Why the Aintree Hurdle may be no walkover for Constitution Hill - plus a hugely impressive bumper winner to note

Smart recruit for Hobbs and White

By Sam Hendry

Philip Hobbs and Johnson White have made steady strides together in their second full season as joint licence-holders.

After just 31 winners in 2022-23, the lowest number of winners sent out by Hobbs since 1988-89, the yard had 34 last season but that has gone up to 48 and counting this campaign, a tally made to look even better by the accompanying 20 per cent strike-rate.

Philip Hobbs (left) and Johnson White at their Somerset baseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Lowry’s Bar and Imperial Saint have both impressed in handicaps, but since the retirement of Thyme Hill the stable has missed a flagbearer to represent them in better Graded races. Starzand might fill that gap.

The five-year-old – bought for £230,000 at Cheltenham in January after winning an Irish point-to-point at Dromahane by 25 lengths – made a striking impression on his stable debut when cruising to a seven-and-a-half-length victory in a bumper at Ffos Las on Friday.

Starzand travelled smoothly throughout and settled the race quickly once asked by Sean Houlihan, marking him out as one to note for novice hurdles next season.

Surprise Aintree talk for Constitution Hill

By Harry Wilson

The Punchestown Champion Hurdle had been the destination mentioned by Nicky Henderson as the next port of call for Constitution Hill after he fell at the Cheltenham Festival, but the trainer suggested on Saturday that the star hurdler could take in Aintree beforehand.

That would be nothing new for Constitution Hill, who followed up his nine-length Champion Hurdle thumping of State Man when scoring over nearly half a mile further in the Aintree Hurdle in 2023.

Constitution Hill was imperious once again in the Aintree Hurdle

Constitution Hill flies home in the 2023 Aintree HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

He tanked his way through that race and won unchallenged, albeit needing to be pushed along on the run-in to maintain a three-length gap. However, he produced a Racing Post Rating of 167 that day, which was 10lb lower than he had achieved in the Champion Hurdle the previous month.

If Constitution Hill is going to prove vulnerable, it is probably at this longer trip, but who is going to take him on? State Man and Golden Ace look set for Punchestown, but Aintree wasn't taken off the table for Brighterdaysahead.

Brighterdaysahead trailed home 19 and a half lengths behind the winner in the Champion Hurdle, but she also disappointed when a hot favourite for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham 12 months ago. Her only defeats in 11 starts have come at that track.

She silenced her doubters when romping home in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle – run over the same course and distance as the Aintree Hurdle – on Grand National day last year and could prove a different proposition to last time at a track that suits.

Murphy season under the radar

By Matt Butler

Olly Murphy claimed Bangor's ITV handicap hurdle with The Four Sixes on Saturday and the trainer has quietly put together a career-best season with more than a month remaining.

The seven-year-old was an example of good placement, picking up a decent pot against largely exposed rivals. Like many of Murphy's string this season, he benefited from a well-judged ride by champion jockey-elect Sean Bowen.

Murphy is up to 119 winners, surpassing last season's best of 102, and his strike-rate is an impressive 24 per cent. His prize-money total is also a career-high £1,373,563. Anyone following the Warwickshire yard blind will owe Murphy a drink or two as his runners have posted a level-stakes profit of +30.78 to £1, again emphasising how much the trainer's impressive season has flown under the radar.

Olly Murphy: career-best figures in winners and prize-moneyCredit: Caroline Norris

Could it get even better at Aintree? Strong Leader claimed the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at the meeting last year and is seemingly being saved for another crack, while smart novices like Fingle Bridge could be contenders there too.

Murphy is far from alone in being a British trainer to aim selectively at Cheltenham (he had only three runners in the handicaps this year, including Resplendent Grey's fourth in the National Hunt Chase and Act Of Authority's second in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle), but that approach could pay further dividends at Aintree and cap a really strong campaign.

David Power Jockeys' Cup standings (ITV races)

Harry Skelton 378 points
Harry Cobden 304
Nico de Boinville 296
Sam Twiston-Davies 260
Sean Bowen 222

British jump jockeys' championship

Sean Bowen 156
Harry Skelton 130
Sam Twiston-Davies 100
Harry Cobden 96
Gavin Sheehan 91

British jumps trainers' championship

Dan Skelton £2,760,969
Paul Nicholls £1,974,426
Nicky Henderson £1,927,742
Willie Mullins £1,428,590
Olly Murphy £1,373,562

Irish jump jockeys' championship

Paul Townend 98
Sam Ewing 64
Keith Donoghue 60
Darragh O'Keeffe 55
Danny Mullins 43

Irish jumps trainers' championship

Willie Mullins €4,077,970
Gordon Elliott €3,424,775
Gavin Cromwell €1,848,665
Henry de Bromhead €1,386,480
Joseph O'Brien €980,725

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