gap, Williams asking her a question she answered with grit. The mare, owned by Ian Gosden, quickened gamely, holding off the 66-1 Burdett Road by a length and a half in a time of 3 minutes 58 seconds.
As Golden Ace crossed the line, the winner’s enclosure erupted in disbelief. Williams, dismounting with legs like jelly, could only muster, “I’m lost for words. You dream of these moments as a kid watching on TV. She’s a fantastic mare who always turns up.” Scott, the unassuming Somerset trainer whose biggest prior Festival win was a handicap chase, pinched himself repeatedly. “I couldn’t even dream that would happen,” he said, voice cracking. “I’ve just asked someone to thump me because I must be dreaming. It’s a tragedy those horses came down and it spoilt the race entirely… but the gods have favoured us.” Gosden, beaming beside his charge, added a touch of wry humor: “He who dares, wins. I never even back her! What I did last year was my dream, but this? Beyond it.”
For punters, it was Armageddon. Bookmakers reported a bloodbath, with Constitution Hill alone accounting for an estimated £10 million in liabilities. Those bold enough to sprinkle on Golden Ace cashed in at 28-1, but the emotional toll overshadowed the payouts. “It’s the most dramatic Cheltenham race ever,” declared veteran commentator Andrew McNamara on Racing TV. “Two immortals felled in one go—it’s like watching Messi and Ronaldo both red-carded in a World Cup final.” Social media exploded, with #ChampionHurdleFall trending worldwide, memes of shattered betting slips mingling with tributes to the fallen stars.
Veterinary checks confirmed both horses unscathed, a silver lining in the gloom. Constitution Hill walked back to the stables gingerly but soundly, Henderson vowing a full autopsy on the error before plotting a return at Punchestown or Aintree. State Man, too, escaped serious harm, Mullins praising Townend’s quick dismount: “Paul’s a magician; he saved that horse from worse.” By May, State Man had bounced back to claim a third Punchestown Champion Hurdle, while Constitution Hill labored to a rare defeat there, his aura dented but spirit intact.
Seven months on, the 2025 Champion Hurdle lingers as a cautionary epic. It reminded us that jump racing’s allure lies not in certainties, but in the knife-edge where brilliance meets calamity. Golden Ace’s triumph, born of others’ misfortune, etched her into lore, yet the ghosts of Constitution Hill and State Man haunt the narrative. Cheltenham 2026 looms, but recapturing that raw, heart-stopping drama? That may take another lifetime. For now, fans clutch their memories of a day when the favorites fell, and the festival’s magic proved as unpredictable as the British weather.
