CONSTITUTION HILL can regain his crown in the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (GBB Race) (4pm) on the opening day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

Nicky Henderson's eight-year-old is yet to taste defeat over obstacles and despite missing his chance at a second victory in the Champion Hurdle at Prestbury Park last year, he has returned in style this campaign. Having won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, Constitution Hill grabbed another five Grade One successes including in the following year's Champion Hurdle and stepped up to 2m4f in the Aintree Hurdle at the Grand National Festival a month later. It seemed he would continue to carry all before him with a second successive wide-margin Christmas Hurdle success at Kempton over the festive period in 2023. Then injury struck and he missed a full year on the track.

But he returned on Boxing Day last year, winning the Christmas Hurdle for a third time, beating Lossiemouth by two-and-a-half lengths. Although he wasn't fully back to his blistering best, he was a comfortable winner. He backed that a month later in the Grade Two Unibet Hurdle on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham. He did give connections a bit of a scare when he made a mistake at the final hurdle, but barring another mishap he looks sure to regain his Champion Hurdle crown.

Gordon Elliott's mighty mare Brighterdaysahead should give Constitution Hill a race based on her three successes most recently in the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November and the Grade One Neville Hotels Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas. But she will have to have improved even on those to beat the favourite. Last year's winner State Man, who was second to Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle two years ago, should go well but the Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old may again have to settle for a place.

Mullins – who broke through the 100-winner mark at last year's Cheltenham Festival, he's currently on 103 – is likely to increase that total and will no doubt land the top trainers' title come the end of the four days at Prestbury Park. The County Carlow handler can get off to a flyer with KOPEK DES BORDES in the opener, the Grade One Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.20pm).

The five-year-old, who won a Fairyhouse bumper last March, has taken to hurdling well despite showing his inexperience in his back-to-back victories at Leopardstown. He got off the mark in a Maiden Hurdle over Christmas despite not jumping fluently. But he was much better when scoring by 13 lengths in the Grade One Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival in February. He sets the standard and despite not being the finished article, he can progress again and land the opener to the meeting.

Mullins should win the first two races of the meeting with MAJBOROUGH looking a potential star in the Grade One My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase (GBB Race) (2pm). The five-year-old won the JCB Triumph Hurdle at last year's Festival but was always going to make into a top chaser. Majborough won a Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse in December on his debut over the bigger obstacles. Then he impressed again when taking the Grade One Irish Arkle Novices' Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown in February. With the injured Sir Gino out, the way looks clear for Majborough to make it three from three. Dan Skelton's L'Eau du Sud has also looked good in his four wins from four starts over the bigger obstacles and should at least give Majborough a race. But it's unlikely that he can get the better of the Irish raider.

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WHISTLE STOP TOUR can land the Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (2.40pm) ahead of a number of Randox Grand National hopefuls. Trainer Lucinda Russell has won this 3m1f contest for the past two years with Corach Rambler, who also went on to win the Aintree showpiece two years ago, and can score again with the seven-year-old Whistle Stop Tour.

There are a number of the field using this as a stepping stone to the big one at Aintree Racecourse on April 5, including Nigel Twiston-Davies' Broadway Boy, the Gordon Elliott-trained Zanahiyr, Paul Nicholls' Stay Away Fay and Trelawne – from the stable of Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls. Whistle Stop Tour, though, isn't one of them and so should be fully tuned up for this as his main target. The gelded son of Saddex won his first two starts over fences at Kelso and Ayr either side of Christmas, the latter over three miles suggesting he could progress into a decent staying chaser.

Although Whistle Stop Tour lost his unbeaten start over the bigger obstacles when fifth on Cheltenham Trials day at the end of January, that was over an extended 2m4f and the step up in trip can see him return to winning ways for a trainer who knows how what it takes to win this contest. Recent Haydock Park Grand National Trial winner Famous Bridge, who was fourth in this race for Nicky Richard last year, should also make the frame at least again, while the aforementioned Broadway Boy rates a big danger.

County Carlow handler Mullins can also win the Grade One Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Registered As The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) (GBB Race) (2.20pm) for a record-extending 11th time with LOSSIEMOUTH. The six-year-old could have ran in the Champion Hurdle, but connections have decided to stick to the mares contest she won in fine style last season. Lossiemouth also won the Triumph Hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival and has another success at Prestbury Park on her CV, so she clearly likes the track. She was beaten by Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle and took a heavy fall at the Dublin Racing Festival but she should be able to return to winning ways back at Cheltenham at the main expense of stable-mate Jade De Grugy.

County Meath handler Gavin Cromwell is having his best season for winners and he may add another two in the final two races of the day with TOTAL LOOK in the Hallgarten And Novem Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Registered as the Fred Winter) (GBB Race) (4.40pm) and NOW IS THE HOUR in the finale, the Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (5.20pm).

Total Look won a Navan Maiden Hurdle in November and has been third on his two most recent starts at Cheltenham and Punchestown. He is an improving four-year-old who can return to winning ways in this extended two-mile contest. Now Is The Hour, who won the Grade Two Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock last year, is yet to win in four starts over the bigger obstacles. But he has run with promise in all his races and stepping up to this near 3m6f trip should bring out the required improvement needed to get his head in front.

Wright Ones

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY ONE

1.20pm Kopek Des Bordes
2.10pm Majborough
2.50pm Whistle Stop Tour (NAP)
3.20pm Lossiemouth
4pm Constitution Hill
4.45pm Total Look
5.20pm Now Is The Hour