From underdog to champion: Golden Ace creates miracle at Cheltenham as Constitution Hill and State Man fall in eventful race
CHELTENHAM, England – In a race that will etch itself into the annals of jump racing history, Golden Ace emerged from the shadows of doubt to claim an astonishing victory in the 2025 Unibet Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. The 25-1 outsider, trained by Jeremy Scott and ridden by Lorcan Williams, capitalized on a cascade of chaos that felled the sport’s two preeminent hurdlers, Constitution Hill and State Man, in one of the most heart-stopping spectacles ever witnessed on Prestbury Park’s hallowed turf. As the roar of 55,000 spectators turned to gasps of disbelief, Golden Ace surged clear to win by a resounding nine lengths, transforming what seemed an improbable dream into a triumphant reality.
The buildup to this year’s Champion Hurdle had all the hallmarks of a coronation. Constitution Hill, the imperious 2023 winner trained by Nicky Henderson, entered the fray as the unassailable 1-2 favorite. Unbeaten in 10 starts since his last Cheltenham conquest, the nine-year-old had battled back from a harrowing respiratory illness and suspected colic that sidelined him for nearly two years. His connections spoke of a horse reborn, sharp and eager, with jockey Nico de Boinville exuding quiet confidence. “He’s back to his brilliant best,” Henderson had declared in the days prior, his words laced with the relief of a trainer who had nursed his star through the brink of retirement.
Looming as the chief threat was State Man, the 2024 champion under Willie Mullins’ masterly guidance. At 8-1, the Irish raider had been somewhat overlooked amid the Constitution Hill hype, but his credentials were impeccable: a flawless record over hurdles this season and a burning desire to emulate the greats with back-to-back triumphs. Paul Townend, Mullins’ go-to pilot, had partnered him to glory 12 months earlier, and the pair arrived with a tactical edge, content to stalk the pace set by pacemaker King Of Kingsfield. Brighterdaysahead, the exciting mare from Gordon Elliott’s yard, rounded out the top trio in betting at 15-8, her electric finishing kick promising a potential historic first for a female contender in the blue-riband event.
Golden Ace? She was the afterthought, a 25-1 shot in a field of seven who had shown glimpses of talent but nothing to suggest she belonged in this elite company. Owned by Ian Gosden, a shrewd punter who opted boldly to supplement her for the Champion Hurdle rather than the safety of the Mares’ event, the six-year-old mare had notched a solitary Festival success last year in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. Trained from a modest yard on Exmoor’s windswept hills by Scott – a former dairy farmer turned horseman – Golden Ace had strung together a couple of gritty wins over lesser opposition this winter. Yet, whispers in the paddock painted her as a gallant trier, unlikely to trouble the titans. “She’s game, but this is a whole different ball game,” one seasoned observer noted pre-race. Williams, her 31-year-old jockey, had shrugged off the skepticism, focusing instead on the meticulous preparation that saw her jump crisply in training gallops.
From the moment the tapes rose, the narrative twisted into the unforeseen. Constitution Hill, typically poetry in motion over his obstacles, cruised in second early on, his powerful stride eating up ground effortlessly. The hilltop turn approached, and with the field bunching at the fourth-last flight, disaster struck. In a split-second lapse – perhaps a misjudged stride or a slick patch of yielding ground – the favorite blundered through the birch, pitching de Boinville earthward in a sickening tumble. The crowd’s collective intake of breath echoed like thunder, as Constitution Hill somersaulted but rose riderless, trotting unsteadily behind the pack. “It was like watching a king fall,” murmured a shell-shocked punter nearby. Bookmakers later estimated the fall spared them upwards of £10 million in liabilities, but in that instant, humanity trumped the ledgers; concerns mounted for horse and rider alike.
With Constitution Hill’s departure, the script flipped to Brighterdaysahead. The mare, aided by her pacemaker, assumed command, her fluent jumping carrying her clear into the home straight. King Of Kingsfield, his duty done, faded tamely, leaving Elliott’s charge to face the pursuit. State Man, ever the opportunist, began to close the gap with menacing intent. By the bottom of the hill, the Irish gelding had ranged upsides, his jockey sensing victory within grasp. Brighterdaysahead, for all her promise, began to falter under the strain, her stride shortening as the incline bit. State Man powered on, drawing five lengths clear approaching the final flight. The stands erupted in anticipation of a second crown for Mullins’ powerhouse – a fitting sequel to last year’s drama.
Then, cruel fate intervened once more. Townend, committed to a bold leap, urged State Man forward, but the horse met the hurdle too long. Forelegs tangled, hindquarters rose, and in a heart-wrenching crash, the leader summersaulted to the turf, catapulting his rider clear. Brighterdaysahead, baulked in the melee, swerved sharply, her challenge extinguished. Into this void swept Golden Ace. Traveling with deceptive ease in fourth or fifth for much of the journey, Williams had kept faith, asking his mount to quicken only when the leaders wilted. The mare responded with verve, deftly sidestepping the prone State Man and accelerating up the punishing rise. Burdett Road, a 66-1 no-hoper, chased gamely for second, while Winter Fog lumbered in third at 150-1, but Golden Ace was untouchable, her nine-length margin a testament to the race’s topsy-turvy toll.
As Williams punched the air crossing the line, mouthing “Oh my God!” in sheer elation, the weighing room became a tableau of raw emotion. “I’m lost for words,” the jockey gasped, his voice cracking. “This is the best day of my life. You dream of this as a kid – a first Grade One, at Cheltenham no less. I just hope the others are okay; Constitution Hill and State Man are icons.” Scott, the unpretentious trainer whose yard operates on a shoestring compared to the Henderson or Mullins empires, enveloped his team in hugs, tears streaming. “I haven’t taken it in yet,” he admitted. “Golden Ace jumped like a stag, and Lorcan rode her perfectly. Ian’s bravery in running her here paid off – we were second best until fate smiled.”
Amid the jubilation, relief washed over the fallen favorites’ camps. Constitution Hill, battered but unbroken, walked back to his box bright-eyed and sound, with Henderson confirming no lasting damage. “Nobody’s hurt – that’s the main thing,” the veteran trainer said, already eyeing a Punchestown rematch. “He was back to his peak; we’ll regroup.” State Man, sporting a minor bang to the head, cantered up sore but stable, Mullins praising his charge’s pre-fall dominance. “He had it won,” the Irish maestro reflected wryly. “Extraordinary to see two champions fall like that. Fair play to Golden Ace – she turned up when it mattered.” Townend, dusting off bruises, bore the weight of the what-ifs with stoicism: “I committed, and it didn’t come up. It’ll live with me, but that’s racing.”
For Golden Ace, this miracle elevates her from fringe player to Festival immortal. Her odds had drifted to 129-1 in running on exchanges, underscoring the shock. Yet, in victory, she embodies the essence of Cheltenham: unpredictability, resilience, and the sheer thrill of the underdog’s roar. As the sun dipped over Cleeve Hill, casting a golden hue on the scene, one couldn’t help but marvel at the poetry. In a sport where giants stumble and dreamers dare, Golden Ace didn’t just win a race – she rewrote the story of champions.
