Gordon Elliott keen to take on State Man in Champion Hurdle with 'classy' horse with Constitution Hill OUT

Gordon Elliott is ready to challenge Willie Mullins and State Man in the Champion Hurdle next week, following Constitution Hill's withdrawal.

The reigning champion and top favourite was pulled out of the race by trainer Nicky Henderson on Monday, after a poor scope at Kempton last week revealed an illness for the 2023 Champion Hurdler.

State Man, who has won four races in a row including last month's Dublin Racing Festival, is now the 2/5 favourite with Betfair. However, Irish Point (4/1), who has also won four consecutive races including the Grade 1 Jack De Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 28, could be a strong contender.

Elliott is eager to pit his horse against Mullins' State Man, telling Racing TV that he likes his chances at Cheltenham.

He told Racing TV: "Yeah I am keen to run him, obviously State Man is going to be a very, very hard bet; but I'd prefer to take him on around Cheltenham than Punchestown or Leopardstown. He's the horse everyone has to beat - I'd like to take him on with Irish Point. I think we're going to be second favourites if Lossiemouth doesn't run, I'll have a meeting on Thursday morning and go through the horses but I'd be keen to run him."

Irish Point, a horse that has never raced at Cheltenham and only once in Britain at Aintree last year, won the Grade 1 Turners' Mersey Novices as part of the Grand National meeting. Elliott, his trainer, believes that the expected soft ground at Cheltenham could be to the six year old's advantage.

Elliott said: "He's a classy horse, I think he'd run a big race and the track would suit him with the ground being a bit soft. The favourite (State Man) is going to be very hard to beat, but you should never be afraid of one horse. He hasn't