not a lot to write about today.

​It is true; there is not a lot to write about. Today is all about anticipation; what is to come. It is all about tomorrow; reflections on yesterday. Will Constitution Hill be anointed into the pantheon of great Champion Hurdlers? Will he win with an authority that suggests there is a possibility he can join Sir Ken, Hatton’s Grace, Persian War, See You Then and Istabraq as a three-time winner of the Champion Hurdle? Or will the mare rain on his parade?
I have no doubt Constitution Hill is a better horse than Brighterdaysahead but is he 7Ib superior to her? Visually, at least, Gordon Elliott’s mare was a wonder horse at Leopardstown and on the basic form of the 2023 Champion Hurdle, when Constitution Hill was an impressive winner, though he did not beat State Man without having a real race, it is hard to imagine that even he would have got within ten-lengths of Brighterdaysahead, not conceding that infernal 7Ibs. But this is Cheltenham with its ups and downs, and, though nobody is suggesting it, the mare’s only defeat was at Cheltenham by the opposing Golden Ace in last season’s Mares Hurdle. Perhaps she, too, (Jonbon) cannot turn on the style on the gradients of Cheltenham?
State Man will have cheekpieces on for the first time and who can say if they will giddy-him-up enough to be on the heels of his main rivals as they ascend the final hill? I believe a fast pace will suit him, even if he is twenty-lengths adrift of the mare. As long as he has Constitution Hill only a length or so in front of him he will be dragged along, the heady pace sure to keep his mind on the job and not, perhaps, on looking forward to the freedom and summer grass of his holidays. At his current price, given he is the defending champion, 10/1, I believe, he is the value in the race as he is the most likely to finish second if either of the top two bomb out for any reason.
Unlike those who know better, I refuse to rule out Burdett Road as I expect to see him settled in rear, with the prospect of him finishing out the race with a flourish. He could easily have finished second at Kempton on Boxing Day if he had not sprawled on landing at the last and ignore the Wincanton race as the track was too sharp and the ground too tacky for a galloper like him. 
The bold approach taken by the owner of Golden Ace deserves some reward; I doubt though the fates will look kindly on her.
I believe the mares allowance will determine the result today, a diminishing one-length victory for Brighterdaysahead. That said, I would love it if Constitution Hill were to prove me wrong.

What is wrong about the day is that Lossiemouth, who Willie Mullins has repeatedly said was a two-year project for the Champion Hurdle, at the last minute has been re-routed to the Mares Hurdle. If Cheltenham do not do something to prevent connections of the top female hurdlers from by-passing the Champion Hurdle for easier pickings they will be doing the Festival, punters and the sport in general a huge disservice. As I have said before, I believe there should be a Champion Mares Hurdle in the racing calendar. Just not at the Festival.

For information purposes only, for those that care, my selections for the day are as follows: Irancy, each-way in the first. L’Eau Du Sud to topple the favourite in the Arkle. Katati Dori to continue his winning ways in the Ultima. Joyeuse to win the controversial Mares Hurdle. Given how well she won the big handicap at Newbury, with fingers crossed the longer distance will suit, she has the potential to be a very good mare indeed and I can easily imagine her putting it up to Lossiemouth from the last hurdle. As I have proposed, Brighterdaysahead to win the Champion Hurdle. Beyond Your Dreams to win the Fred Winter. Captain Cody to top and bottom the day for Willie Mullins.
As I said earlier, not a lot to talk about today.