Brighterdaysahead will have to produce special performance to take down Constitution Hill

However, the plain fact is that the Nicky Henderson-trained eight-year-old is yet to find one good enough to get the better of him, and that says plenty about him. With plenty of pace assured in this one, he can get into a rhythm from the outset and the 2023 renewal of this race can give his trainer a record-extending 10th Champion Hurdle victory.

There is a great excitement in Brighterdaysahead taking her chance against the unbeaten former champion. Gordon Elliott has never hidden his admiration for this mare and, if he is right, we ought to be enjoying one of the great Festival races.

While this week has reminded us not to take too many things at face value when it comes to targets for horses, this lady has long been thought likely to make it to the very top over fences.

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Were she to beat Constitution Hill today, it would not be outlandish to start thinking about her emulating the great Dawn Run, who completed the Champion Hurdle-Gold Cup double. How good would that be?

Reigning champion State Man seems not to be part of many people’s conversation with regard to finding this year’s winner, and that is down to a lacklustre effort in the Grade One at Leopardstown at Christmas, and to his success in an Irish Champion Hurdle which lost its lustre the moment Lossiemouth departed. Having cheekpieces on for the first time is not a sign punters will like seeing on the eight-year-old.

His trainer, Willie Mullins, is responsible for half of the 12-strong field in the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but there is no doubt that Kopek Des Bordes is the stable choice.

A strong favourite, his performances thus far have been spectacular, particularly as he has shown a tendency to be strong in his race, and his jumping on the first occasion left plenty to be desired.

There was marked improvement in that sphere when he won the Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival and another step forward is anticipated. That he wears a hood for the first time is only a minor concern, but there is a concern that the preliminaries will test his mental strength. Talent-wise, however, he stands head and shoulders above the opposition at this stage and will take beating if keeping his cool through the prelims.

Salvator Mundi, Romeo Coolio and Workahead are all smart sorts, capable of even better than they have shown and the last-named could be the best each-way alternative for punters not wishing to take the short odds about the favourite.

The nap goes to Now Is The Hour in the Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase. The ground is the only concern in an otherwise compelling case for the Gavin Cromwell-trained eight-year-old.

Thoroughly unexposed, with just nine rules races behind him, he prepped for this with a huge run in a beginners’ chase won by Three Card Brag. Softer ground would be to his liking, but the extreme trip can help negate that issue, and this extremely talented sort can prove a class apart from his rivals.

Haiti Couleurs, Transmission and Kyntara lead the home team, and while the last-named hasn’t yet looked the most natural of jumpers, he stays all day and could be an each-way play at huge odds.

The decision to run Lossiemouth in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle can bear fruit. The grey mare was ultra-impressive in winning this race in 2024 and while this may be a slightly stronger race than last year’s, she is a minimum of 9lbs clear of all of her rivals and that class can shine through. While Joyeuse has a considerable amount to find on ratings, she is progressive and can reach the frame.

The My Pension Expert Arkle Chase is at the mercy of Majborough, who is a star in the making. Just a five-year-old, the Triumph Hurdle winner of 2024 is still growing into his impressive frame and bar an accident, he will prove too good for these rivals.

Connections of Only By Night prefer this option to a tilt at the Mares’ Chase and while she is a terrific jumper, this is a huge step up for her and she may struggle to reach the frame.

At much bigger odds, Only By Night’s stablemate, Malina Girl, makes plenty of each-way appeal in the Ultima Handicap Chase. A race no Irish-trained horse has won since 2006, she isn’t the most obvious candidate, but there are plenty of reasons to believe she can outrun her odds.

In three previous visits to the track, she was a staying-on third on the first occasion, won as she pleased on her second visit, and was travelling strongly until falling three out on the third occasion, which was in a race won by Broadway Boy.

Down to a mark of 142, she comes here on the back of a fine effort in defeat behind the lightly raced and progressive ten-year-old Don’t Rightly Know. Versatile with regard to ground, this strong stayer will be suited by the way this race is certain to be run, and she should run into the frame, at least.

Crebilly, The Changing Man, The Short Go and Myretown all have claims in this fiercely competitive race, while veteran Happygolucky, who has had plenty of issues, has each-way claims following a promising first start for Mel Rowley.