Unfancied Golden Ace wins a thriller as favourites drop out

GOLDEN Ace was a shock winner of an incredible Unibet Champion Hurdle, in which both Constitution Hill and State Man crashed out - the latter clear as he jumped the last in front.

- NICK ROBSON

Constitution Hill departed relatively early on in the Cheltenham showpiece and it was Brighterdaysahead who looked set to battle it out with State Man up the hill, but Willie Mullins' defending champion came down at the final flight, just as he looked set to run out an emphatic winner. Brighterdaysahead was subsequently hampered, although she did look beaten at the time.

It was left then to the Jeremy Scott-trained Golden Ace, who did not falter when the opportunity was handed to her and carried Lorcan Williams to victory at 25-1. Burdett Road (66-1) took the runner-up spot.

Scott said of his Ian Gosden-owned winner, who was triumphing at the showcase meeting for the second time after winning last year's mares' novices' hurdle: "I couldn't even dream that would happen. I've just asked someone to thump me because I must be dreaming, it is just bizarre.

"It's a tragedy those horses came down and it spoilt the race entirely, we looked booked for second if not third but then State Man came down so it is marred by that, but the gods have favoured us.