Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

A disbelieving Lorcan Williams aboard the outside shot Golden Ace after winning a chaotic Champion Hurdle

Golden Ace wins Champion Hurdle as favourites fall

Outside shot Golden Ace wins a chaotic Champion Hurdle as leading contenders Constitution Hill and State Man both fall

Constitution Hill routed his rivals in the race in 2023

Constitution Hill heads 16 entries in Champion Hurdle

Ante-post favourite and 2023 winner Constitution Hill heads a list of 16 contenders entered in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, while the race could feature a Japanese raider in the form of All The World.

Racing • 14 Jan

State Man leads home Irish Point and Luccia

State Man faultless to go one better in Champion Hurdle

State Man justified short-priced favouritism to take the Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Racing • 12 Mar 24

State Man will go off at skimpy odds for the feature on day one

State Man to face seven in Champion Hurdle

There was no late surprise among the final list of eight runners in Tuesday's Unibet Champion Hurdle, with Willie Mullins opting to keep hot favourite State Man and Lossiemouth apart.

Racing • 10 Mar 24

Constitution Hill wins the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on St Stephen's Day

De Boinville: No room for error with Constitution Hill

Nico de Boinville knows Constitution Hill's electrifying jumping leaves "no margin for error" – particularly in the white-hot cauldron of the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

Racing • 15 Feb 24

Galopin Des Champs was an impressive winner of jump racing's blue riband in 2023

Cheltenham entries: Galopin Des Champs tops Gold Cup 20

Last year's winner Galopin Des Champs is one of 20 entries for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on 15 March.

Racing • 02 Jan 24

Nico de Boinville has ridden Constitution Hill to five wins in as many starts

Cheltenham Tuesday: Constitution has mark of Champion

Constitution Hill is all set for his crowning moment when he lines up in the Unibet Champion Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

Racing • 13 Mar 23

Constitution Hill is unbeaten in five races under Rules

Cheltenham Festival: Day 1 confirmations revealed

Constitution Hill heads 12 confirmations for the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

Racing • 08 Mar 23

State Man is next best in the Champion Hurdle market behind Constitution Hill

De Boinville respects State Man in Champion Hurdle

Nico de Boinville has full respect for Willie Mullins' State Man in the Unibet Champion Hurdle, despite his mount Constitution Hill being set to go off one of the shortest-priced favourites of the whole week at the Cheltenham Festival.

Racing • 15 Feb 23

Epatante finished 12 lengths behind Constitution Hill last time out at Newcastle

Epatante aimed at Kempton clash with Constitution Hill

Epatante looks set for a Kempton rematch with stablemate Constitution Hill in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle following the abandonment of the International Hurdle.

Racing • 14 Dec 22

Honeysuckle will aim to continue her winning run

Punchestown Festival: Honeysuckle defends her crown

Honeysuckle is primed to extend her undefeated record as she bids for a second Paddy Power Champion Hurdle title at Punchestown on Friday.

Racing • 29 Apr 22

"This is such a special place and we missed the crowds last year"

'Buzzing' Blackmore savours crowd love at Cheltenham

Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore got the reception they so richly deserved following an imperious defence of the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Racing • 15 Mar 22

Rachael Blackmore celebrates her Champions Hurdle triumph with a rapturous Prestbury Park crowd

Cheltenham Festival: Day 1 results and reports

Honeysuckle remains unbeaten for Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead after a stirring Champions Hurdle triumph at Cheltenham. Here's how Day 1 at the festival went.

Racing • 15 Mar 22

Honeysuckle had six and a half lengths to spare over her nearest rival in last year's edition of hurdling's blue riband event

Cheltenham Festival: Champion Hurdle preview

Honeysuckle bids to extend her hegemony of the two-mile hurdling division in the feature on what many regard as being the most compelling day of the Cheltenham Festival each year.

Racing • 15 Mar 22

Rachael Blackmore has partnered Honeysuckle in each of her 14 racecourse victories

Cheltenham Festival: 10 remain in Champion Hurdle

Honeysuckle will face a maximum of nine rivals as she tries to defend her Unibet Champion Hurdle crown on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Racing • 09 Mar 22

Teahupoo, with Robbie Power aboard, charged to victory in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle

Teahupoo bolsters Champion Hurdle hopes with Gowran win

Teahupoo's odds for the Cheltenham Festival's Champion Hurdle were slashed after he cantered home a clear-cut winner of the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park.

Racing • 19 Feb 22

Honeysuckle is an odds-on favourite for the feature on the opening afternoon of the Cheltenham Festival

Champion Hurdle attracts 23 entries

Honeysuckle features among 23 entries for the Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Racing • 11 Jan 22

The leading jockey is back in action just as the jumps season is about to rev up

Blackmore: I couldn't get too down when I was injured

Rachael Blackmore on being thankful that her recent injury woe happened when it did, and why she now has a greater appreciation of those who are wheelchair-bound.

Racing • 10 Nov 21

Paul Townend celebrates on Chacun Pour Soi

Advantage Townend in champion jockey chase

Paul Townend stretched his lead to six over Rachael Blackmore in the race to be crowned Ireland's champion National Hunt jockey with victory on Galopin Des Champs at Punchestown.

Racing • 28 Apr 21

'It was never a big effort to get up in the morning and go and put in the work'

Blackmore relished all the hard work to get to the top

Countless second-place finishes were part of the hard graft that Rachael Blackmore endured on her way to becoming a leading jockey in the jumps game.

Racing • 05 Apr 21

Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore enjoyed a week to remember at Cheltenham

De Bromhead hails 'unbelievable' Cheltenham Festival

Trainer Henry de Bromhead admits that the "unbelievable" week has surpassed even his wildest expectations.

Cheltenham Festival • 20 Mar 21

Blackmore deserves all her success, says Carberry

Nina Carberry is not in the least bit surprised by the performance of Rachael Blackmore at Cheltenham, as the Tipperary jockey targets Gold Cup glory.

Racing • 19 Mar 21

Rachael Blackmore celebrates on Honeysuckle at Prestbury Park

Blackmore keen to shift spotlight on to Honeysuckle

A self-deprecating Rachael Blackmore was eager to heap praise on the remarkable Honeysuckle after the magnificent mare enabled the 31-year-old to become the first woman to win the Champion Hurdle.

Racing • 17 Mar 21

Rachael Blackmore holds the Champion Hurdle trophy aloft

Honeysuckle and Blackmore romp to Champion Hurdle glory

Tipperary native Rachael Blackmore made history with victory in the Unibet Champion Hurdle aboard Honeysuckle at Cheltenham – becoming the first female jockey to win the great Grade One race.

Cheltenham Festival • 16 Mar 21

Buveur D'Air won the Aintree Hurdle in 2017 and finished second in the race in 2019

Buveur D'Air to miss Cheltenham and wait for Aintree

Nicky Henderson has announced that his dual Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D'Air will not bid to regain his crown next week.

Racing • 09 Mar 21