Punter DISASTER as Constitution Hill AND State Man fall in the most dramatic Cheltenham Festival race ever

PUNTERS were left in disbelief after red-hot favourite Constitution Hill and State Man BOTH fell in the most dramatic Cheltenham race ever.

Nicky Henderson’s 1-2 on stable star was punted off the boards but suffered a crushing fall just as he was cruising into contention in the Champion Hurdle, the big race on day one.

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Getty

Cheltenham was stunned into silence when State Man, who was miles in front, fell at the final flight of the Champion Hurdle[/caption]

PA

Punters simply could not believe what they had witnessed in the most dramatic Cheltenham Festival race ever[/caption]

Sportsfile

A stunned silence fell over the track as 25-1 outsider Golden Ace won the Champion Hurdle[/caption]

Gordon Elliott’s second-fav Brighterdaysahead – who had demolished everything put in front of her this season – was left in the lead then but she ran out of gas turning in.

That left Willie Mullins’ defending champ State Man miles out in front.

But unbelievably, with the race and £250,000 first-place prize at his mercy, he then knuckled on landing and fell at the last as well.

That left trainer Jeremy Scott’s little-known mare Golden Ace – who beat Brighterdaysahead at last year’s Festival – to win at 25-1.

While 66-1 no-hoper Burdett Road came second in a finish no one could believe.

It was the most amazing end to any Cheltenham race ever – and will likely be remembered for all the wrong reasons by punters.

Fortunately, the important thing was both horses and jockeys were back on their feet and OK afterwards.

Golden Ace’s jockey Lorcan Williams simply couldn’t believe it afterwards.

And, incredibly, Scott didn’t even want Golden Ace to run in the race, insisting the Mares’ Hurdle earlier on the card was the one for her.

More to follow.

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