Cheltenham Tips: Champion Hurdle NAP and NB

NAP: Constitution Hill @ 8/13 with BoyleSports

Next Best: State Man @ 8/1 with BoyleSports

Tough to see past the unbeaten champion Constitution Hill

When CONSTITUTION HILL burst on to the scene with a remarkable 22-length defeat of the now outstanding two-mile chaser Jonbon in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle over course and distance three years ago it looked like we might be seeing a superstar and he certainly hasn’t let anyone down since.

A perfect season the following campaign culminated in a wide-margin victory over State Man in this race two years ago and he was dominant when returning from a long break to land the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton the following December. However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing since that win.

Constitution Hill was ruled out of a repeat bid in this race last year after a lacklustre gallop before the event revealed that not all was well and he again had issues when thrashed by Sir Gino in a racecourse gallop before his intended reappearance in the Fighting Fifth last year, which he missed.

It looked like he might be finished, but just as everyone was writing him off Nicky Henderson pulled a rabbit out of the hat and brought him right back to his best to repeat his Christmas Hurdle victory in December. He thrashed Lossiemouth that day without appearing to be right at his best.

Henderson was keen to stress that Constitution Hill was nowhere near fit that day and he got another run into his superstar in the International Hurdle on Trials day in January. He didn’t need to be anywhere near his peak that day, but still came home hard held without needing to be pushed.

Constitution Hill is simply a freak, who is far better than any other hurdler on the scene, and even if he fails to show his best he will probably still win. It’s difficult to take him on for win purposes here.

State Man might not be finished just yet

It might be a one-horse race from a win perspective, but it’s far from that regarding the places because second favourite Brighterdaysahead was disappointing on her sole start at this course last season. She was comfortably beaten by Golden Ace, who is a big outsider here, and Cheltenham might not be her track.

With that in mind it’s worth backing something else to chase Constitution Hill home and the one to be on is surely last season’s winner STATE MAN.

He wasn’t at his best when 31 lengths behind Brighterdaysahead at Leopardstown over Christmas, but bounced back to win the Irish Champion Hurdle back at that track last time and his record at Cheltenham is an outstanding one.

He finished second to Constitution Hill in this race two years ago and had landed the County Hurdle on the New course on his sole previous visit. We know he loves it when coming to the Cotswolds.

Trainer Willie Mullins knows what it takes to get State Man to this race in top shape and fits his runner with first-time cheekpieces.

That might spark a more enthusiastic performance from State Man and, who knows, if Constitution Hill underperforms State Man might even be able to win.

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