Punters salivating over ‘race of the year’ as Willie Mullins confirms two of his big guns will take on Constitution Hill

PUNTERS are salivating over the ‘race of the year’ after Willie Mullins confirmed two of his big guns will take on Constitution Hill.

Racing was split after Nicky Henderson confirmed his unbeaten superstar will remain over hurdles.

Impaire Et Passe was a runaway winner of the Ballymore and now, along with State Man, looks set to take on Constitution Hill in what could be the ‘race of the year’Sportsfile

But as soon as bookies reacted by slashing his price to a best 1-2 to defend his crown, Closutton supremo Mullins came out with some shock news.

It’s fair to say almost everyone thought runaway Ballymore winner Impaire Et Passe would go chasing.

But Mullins confirmed he will stay over smaller obstacles and, along with State Man, take on Constitution Hill next March.

He said: “Impaire Et Passe will stay over hurdles.

“It’s going to be exciting to see what he can do out of novice company.

“Ballymore winners have a good record in the Champion Hurdle the following season, it has worked out to be a very good trial over the years.

“The last time I spoke to Simon (Munir, owner), everyone seemed keen to stay over hurdles so that was fine by me.

“State Man stays over hurdles.”

OFFERS OF THE DAY

Tote: Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets – CLAIM HERE

Virgin Bet: Bet £10 Get £20 in free bets – CLAIM HERE

Betfair: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets – CLAIM HERE

Paddy Power: Bet £20 and get it back as Cash if it Loses – CLAIM HERE

Sky Bet: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Horse Racing Bets – CLAIM HERE

Tote: New customers online only. Place your first bet on racing pools for a minimum of £5 and win or lose you will receive £20 Tote Credit. £20 Tote Credit rewarded as £10 redeemable against racing bets only and £10 redeemable against UK and Irish placepot bets only. Tote Credit cannot be withdrawn, exchanged, or substituted and expires after 7 days. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet-slip. Ten to Follow, virtual and football bets do not qualify. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. New UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org

Virgin Bet: New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Click here for Rules & Exclusions. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org 18+ begambleaware.org

Betfair: New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly 18+ begambleaware.org

Paddy Power: New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using Cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy’s Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org

Sky Bet: 18+NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 3 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS ONLY REDEEMABLE ON HORSE RACING. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. NO FREE BET EXPIRY. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+ Begambleaware.org

Impaire Et Passe is an unbeaten dual Grade 1 winner who also claimed the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown last April.

Five-time Grade 1 winner State Man was a well-beaten ninth when taking on Constitution Hill in last year’s Champion Hurdle.

Markets reacted by making Impaire Et Passe as short as 9-2 for Festival day one feature, with State Man a best-price 8-1.

After last year’s demolition job by Constitution Hill, punters were loving the prospect of Impaire Et Passe serving it up to the six-year-old.

Reacting to the news the two Mullins runners will remain over hurdles, one said they could not wait for the ‘race of the year’.

While another said: “Great news. Impaire Et Passe will give Constitution Hill a race.”

And a fellow Twitter user wrote: “Willie knows exactly what it’s going to take to beat Con Hill.

“Impaire Et Passe must be an absolute airplane if he is willing to take him on.”

FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chases their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk

Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org