Constitution Hill can be champion again

Constitution Hill can send the Cheltenham crowd wild by reclaiming his Unibet Champion Hurdle crown on day one of this year's Festival.

Last season's trials and tribulations resulted in Nicky Henderson's superstar being denied the chance to defend the title he secured in such imperious fashion when slamming State Man by 9 lengths in 2023.

An early scare this term allowed sceptics to suggest we would never see the eight-year-old at his brilliant best again, but two subsequent victories have helped to quieten, if not completely silence, such doubters.

Lossiemouth was brushed aside in routine fashion in the Christmas Hurdle before Constitution Hill justified prohibitive odds on Trials day at Prestbury Park.

A final-flight blunder that day is easily forgotten for such a superb jumper and a subsequent racecourse gallop left Henderson clearly beaming with delight.

With the help of early pacemaker King Of Kingsfield, Brighterdaysahead will attempt to run her rivals ragged, as she did to State Man at Leopardstown over Christmas.

However, Constitution Hill has such a high cruising speed that Nico de Boinville should be able to cover any such moves before coming through late on to land the spoils.

On a card containing several short-priced favourites, Kopek Des Bordes is hard to oppose in the curtain-raising Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Willie Mullins has taken this trophy back to Ireland seven times before and can further enhance that impressive record.

This five-year-old simply demolished his rivals when scoring by 13 lengths in Grade One company at the Dublin Racing Festival, with the Closutton maestro declaring that was a "huge performance" which "blew my mind".

Many will see Majborough as another Mullins banker in the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase but he is still very inexperienced following just five outings to date.

Dan Skelton's L'Eau du Sud is much more battle hardened, having finished second in the Betfair Hurdle and the County Hurdle over timber last term.

Since being put over fences, the seven-year-old has rattled off four straight wins, including an impressive 11-length course and distance strike in November, so it will take a good one to beat him.

Broadway Boy is another with strong Cheltenham form on a sound surface and he stands out in the Ultima Handicap Chase.

A disappointing display here on New Year's Day slightly clouds the issue, but his previous second to Kandoo Kid in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury was an excellent effort and his overall credentials are rock-solid.

Henry de Bromhead has a happy knack of getting his horses in peak condition for Cheltenham and July Flower could prove good value against Lossiemouth in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle.

Initially with De Bromhead before enjoying a spell in France, she made a superb second debut for her current trainer when beating Kala Conti by 4 lengths at Leopardstown and both the third and fourth that day have since scored at Doncaster.

French imports have always done well in the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle but this time it may be worth siding with a Gallic raider still residing across the Channel.

Stencil was no match for East India Dock on his last trip over to Cheltenham, but Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm clearly think a lot of this JP McManus-owned gelding, who may enjoy better ground as a son of Derby winner Masar.

There are new race conditions for the Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase and one that catches the eye here is Will Do.

Gordon Elliott's eight-year-old has repeatedly performed with credit against large fields in valuable handicaps over hurdles and fences and the feeling is that he has a big win in him. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Tuesday. Here are the tips.

CHELTENHAM: Race 1: 15.20 Kopek Des Bordes, Race 2: 16.00 L'EAU DU SUD (NAP), Race 3: 16.40 Broadway Boy, Race 4: 17.20 July Flower, Race 5: 18.00 Constitution Hill, Race 6: 18.40 Stencil, Race 7: 19.20 Will Do.

SEDGEFIELD: Race 1: 15.38 Demoiselle Kap, Race 2: 16.18 Bond Broker, Race 3: 16.58 Fearless Action, Race 4: 17.38 Love True, Race 5: 18.18 Old Page, Race 6: 18.53 Gintime.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 18.30 Beaumadier, Race 2: 19.00 City Escape, Race 3: 19.30 Mr Cool, Race 4: 20.00 Whenthedealinsdone, Race 5: 20.30 Manton Road, Race 6: 21.00 Ravenglass, Race 7: 21.30 Grecian God, Race 8: 22.00 Big Narstie, Race 9: 22.30 Adversary.

SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 19.05 Timetobenice, Race 2: 19.40 Jesse Luc, Race 3: 20.15 Powdering, Race 4: 20.45 Further Measure, Race 5: 21.15 Hammer The Hammer, Race 6: 21.45 It's Showtime, Race 7: 22.15 Just Rita.

DOUBLE: L'Eau Du Sud and Broadway Boy (Cheltenham, Races 2 and 3)