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.

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