Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle: what they say and video tip

Nico de Boinville insists Constitution Hill would not be running in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park if those closest to him were not 100 per cent happy with his condition.

There has been plenty spoken and written about Nicky Henderson’s superstar since he sauntered to an impressive second victory in the Grade One event last year.

No one could have imagined the trials and tribulations his connections have been through in the intervening period, so much so he has seen his position as favourite for the Champion Hurdle in March snatched away by Lossiemouth.

First there was the disastrous racecourse gallop at Kempton, when he was subsequently found to be suffering from an infection which would rule him out of Cheltenham, then there was a bout of colic.

Just when Henderson hoped for a clear run with him at the beginning of this season, another racecourse gallop went wrong when he returned home lame from Newbury, meaning he could not run in the Fighting Fifth.

He is back out again now, though, and racing fans should be in for a treat against the Willie Mullins-trained mare Lossiemouth.

“Let’s put aside all the talk now, and enjoy this race for what it promises to be, one of the most eagerly-anticipated contests in the sport in recent years,” De Boinville told Unibet.

“With all due respect to Burdett Road and Lump Sum, our boy faces a mighty task against a race-fit Lossiemouth getting the 7lb allowance, after an absence of a year. And he has had his well-documented issues since winning this race last season.

“But we wouldn’t be here if we were not 100 per cent happy with him and let us not forget he was beating State Man by nine lengths in a Champion Hurdle three starts ago, and the runner-up has won six Grade Ones since.

“These are the days and races you want to be riding in, especially when the horse is Constitution Hill.”

Lossiemouth’s only defeat came when meeting traffic problems at the 2023 Dublin Racing Festival, since when she has won the Triumph Hurdle, the International, the Mares’ Hurdle and last time out the Hatton’s Grace.

James Owen’s Greatwood Hurdle winner Burdett Road and Sam Thomas’ Lump Sum, second in the Fighting Fifth to Constitution Hill’s super-sub Sir Gino, complete the quartet.