Being there will be more important than backing the winner for most punters before the Grade Two Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday, as Constitution Hill, quite possibly the finest hurdler that National Hunt racing has seen, makes his final start before attempting to reclaim the Champion Hurdle at the track’s festival meeting in March.
The first two starts of Constitution Hill’s career were on a Saturday at Sandown Park, but he has not raced at the weekend in the south of the country since his second outing in January 2022 and around 20,000 racegoers are expected at Cheltenham to see Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten eight-year-old in the flesh.
A run on Trials day did not seem to be Plan A for Constitution Hill after his long-awaited return to action in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day, but he took that race so well that Henderson saw no reason to keep him at home. “He’s in great form and came out of Kempton much better than I expected,” the trainer said at Huntingdon on Thursday. “I never thought we would be doing this, but he’s up for it and we’re up for it.”
Barring an unfortunate mishap, it seems unlikely to be much of a contest, as Constitution Hill (3.00) is rated at least 27lb in front of his four opponents on Timeform’s figures, and having been installed as the 1-10 favourite in the early betting on Thursday, an SP of 1-11 or shorter on Saturday would see him become the shortest-priced favourite for any race at Cheltenham this century.
“I don’t think we’ll be slaying Goliath,” Harry Derham, the trainer of Brentford Hope, the likely second favourite, said on Friday. “I think it will be a weird little race, as everyone other than Constitution Hill is going to be trying to finish second.”
Cheltenham 1.15: East India Dock posted an exceptional timefigure when pulling 18 lengths clear on the Old course here in November and should confirm his Triumph Hurdle credentials here.
Uttoxeter: 12.12 Sacre Coeur 12.47 My Friend Sean 1.22 Roysse 1.57 Rubber Ball 2.32 Either Or 3.07 Immortal Flame 3.42 Wal Buck’s 4.20 Ghasham.
Doncaster: 12.20 Belfrina 12.55 Grand Albert 1.30 Stormin Crossgales 2.05 Gamesters Guy 2.40 Della Casa Lunga 3.15 Forward Plan (nap) 3.50 To Chase A Dream.
Cheltenham: 12.40 Billytherealbigred 1.15 East India Dock 1.50 Moon D’Orange (nb) 2.25 L’Homme Presse 3.00 Constitution Hill 3.35 Strong Leader 4.10 Potters Charm.
Newcastle: 4.04 Stand Free 4.35 Winter Crown 5.05 Motawahij 5.35 Society Man 6.05 Just Typical 6.35 Monsieur Fantaisie 7.05 Tomorrow Day.
Wolverhampton: 4.15 Mr Nugget 4.50 Bella Veneta 5.20 Stifling 5.50 Michaela’s Boy 6.20 Lessay 6.50 Back Tomorrow 7.20 Piperstown 7.50 Straight A 8.20 Ciotog.
Doncaster 1.30: The front-running Stormin Crossgales faces no obvious opposition for the lead and could prove tough to pass at the business end.
Cheltenham 1.50: Several of the regulars over this track and trip are weighted up to their best so Moon D’Orange may add to John McConnell’s fine record at the course.
Doncaster 2.05: Plenty of potential in the field for the Grade Two River Don Novice Hurdle but the value may lie with the 10-1 shot Gamesters Guy, who posted a strong time when successful at Carlisle in December.
Cheltenham 2.25: Last year’s Gold Cup fourth, L’Homme Presse, can make the most of a 6lb concession from his main rival, Gentlemansgame.
Sedgefield 1.40 The Cypriot 2.10 Surrey Belle 2.40 Vanilla Dancer 3.10 Raffles Wonder 3.40 Old Page (nap) 4.13 Restandbethankful
Fontwell 1.50 Electric Mason 2.20 Shuil Ceoil 2.50 Leading Swoop 3.20 Epic West (nb) 3.50 Grove Road 4.22 Edward Sexton
Sedgefield 1.40 The Cypriot 2.10 Surrey Belle 2.40 Vanilla Dancer 3.10 Raffles Wonder 3.40 Old Page (nap) 4.13 Restandbethankful
Fontwell 1.50 Electric Mason 2.20 Shuil Ceoil 2.50 Leading Swoop 3.20 Epic West (nb) 3.50 Grove Road 4.22 Edward Sexton
Doncaster 2.40: Della Dasa Lunga was much improved for a wind operation at Kempton last month and can back up that handicap success back up in grade.
Doncaster 3.15: This track and trip brings out the best in Forward Plan, who was touched off in this race by a nose last year. He is 9lb higher in the weights now but Chad Bament’s 10lb claim is a big help and a price around 5-1 looks very fair.
Cheltenham 3.35: Strong Leader comes with a wealth warning after a blow-out behind Crambo last time but will be a big runner if a subsequent wind operation sparks a return to his best form.
