Champion Hurdle Entries: Constitution Hill the star attraction among 17 entries

Superstar hurdler Constitution Hill is the star attraction among the 17 horses entered for the Champion Hurdle, which is run on day one of the Cheltenham Festival on March 14, 2023. We take a look at the entries for the Grade 1 showpiece, which will see the unbeaten Nicky Henderson-trained raider line up as a hot favourite...

A stunning 22-length victory in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last season, Constitution Hill is set to return to the scene of his most impressive victory on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, as he is set to be the star performer in the Champion Hurdle, and the Nicky Henderson-trained raider is one of 17 horses entered for the 2023 running.

Two facile victories this season over timber in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and Christmas Hurdle at Kempton has seen the Seven Barrows star's price collapse to as short as 1/3 for the Champion Hurdle, and he looks to be a real cut above his rivals in the two-mile hurdling division. Henderson, who has already won eight Champion Hurdle crowns during his illustrious crown appears to have an absolute world class equine talent on his hands and if he can produce his best then he looks to have the race at his mercy.

However, there will be some smart performers taking him and dual winner of the race Honeysuckle could be back to try and land the hat-trick in the spring. Wins in 2021 and 2022 has catapulted her into stardom, but she lost her unbeaten record in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle earlier in the season, so will need to improve on that effort, and have some have mooted whether she will have a crack at the Mares' Hurdle, and she has been entered for that contest as well.

Willie Mullins knows what it takes to train the winner of the Champion Hurdle having saddled the likes of Hurricane Fly, Faugheen and Annie Power to victory, and the master of Closutton's team will be spearheaded by last season's County Hurdle winner State Man, who is currently the 4/1 second favourite. A class above his rivals in that Cheltenham Festival handicap last season, the six-year-old has continued to blossom over timber and Grade 1 wins in the Morgiana Hurdle and Matheson Hurdle this season has highlighted the fact he can deliver at the highest level.

An impressive winner of the Triumph Hurdle at last year's Cheltenham Festival, Vauban will add more strength to the Mullins team, but the 8/1 chance was well beaten by stablemate State Man in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, so has form to find. However, last year's premier juvenile is sure to improve for that first Grade 1 test in all-aged company and could relish a return to Prestbury Park and has to be respected.

Others of note include Sir Gerhard, who was a winner of the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at last year's Cheltenham Festival, but is expected to run over fences this season, with former winner Epatante, Bob Olinger, Echoes In Rain, Knappers Hill and I Like To Move It another eye-catching quintet.

2023 Champion Hurdle Entries

• Bob Olinger
• Constitution Hill
• Echoes In Rain
• Epatante
• First Street
• Honeysuckle
• I Like To Move It
• Jason The Militant
• Knappers Hill
• Love Envoi
• Not So Sleepy
• Pied Piper
• Sharjah
• Sir Gerhard
• State Man
• Vauban
• Zanahiyr