jumped well, made all, clear 6th until before 3 out, quickened clear after 2 out, nudged out final 100 yards, easily
chased winner until not fluent 1st, raced in 3rd after, not fluent 6th, outpaced from 2 out, weakened flat
held up in last pair, mistake 1st, not much room and crashed into wing 3 out, no impression, well beaten 2 out
held up in last pair, headway before 2 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, kept on
chased winner from 1st, blundered 3rd, lost 2nd flat
held up in 4th, took keen hold, closed before clipping wing 3 out, switched right approaching 2 out, switched right again and outpaced before last, well held flat
CONSTITUTION HILL has beaten last year’s winner Epatante hands down in both the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle this season. He was far too good for Zanahiyr and Like To Move It in the Champion Hurdle and Sceau Royal is also held on the form book. Sharjah is a multiple Grade 1 winner but is a 10-year-old and probably isn’t quite the force of old so it will be a huge surprise if anything manages to lower the favourite’s colours in this with the extra half-mile unlikely to be an issue.
Constitution Hill 4-11fav (11-10) Tracked leading pair, tracked leader 2nd, led on bit 3 out, quickened right away before the last, impressive, won at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar beating State Man (11-10) by 9l, 7 ran.
I Like To Move It 25-1 (11-10) Led, pushed along and headed 3 out, lost 2nd next, chased leaders, weakened quickly home turn, 6th of 7, 33 3/4l behind Constitution Hill (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Sceau Royal (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Towards rear, going okay when short of room after 3 out, pushed along after 2 out, kept on well towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Brewin'upastorm (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 3f (1) gd in Feb.
Sharjah (FR) 10-1 (12-0) Held up towards rear, headway when not much room before last, went 4th flat, stayed on, unable to challenge, 4th of 24, 2 3/4l behind Faivoir (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Zanahiyr (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Always behind, outpaced and struggling before 3 out, headway on inside approaching 3 out, switched right between last two, plugged on into modest 3rd run-in, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Constitution Hill (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Epatante (FR) 6-1 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, raced keenly, some headway after 3 out, not much room after 2 out, switched right off final bend, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 21l behind Honeysuckle (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Mar.
