Constitution Hill can climb back to the top

CONSTITUTION HILL can regain his crown in the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (GBB Race) (4pm) on the opening day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

- By CHRIS WRIGHT

Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old is yet to taste defeat over obstacles and despite missing his chance at a second victory in the Champion Hurdle at Prestbury Park last year, he has returned in style this campaign.

Having won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the 2022 Festival, Constitution Hill grabbed another five Grade One successes including in the following year’s Champion Hurdle and stepped up to 2m4f in the Aintree Hurdle a month later.

After a second successive wide- margin Christmas Hurdle success at Kempton in 2023, injury struck and he missed a full year on the track.

But he returned on Boxing Day last year, winning the Christmas Hurdle for a third time, beating Lossiemouth by two-and-a-half lengths. Although he wasn’t fully back to his blistering best, he was a comfortable winner. He backed that a month later in the Grade Two Unibet Hurdle on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham. He did give connections a bit of a scare when he made a mistake at the final hurdle, but barring another mishap he looks sure to regain his Champion Hurdle crown.