Cheltenham Festival: Constitution Hill heads eight-strong Champion Hurdle confirmation list

Constitution Hill will face a maximum of seven rivals when he bids to regain his crown in the Unibet Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.

Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten superstar was sidelined and unable to to defend his title 12 months ago, but will return to the Cotswolds next week as a hot favourite, having returned from a year off the track seemingly as good as ever.

Willie Mullins is set to saddle last year’s winner State Man, top-class mare Lossiemouth and Winter Fog.

State Man is fresh from winning his third Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown, a race in which Lossiemouth suffered a crashing fall. The latter had previously finished second to Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and is poised to renew rivalry.

Further spice is added by the presence of Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead, who has beaten State Man in her last two races and had him trailing 31 lengths in her wake when registering a scintillating victory at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Elliott has also confirmed King Of Kingsfield, who set the early pace at Leopardstown before dropping back to finish fifth.

Golden Ace

The small but select field is completed by Jeremy Scott’s Golden Ace and the James Owen-trained Burdett Road, who finished first and second respectively in last month’s Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.

Golden Ace inflicted a first and so far only defeat on Brighterdaysahead when landing the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival and could take her on again, although connections have stated they are leaning towards running in the Mares’ Hurdle on the same afternoon.

Burdett Road is a dual winner at Cheltenham and proved he is up to competing at the highest level when third behind Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth at Kempton on Boxing Day.

He was being considered for a shot at the County Hurdle on Gold Cup day but connections have now reverted to their original idea of taking a shot at the day one feature.

“We’re probably going to go to the Champion Hurdle with Burdett Road and having looked at the confirmations I think he deserves his place,” said Tim Gredley of owners the Gredley family.

“He might not win the race, but he deserves to be in that kind of race and we will swing the bat and see what happens.

“It was James’ (Owen, trainer) idea and he said to me this morning it’s up to you and I do think it could be the right call.”

READ MORE: ‘He Was Flying!’ – Constitution Hill Back to His Best as Nicky Henderson Targets Cheltenham Festival Glory