3.30 2m. 87yds. 7 Declared. Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1 ) of £450,000.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €253,215.00 2nd - €95,400.00 3rd - €47,745.00 4th - €23,850.00 5th - €11,970.00 6th - €5,985.00 7th - €2,970.00 8th - €1,530.00
Formscan - CONSTITUTION HILL remains unbeaten in five starts over hurdles, winning with aplomb on each occasion and the six-year-old is hard to oppose as he attempts to give trainer Nicky Henderson a ninth success in this race. The son of Blue Bresil arrives as the highest-rated runner, with facile successes in both the Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle this season, and it will most likely take something special to prevent him from adding this showpiece to his ever-growing trophy cabinet. State Man appears the main threat and he's a versatile type who can either make all, as seen when beating Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, or held up in the rear, as when winning last season's Grade 3 County Hurdle here. Willie Mullins' inmate is thoroughly likable, with the sneaking suspicion that he has more under his bonnet, and he won't go down without a fight in his quest to land a fifth-consecutive Grade 1. His stablemate Vauban has finished behind him on both occasions he's raced this season, although last year's Triumph Hurdle winner may appreciate this stiffer test. I Like To Move It bolted up by 17 lengths in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last month, but Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge will need to produce something outstanding to upset the main protagonists at the highest level.
