AWAKENING for work on Monday mornings are not usually greeted with much enthusiasm. There are brighter days ahead the weather bulletin said. ‘Bout time, you mutter. Then Brighterdaysahead also leads the sports news. The big Champion Hurdle clash is on! Mid-week doubts about Lossiemouth cast a little haze over proceedings, but it still promises to be a helluva race.

Constitution Hill, hailed an outstanding champion two years ago and one of the best hurdlers in 50 years, returns to regain the Champion Hurdle title and maintain his unbeaten record.

Against him could be two Irish mares, getting 7lb from the favourite and both with CVs to offer legitimate claims to the title.

Those of us of a certain vintage (okay, just older folk!) remember glorious battles for the Champion Hurdle. But often, they were two-fold. Comedy Of Errors against Lanzarote, Monksfield against Sea Pigeon.

Then, 20 years ago, we were blessed with four or five top-class hurdlers over a period of years. Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, Harchibald and Macs Joy served up unforgettable Champion Hurdles.

Tuesday’s trio come with many differences of opinion and some degree of confidence from connections. And we forget the reigning champion, State Man.

First a look back to where we stood five months ago. Constitution Hill had to shake off last season’s ailments. Lossiemouth was on track, this was the two-year plan, after she went and won the Mares’ Hurdle last season.

In the Racing Post’s Jumps Preview edition in mid-October, it was 7/4 Consititution Hill, 7/2 Lossiemouth, 5/1 State Man.

Brighterdaysahead wasn’t quoted in many lists, chasing or the Mares’ Hurdle were options. After she won at Down Royal, and the Champion was uttered by her trainer, you could get her at 20s?

So where are we now? What have we seen and what do we interpret?

Constitution Hill is back. Two impressive wins, one final hurdle scare at Cheltenham, but he did all that was asked of him. Connections are confident.

Lossiemouth never looked like winning at Kempton, but she chased the winner to the line and, on a speed track, there was plenty of encouragement. So to Leopardstown, the meeting with State Man would reveal more. But disaster befalls Lossiemouth. What now?

Brighterdaysahead, beaten as odds-on favourite in the Mares Novice (Epatante was also beaten in it the year before her Champion win), won her seasonal return at Down Royal and the Champion Hurdle was mentioned. She then took the next step up the ladder in outbattling State Man in the Morgiana, but she was entitled to do that with race fitness.

The Neville Hotels Christmas Hurdle should see State Man in a different light and clarify things. But it didn’t. Given an aggressive ride behind a pacemaker, the mare beat State Man 30 lengths. It had to be too good to be true?

We thought we’d be better able to judge when State Man lined up against Lossiemouth in the Irish Champion Hurdle. But no again. Setting off at a rapid pace, some 30 lengths faster to half way than the Grade 1 novice hurdle won earlier by Kopek Des Bordes, Lossiemouth crashed out four from home. State Man looked weary at the last before beating 40/1 shot Daddy Long Legs by six and a half lengths. Had he simply gone too hard too soon?

All have made a mistake last time out. Lossiemouth’s gave her a bad fall to overcome. Hardly the ideal way to come to a championship race, but Moscow Flyer fell on his run before his Arkle win, Mr Mulligan came to his Gold Cup off a fall in the King George.

Constitution Hill misjudged the last in January and while Brighterdaysahead didn’t make any serious errors, she reached for the last two at Leopardstown and the way she will be ridden makes her more vulnerable to need to get the jumps spot on.

There’s course form where Constitution Hill ticks all the boxes. His Supreme win was faster than Honeysuckle in that year’s Champion Hurdle. Elliott’s mare has last year’s odds-on defeat to avenge.

Brighterdaysahead relaxes after morning excerise at Cullentra

It looks simple, King Of Kingsfield goes off in front, Brighterdaysahead follows, perhaps not as close as Leopardstown, but ready to be the first to commit down the hill. Nico sits third on Constitution Hill, State Man and if there, Lossiemouth, sits behind him.

Constitution Hill still has too much toe for these. But he too has a tendency to overjump. The Champion is a race later this year. The final hurdle can have a shadow in front of it.

Lossiemouth can sit and wait. Although only two places each-way now, Lossiemouth would be the value, as her price is not based on fact. She wasn’t beaten at Leopardstown, she didn’t complete, so the early season odds are a better reflection. But 11 of the last 12 champions have won on their latest start before winning at Cheltenham.

The pace is key, it will suit the hold-up mare, she has speed to win her Triumph from a prominent position and stamina to win the Mares’ Hurdle.

Jack Kennedy has the hardest task, not only stepping back in for Sam Ewing, but judging when to commit his mare. We don’t know how good Brighterdaysahead is. The novice hurdlers of last season were not a great bunch. She beat Staffordshire Knot by over six lengths to win her Aintree Grade 1, but over two and a half miles. His form since is P2650.

But stamina wins Champion Hurdles. Ruby Walsh noted on the Paddy Power Podcast: ”I was thinking about the way that Dawn Run was ridden. She just went flat out from the word go and galloped them into the ground and I was hellbent on doing that on Annie Power and I think this mare could do the same thing. I just think she’s spectacular.”

Dawn Run came from the longer distance novice to the Champion, so did Hardy Eustace, Istabraq and Faugheen. Annie Power was second in the Stayers Hurdle. But class tells too. Alderbrook had too much of it for Large Action and Danoli.

The verdict: 1 Constitution Hill 2 Lossiemouth 3 Brighterdaysahead

We asked some racing personalities, who have been involved in famous Champion Hurdles, for their views on this exciting 2025 edition.

TED WALSH

It definitely has the makings of a cracking race. The fact that nobody is talking about State Man tells you about the quality of the race. I don’t fancy State Man, but look at all the races he has won, and he’s 10/1 in a place.

My heart would love to see Brighterdaysahead win. I see a bit of Dawn Run in her. A big, strong mare, she likes racing left-handed and she goes a great gallop. She puts her neck on the line every day. It should be a true-run race and that will suit everyone.

Constitution Hill has looked very good this season. He might not have fully convinced everyone at Christmas, but Nicky Henderson has a terrific record at Cheltenham and he will have his horse spot-on. It was the same with See You Then – he was on a wing and a prayer all year and then he would run out of his skin in the Champion Hurdle.

Nicky has a phenomenal record in the Champion Hurdles, and that is very much in Constitution Hill’s favour. If he can give the two mares 7lb and a beating, he will deserve to be called one of the all-time greats.

BARRY GERAGHTY

It’s shaping up to be a vintage edition. Obviously, I am in the Constitution Hill camp, having sold the horse to Nicky Henderson. Yes, the horse has had his troubles and you can find flaws in his performances this season, but I can tell you the vibes are very good. This is a horse who holds the track record at Cheltenham and he did that as a novice.

It’s great that connections of Brighterdaysahead are taking him on rather than running in the Mares’ Hurdle. Her pacemaker will go hard and that will ensure the best horse wins, so there will be no excuses.

COLM MURPHY

It’s a fascinating race, competitive in the way that it was in Brave Inca’s time. It’s good to see Gordon Elliott running his mare and we are in danger of forgetting State Man, but it’s hard to get away from what Constitution Hill has done. I’m looking forward to watching it.

NOEL MEADE

I’m hoping Gordon will win it with Brighterdaysahead, but I wouldn’t like to put my life on it. I know they have great faith in her, but the favourite is going to be hard to beat if he is on-song.

Brighterdaysahead is pretty special, she is practically unbeaten, because she was just unsuited by the slow pace in the novice race last year. So there is a bit of the unknown about her, and I just hope she is good enough to do it.