Why Constitution Hill has to be taken on in the Champion Hurdle

Entries have now been revealed for the three big Grade 1 hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival and Tom Park has picked out his ante-post selections for each race . . .

• Surprise Japanese runner joins Constitution Hill in Champion Hurdle as more star-studded Cheltenham Festival entries revealed 

Champion Hurdle

Lossiemouth16:00 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: W P Mullins

Constitution Hill's victory in the Christmas Hurdle was undoubtedly one of the moments of the season. To come back from everything that has happened to him in the past 12 months was superb and Nicky Henderson deserves every plaudit he gets for pulling off a truly great training performance.

While Constitution Hill and his connections should be congratulated for his Kempton return, the fact is the performance was still 15lb (162) below his best on Racing Post Ratings and, perhaps for the first time in his career, his aura of invincibility was brought into question.

Bookies have Constitution Hill as a best-priced 5-6 favourite and that is hardly a very good ante-post proposition, because he is likely to be at least that price on the day if Brighterdaysahead or Lossiemouth take their chance, and bigger if they both do. I'd be staggered if at least one of the mares doesn't line up and I get the impression that both of them will.

I am willing to forgive Lossiemouth her Christmas Hurdle defeat to Constitution Hill as she clearly wasn't right.

Her defeat came at the right time as connections can now look to right the wrongs and I expect to see her jump off more prominently next time out to avoid a repeat of the first couple of furlongs at Kempton.

It must be remembered that she was closing on Constitution Hill at the finish at Kempton, over a 2m trip that is as sharp as they come. I have no concerns about her speed for a Champion Hurdle and, with Brighterdaysahead likely to have a pacemaker, that will only suit Lossiemouth.

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Mares' Hurdle

Kargese15:20 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: W P Mullins

As I suspect Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth will both run in the Champion Hurdle that leaves a big hole to fill in the Mares' Hurdle, but I love the chances of Kargese.

Last season's juveniles are looking a really hot bunch with Sir Gino and Majborough first and second favourite for the Arkle, Salvator Mundi favourite for the Supreme, while Burdett Road won the Greatwood Hurdle and Nurburgring won the Galway Hurdle.

Kargese finished as close as any to Sir Gino and was second to Majborough in the Triumph having hit odds-on in running and that is top form, but what I really liked was the style in which she won a Grade 1 at Punchestown, despite having had hard races at Cheltenham and Aintree.

Kargese had a tendency to do too much in her races but, ridden out cold for the first time, settled lovely at Punchestown before producing a potent turn of foot to win going away. That bodes well with her stepping up in trip for the Mares' Hurdle.

Stayers' Hurdle

Home By The Lee16:00 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

The Wallpark16:00 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: Gordon Elliott

Teahupoo will take all the beating in the Stayers' Hurdle and, while he looks short enough at a best-priced 6-4, there is a severe lack of opposition and he will probably be at least that price on the day.

That said, with the opposition looking poor there are a couple who stand out as each-way propositions starting firstly with Home By The Lee, who can be backed at 7-1.

He has run well in the last three Stayers' Hurdles finishing an unlucky sixth in 2022, an even more unlucky fifth in 2023 and third in last season's race.

He might be a ten-year-old but he has travelled as well as ever in his two wins this season, the first over 2m4f, and given that his stamina has never been in doubt, he comes into the race this year with as good a chance as he's ever had and I'd be surprised if he isn't at least in the first three.

The other I'd like to back is The Wallpark, who stayed on strongly when fourth in the Long Walk last time in a fashion typical of a proper stayer and I am convinced he is comfortably the best of that field.

He was so impressive when winning a handicap off 145 at Cheltenham earlier in the season and he looks overpriced at 20-1 in what looks a weak race.

Festival Fields:

Surprise Japanese runner joins Constitution Hill in Champion Hurdle as more star-studded Cheltenham Festival entries revealed 

Constitution Hill's shadow looms over Champion Hurdle with as many British entries made as Willie Mullins 

How the Stayers' Hurdle field reveals much about Willie Mullins' novice chase plans 

How the Mares' Hurdle picture could look very different on the day - plus other key talking points 

'We've never looked under the bonnet so we still don't know how good he could be' - Patrick Mullins on the Champion Hurdle dark horse 

Japan set to have first Cheltenham Festival runner since 1960s - just who is All The World? 

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