The news we’ve all been waiting for has finally been confirmed: Constitution Hill will have some meaningful opposition in the Champion Hurdle next week.
Gordon Elliott has confirmed that Brighterdaysahead, his star mare, will go up against Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle, favouring this rather than going for the Mares Hurdle.
There’s still one more question to answer: where will Lossiemouth run? But regardless of the answer, I think we’re in for a fantastic Champion Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.
No Easy Task for Constitution Hill Anymore
The scenario I was wanting to avoid this year was Constitution Hill winning the Champion Hurdle but not being given much credit for it due to the quality of the field against him.
That can’t happen now. Is Brighterdaysahead better than Constitution Hill? No, I don’t think she is. But I also don’t believe Constitution Hill can run to his best anymore, when you consider that and throw in the 7lb allowance she gets, Brighterdaysahead is good enough to get close and push the favourite all the way.
A perfect three from three this season, she’s a likeable sort and one that will be close to the pace, giving Constitution Hill something to aim for. I expect she’ll take over the running with half a mile or so to go, and it’ll be simply catch me if you can.
Electric at Leopardstown over Christmas, putting up the kind of performance that makes the Champion Hurdle match an exciting prospect.
Behind the front two, I can’t have State Man, and Lossiemouth isn’t confirmed yet, so there’s not much else to talk about, but I don’t think there needs to be, as we stand now, the race is good enough to be a great spectacle.
Constitution Hill the Only Generational Talent in Line-Up
While I’m keen on Brighterdaysahead, I think Constitution Hill is the only horse in this race that could be a generational talent, and it would be close to being that if he comes up the hill and wins like he did in 2023.
But colic, other illnesses and minor niggles, all take their toll on a horse, and that’s the situation I think we are in now.
His runs so far this season have been pretty straightforward, so we don’t know if he’s capable of getting back to his very best. We last saw him winning at Cheltenham Trials Day, and while it was good to see him on the course, he was by far the best in the race and didn’t need to get out of first gear to win.
At 100%, he wins for me. If he’s at 90%, I think we’ve got a great race, and I think if he’s any less than that, he’s in great danger of losing, as the mares’ allowance will really come into play.
Had Brighterdaysahead gone to the Mares Hurdle, along with Lossiemouth, I think Constitution Hill could have won this race at 70% of his best, such is the lack of quality elsewhere.
Put all of that together, it makes the Champion Hurdle ten times more interesting and much more of a betting heat, just how the feature race on day one of the festival should be.