BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, PA Media

Nicky Henderson tells 5 Sports Extra: "That would bring tears to most eyes. He is pretty unique.

"There is a brilliant team behind it all. You get a horse like this in a lifetime and we are lucky.

"That is only the sixth race of his life but this horse is going to extraordinary levels and we are lucky to be the custodians of it. He is so unflappable."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Wow, that was impressive from Constitution Hill. Nine lengths back to the runner-up State Man.

Six races. Six wins. Victory in those races by an aggregate of 86 lengths.

In a league of his own.

Andrew Thornton
Former Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey

I've seen good horses like Istabraq but this is something different.

The credit Nico deserves coming to the last, he gave the horse the option and he didn't panic.

He is so intelligent, willing and game and I haven't seen a performance like that before

Winning jockey Nico de Boinville, speaking to ITV Racing: "I'm absolutely delighted, he has given me a terrific ride. He just winged every single hurdle, and it was just about when I pushed the button. This race proves how good he is - they all came to beat him today."

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

It made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Constitution Hill has treated State Man with disdain and demolished a quality field and it was effortless. He is so, so talented. Just fabulous.

He went to the last and we saw a horse with so much effort left.

This is the sort of thing our support is all about - a supreme champion. He is a horse enjoying his work. He has got everything.

Image source, PA Media

Constitution Hill won a Champion Hurdle by nine lengths.

Different league.

Former jockey AP McCoy on ITV: "This is the horse of a generation, and a horse we'll be talking about for generations."

1 Constitution Hill (Nico de Boinville) 4-11 Fav

2 State Man (Paul Townend) 7-2

3 Zanahiyr (D N Russell) 66-1

7 ran

Never in doubt!

A dominant win from Constitution Hill who came through towards the last and cantered away by some distance.

Stunning.

State Man is a distance second with Zanahiyr third.

Racing down to the last and Constitution Hill is powering away!

Three out and Constitution Hill moves into a narrow lead for the first time. Then it is I Like To Move It with State Man third.

John Hunt
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

This has nothing to do with betting; it's about establishing who is the best - and so many people here believe Constitution Hill is the greatest they have seen in their lifetime.

Over flight three and I Like To Move It leads by half a length from Constitution Hill.

I Like To Move It leads on the long run down from flight one to two. Constitution Hill is steady in the middle.

Here we go - the moment we've all been waiting for as the Champion Hurdle gets under way.

Will Constitution Hill cement his superstar status?

Andrew Thornton
Former Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey

I don't think there are any chinks in Constitution Hill's armour and he is the horse I would want to be on.

Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Image source, Getty Images

Constitution Hill just seems to have it all. We see lots of horses with talent but they are highly strung. But he has so much speed and a temperament which suggests that nothing phases him.

It doesn't matter how Nico rides him or where, he does what he has to do and that is the perfect combination for a top class athlete.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

The pre-parade ring, the area where horses walk round before entering the main paddock, can often be a quiet spot to see runners for the next race.

Not today.

There was barely a viewing spot available as Champion Hurdle favourite Constitution Hill coolly strolled around, seemingly without a care in the world.

Time for the big race of the opening day and all eyes will be on the unbeaten Constitution Hill as trainer Nicky Henderson bids for a record-extending ninth win in the race.

The six-year-old has been a star since his debut at Sandown in December 2021 and comes into this one with wins in all five of his starts under rules.

Last time out in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, he beat stablemate Epatante by 17 lengths and is probably jockey Nico de Boinville’s best chance of the week.

Image source, Getty Images

The biggest danger is State Man, the Irish Champion Hurdle winner and another from the Willie Mullins yard.

He fell on his Irish debut but has gone on to win his last four Grade One races.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

We'll be asking members of the BBC radio team at Cheltenham for some selections this week.

Former jockey Andrew Thornton, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1998 on Cool Dawn, has plumped for EPATANTE (8-1) in the Mares' Hurdle (16:10).

"She is a former champion hurdler who will enjoy the extra distance of this trip and can win a very competitive race," he said.

Thornton believes that not only will Constitution Hill win the Champion Hurdle, but will win by more than 10 lengths. "He's done that in his five previous races," he added.