Golden Ace

A lot of the reasons for thinking that she is over-priced for the Kingwell Hurdle hold true for the Champion Hurdle too.  Also, she goes well at Cheltenham, she put up the best performance of her life there in winning the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, and she was impressive in winning there in April. 

She has lots to find with Constitution Hill obviously, and it could be a top-class renewal of the Champion Hurdle this season.  But State Man is not looking like the horse he was, and he may not be at his best at Cheltenham anyway, while Lossiemouth goes into the race on the back of a fall, and Brighterdaysahead may yet go for the Mares’ Hurdle.

If Golden Ace does win the Kingwell Hurdle on Saturday, she could be a fair bit shorter in the Champion Hurdle market than she is now.  If she doesn't win it, she may not run in the Champion Hurdle, in which case stakes would be refunded. But I think that she is generally an under-rated mare on the back of two defeats this season over two and a half miles.  She is a pacey individual, and she should appreciate the drop back down to the minimum trip.