The seven best Cheltenham tips for Tuesday’s festival card ...Middle East

Constitution Hill versus Brighterdaysahead versus State Man in the Champion Hurdle. The Cheltenham Festival starts on Tuesday with a blockbuster.

Regaining a Champion Hurdle crown is rare. Only Comedy Of Errors (1973 and 1975) and Hurricane Fly (2011 and 2013) have managed it.

But the difference between them and the 2023 champion, Constitution Hill, is that they were beaten in the race in between years. Nicky Henderson’s crowd-pleaser, laid low at home in his Berkshire box last March, is attempting something unique.

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Now he’s back and maybe back to his best. Two more victories over the winter, bringing his career score to a perfect 10, don’t prove that conclusively, but if Henderson says he is his old self again, that’s good enough for me.

And if he is as good as he was after his lengthy setback, then he is still arguably the best hurdler we have ever seen (which is quite saying something, given that the roll of honour includes three-time winners Hatton’s Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War, See You Then and Istabraq).

Brighterdaysahead is a worthy challenger, having trounced State Man at Leopardstown over Christmas. The reigning champion hurdler surely had an off-day, but it was still compelling evidence that Gordon Elliott’s mare is up to giving Constitution Hill a hard time if he is anything other than in tip-top shape this afternoon.

She’s very good, no mistake, although her body of work (three Grade Ones) is not yet close to Constitution Hill’s (eight) or State Man’s (11).

Ah, State Man. Let’s not forget him. He has been brushed aside by both in an otherwise fabulous career, but he’s still a player at the top table and it’s not hard to visualise a scenario where Paul Townend, the shrewdest of tacticians, bides his time while the other two get on with it before pouncing late if or when they tire.

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Lossiemouth, as feared by all those hoping for a four-way showdown, is going for the softer Mares’ Hurdle instead. She will likely win it, but in the greater scheme of racing legacies, so what?

Who will reminisce about Lossiewhatsit winning the Mares’ thing over a racecourse pint even two years down the line? Istabraq and Persian War, meanwhile, are still part of the “who was the best hurdler you ever saw?” conversation 25 and 50 years on.

Kopek Des Bordes, one of six Willie Mullins runners in the opening Supreme Hurdle, is hot favourite following his impressive Leopardstown win, but there are some smart opponents from other yards up against him, including my pick, Barry Connell’s William Munny.

One way or another, though, Mullins is bound to again have a huge say in proceedings.

Majborough looks rock solid in the Arkle; either Lossiemouth or stablemate Jade du Grugy should win the Mares’ (Dan Skelton’s Take No Chances is an appealing each-way alternative); then State Man possibly, the list goes on and on right through the week.

But there is some confidence behind the home team on this first day, not just in Constitution Hill and Skelton’s Arkle threat L’eau du Sud, but in the handicaps. Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Broadway Boy (Ultima Chase) and Jonjo O’Neill’s Hasthing (National Hunt Chase) are nicely tuned up to give the locals something to sing about.

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