The unbeaten Constitution Hill gained the Champion Hurdle on day some of the Cheltenham Festival in scintillating style via 9 lengths.
The Nicky Henderson-trained runner, who used to be retuned the 4-11 favorite, were hailed as some of the attainable greats of bounce racing and delivered, beating his six competitors with consummate ease.
Before this race Constitution Hill used to be being talked of in the similar breath as the phenomenal hurling champions again to the Seventies and he did not disappoint, taking on the working prior to the house flip and quickening away to overcome State Man simply.
The 2023 champion hurdler is now unbeaten in six begins and after successes this season at Newcastle and Kempton and got here into this race being hailed as “extraordinary” via Henderson.
Nico de Boinville, who urged him to luck, mentioned: “What a horse – I’m just absolutely delighted. He jumped out of my hands at the last – he had a lot left. He winged every single hurdle and it’s just a case of when to press the button.”
The British triumphed in the marquee event on day one of the meeting and will be hoping for more success before Gold Cup day brings the event to a close on Friday but the Irish are likely to dominate proceedings at the Festival and won the first two races in style and had the first eight home in the opening race, the Supreme Novice Hurdle, won by Marine Nationale.
Jockey Michael O’Sullivan, who was still in college when Constitution Hill was winning the Festival opener 12 months ago, produced an ice-cool ride aboard 9-2 shot Marine Nationale to register a famous victory for trainer Barry Connell.
The winning rider told ITV Racing:[It feels] unbelievable, a massive relief. I’m just so, so lucky to get on this horse and that Barry Connell put his faith in me. All his team at home, they work so hard and really welcomed me in there.
“We’re having an amazing season, I don’t think it can be topped. The horse is just incredible. I turned in and I wasn’t sure what I was holding onto, but by God he actually won easy.
“Days like this is what I was dreaming of since I was riding ponies when I was three, four years of age. My father, my grandmother and my mother, all my family, they have been so supportive of me.”
In the following contest, El Fabiolo got the better of the Henderson-trained Jonbon in the Arkle Trophy, to get Willie Mullins and Paul Townend off the mark at the Festival. Winning trainer Mullins said: “He traveled as well as I was hoping the whole way. Paul said he hit a flat spot down the back but then when he picked him up, he came alive under him.”
“I’m not looking to up him in trip yet, I always think if a horse is comfortable at two miles they are easier to train and keep sound, so I’m hoping he’s a Champion Chase horse for next year,” added Mullins. .
There’s a tight probability we will have observed the winner of the Grand National on Tuesday too as Corach Rambler, the suave winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase, is the brand new favourite for the Aintree impressive at a basic 6-1.