Cheltenham Festival 2025: Constitution Hill can repel rivals

Class act Constitution Hill will leave his rivals with a mountain to climb to beat him in the Champion Hurdle, the feature race on day one of another cracking Cheltenham Festival.

Nicky Henderson’s stable star is the equine equivalent of a Rolls Royce, his jumping is fluid, his heart is that of a lion and he can effortlessly go through the gears to put in the lung-bursting turn of pace charging up the steep climb to the finish which will leave his rivals floundering in his wake.

Constitution Hill’s critics point out he is not the force of two years ago when he won this race in style. That was after winning the Supreme Hurdle 12 months earlier and he missed the defence of his crown through injury last March.

They will also point out he made a rare mistake at the final hurdle when winning last time out at Cheltenham in January and many will be pressing the claims of Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead, last year’s winner State Man and Golden Ace.

It’s a pity Lossiemouth has swerved this for the Mares’ Hurdle but it is still a race which will set the pulses soaring and Constitution Hill can be followed at 8/13 with Ladbrokes, Coral, William Hill and plenty of others, although his price may be nearer evens before the off as the Brighterdaysahead bandwagon continues to build up a head of steam. 

Lossiemouth is 8/11 with Betway, Unibet and BetMGM for the Supreme Hurdle while Willie Mullins and Paul Townend will waste little time in getting off the mark with Kopek Des Bordes in the opening race, the Supreme Hurdle, at evens with Hills, Coral and Ladbrokes.

Workahead represents the Henry De Bromhead stable with Rachael Blackmore in the saddle for this and is interesting at 18/5 with Bet Victor in their market without the favourite. A good Boxing Day victory at Leopardstown has worked out well with several of his victims going on to win since then.

Majborough is the odds-on favourite in the Arkle but Harry Skelton’s L’Eau du Sud is preferred at 5/1 with Paddy Power, Betfair, Ladbrokes, Coral, Hills and many more and is worth a saver at 6/4 with Bet Victor without Mullins’ market leader. Broadway Boy always gives punters a run for their money and although he carries top weight he still appeals in the Ultima Handicap at 15/2 with Sky Bet, who are settling each-way for seven places.

Beyond Your Dreams won’t give nightmares to punters at 13/2 with Unibet and 888Sport in the Juvenile while Transmission is 11/2 with Hills for the lucky last, the National Hunt Cup.

Reds can leap towards silverware

Liverpool can take giant strides towards winning three trophies in Arne Slot’s first season in charge at Anfield this week.

The Reds are pretty much home and hosed in the Premier League where they are 15 points clear of Arsenal, who are following their annual trend of imploding after Christmas, and they are 4/1 with Paddy Power, William Hill and Betfair to beat Newcastle by more than one goal in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

First up, however, is the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 encounter with Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield. Liverpool were mighty fortunate to return from the French capital with a 1-0 victory in last week’s first leg and will have their work cut out in front of the Kop but will still emerge triumphant on the night at 13/10 with Sky Bet.

Mohamed Salah has scored 27 times this season and is 8/5 with bet365 to improve his tally at any time and don’t overlook Dominik Szoboszlai. He has started to get on the scoresheet and is 11/2 with Sky Bet to do so again.

• Burnley, Sheffield United, Charlton and Grimsby form Tuesday’s Football League acca.

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