The unbeaten Constitutional Hill is out on his own in the Champion Hurdle. (skysports.com) skysports.com Constitution Hill lights up Cheltenham Festival with easy Champion Hurdle win The unbeaten Constitution Hill won the Champion Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival in scintillating fashion by nine lengths. The Nicky Henderson-trained runner, who was retuned the 4-11 favourite, had been hailed as one of the potential greats of jump racing and delivered, beating his six rivals with consummate ease. Cheltenham Festival 2023 day one: stunning wins for Constitution Hill and Honeysuckle – as it happened Before this race Constitution Hill was being talked of in the same breath as the outstanding hurdling champions back to the 1970s and he didn’t disappoint, taking up the running before the home turn and quickening away to beat State Man easily. The 2023 champion hurdler is now unbeaten in six starts and after successes this season at Newcastle and Kempton and came into this race being hailed as “extraordinary” by Henderson. Nico de Boinville, who steered him to success, said: “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 travelled 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 decent chance we may have seen the winner of the Grand National on Tuesday too as Corach Rambler, the clever winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase, is the new favourite for the Aintree spectacular at a general 6-1.
