Golden Ace takes full advantage of scarcely believable Champion Hurdle

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.

FULL ADVANTAGE: Lorcan Williams onboard Golden Ace celebrates winning. Pic:@INPHO/Tom Maher

If you’re not in, you can’t win, and nothing but credit must go to connections of Golden Ace, who emerged victorious at the climax of the most eventful Unibet Champion Hurdle run in decades.

The decision by trainer Jeremy Scott and owner Ian Gosden to go where Lossiemouth did not looked particularly shrewd when that one dotted up in the Mares’ Hurdle, but scarcely could they have dreamed just how prudent a move it would prove just 40 minutes later.