Brighterdaysahead to take on Constitution Hill in Champion Hurdle showdown - but Nicky Henderson reiterates confidence in unbeaten star

The Champion Hurdle showdown everyone wanted is on after Gordon Elliott revealed Brighterdaysahead will take on Constitution Hill in a pulsating clash at the Cheltenham Festival.

The superstar six-year-old will take on the boys in the opening-day highlight, rather than sticking to mares' company, following discussions between Elliott and Gigginstown's Michael and Eddie O'Leary. 

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Constitution Hill, has welcomed the decision. He predicted it will lead to a good gallop, a scenario he feels will suit Michael Buckley's unbeaten hurdler perfectly.

Bookmakers reacted by shortening Brighterdaysahead into 7-4 and pushing Constitution Hill out to a general 4-6 to reclaim his title, while the Mares' Hurdle market has also been impacted, with Lossiemouth now odds-on to repeat last year's win.

Elliott told the Racing Post: "After discussing it with Michael and Eddie [O'Leary] we're going to go for the Champion Hurdle with Brighterdaysahead. None of us has won the Champion Hurdle before and we feel this is probably our best chance yet. Jack Kennedy has always been her biggest fan and he will ride her."

• 'He would've been back in his box having dinner by the time they finished' - quotes of the season on a lively Champion Hurdle cast 

• How Racing Post Ratings may have swayed Brighterdaysahead team to take on mighty Constitution Hill in Champion Hurdle 

Brighterdaysahead exploded on to the Champion Hurdle scene with a 30-length victory in the Neville Hotels Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas when 11-time Grade 1 winner State Man was unable to land a glove on her at any stage. She had already beaten last year's Champion Hurdle winner earlier in the season, battling back to claim the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November, and she has suffered just one defeat in ten career outings when she finished runner-up after being sent off at 5-6 in last year's Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the festival. 

Elliott said: "The mare is in mighty form and I couldn't be any happier with her. She's pleased me every step of the way since Leopardstown at Christmas and she has even filled out and strengthened up a lot since you saw her last. She's a really powerful mare now and we feel she deserves to take her chance in the big one. 

"Shane McCann who rides her out every day is very happy and, touch wood, her preparation for Cheltenham has gone very smoothly."

Elliott is under no illusions about the magnitude of the task facing Brighterdaysahead in the opening-day showpiece. 

He said: "It's obviously a very hot race and I have deep respect for Constitution Hill. He's one of the best hurdlers we've ever seen, while State Man is a winning machine and was a very good winner of last year's Champion Hurdle. Lossiemouth is an extremely talented mare, too, so it's a really hot race, but there is only one Champion Hurdle and we're looking forward to having a go."

Constitution Hill's trainer Nicky Henderson is relishing the clash with BrighterdaysaheadCredit: Edward Whitaker

Wednesday's confirmations stage may provide even greater clarity over the Champion Hurdle picture, with Lossiemouth, second to Constitution Hill at Kempton in December, also entered in the Mares' Hurdle.

Regardless of her participation, Henderson is clear in his mind about how the Champion Hurdle is likely to play out tactically.

Speaking on the Racing Post's Cheltenham Festival preview show, he said: "I’ve always expected her to run. I think Gordon was pretty positive about it, even from the first time she ran this season. It’s nice they’ve come out in good time, we know where we are. 

"I don’t think it changes our lives a lot, we’ve got to the stage where we’ve just got to worry about what we’re doing and not worry about what everyone else is doing. There are still some unknown quantities in there with Lossiemouth.

“The one thing Gordon’s mare coming in is we know we'll get a right good gallop, which I don’t think does us any harm. Constitution Hill is well capable of jumping at speed so we’ve got to take what we’ve got in front of us, and I expect her to be in front of us at the start – not at the finish."

The trainer, who has won the Champion Hurdle nine times, added: "We’d have to think Brighterdaysahead is going to take a lead off King Of Kingsfield. We’ll just keep a tab on her. I can't see Lossiemouth or State Man wanting to force it anymore."

Mares have a cracking record in the Champion Hurdle over the last decade. Annie Power landed the spoils in 2016, Epatante did the same in 2020, while Honeysuckle won back-to-back runnings in 2021 and 2022. Brighterdaysahead will be in receipt of 7lb from Constitution Hill and State Man. 

Brighterdaysahead (left) jumps the last flight upsides State Man when winning the Morgiana HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

However, Henderson is delighted with how Constitution Hill's campaign has gone after the challenges of last season, when he was unable to defend the Champion Hurdle, and believes his work at home is "as good as ever".

He added: “In those Supremes and things he was ridiculous. But at Kempton in the Christmas Hurdle you could see him just go to the last still on the bridle. Nico [de Boinville] pushed the button, he quickened up like he always did. He just had a good blow going to the last which he was entitled to, we knew that.

“In the Unibet Hurdle, he made that mistake because he wasn’t even concentrating. He was in second gear and, touch wood, he won’t do that again because he’ll have his mind on the job because it’s going to be tougher. That was very easy for him

“His Kempton gallop looked good, his homework has been as good as ever. Finding horses to go with him is the problem, and some of them aren’t too bad!”

Coral were among the bookmakers to react to the Brighterdaysahead decision. Spokesperson Dave Stevens said: "Brighterdaysahead absolutely deserves her place in this year's Champion Hurdle field, so credit to her connections for opting to take on the challenge. She's the clear second favourite and, while Constitution Hill remains odds-on, her presence has undoubtedly made his task harder."

The decision has also had implications for the Mares' Hurdle, which this year is run one race before the Champion, with last year's winner Lossiemouth still in both races.

Cal Gildart of Ladbrokes said: “Willie Mullins said that Lossiemouth is a Champion Hurdle mare after she won last year’s Mares’ Hurdle, but following her fall at Leopardstown and the Brighterdaysahead news, the odds suggest another Mares’ might be her Cheltenham destiny in 2025.”

The going quickened at Cheltenham slightly to soft, good to soft in places. No rain has fallen since last Thursday and the forecast is dry until Friday.

Unibet Champion Hurdle (Tuesday, March 11)
Unibet: 8-13 Constitution Hill, 7-4 Brighterdaysahead, 4 Lossiemouth, 6 State Man, 25 Burdett Road, Golden Ace, 40 King Of Kingsfield, 50 Winter Fog, Brentford Hope, 150 Senecia

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Tuesday, March 11)
Ladbrokes: 4-6 Lossiemouth, 7-4 Jade De Grugy, 4 July Flower, 6 Golden Ace, Kargese, 9 Take No Chances, 10 Kala Conti, Wodhooh, 12 bar.

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