Jump racing’s very own superstar Constitution Hill (1/12 favourite) made it 10 victories from as many starts when successful in Saturday's Grade 2 Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham but there was a moment's worry when he made an uncharacteristic error at the final flight.

Partnered as usual by Nico de Boinville, the Michael Buckley-owned eight-year-old took the lead approaching halfway and despite a mistake at the last came home a comfortable three lengths to the good over Brentford Hope.

Successful trainer Nicky Henderson said: “He is such a good jumper and usually doesn’t get it wrong very often so hopefully he got it out the way (the mistake at the last) before he runs next time.

“He was very long at last when he won the Champion Hurdle and has done it the other way today.

“He just wasn’t doing much today. We came here today as he came out of Kempton (when successful in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day) better than we ever thought he would – he was full of it. He deserves it, Michael deserves it and everybody deserves it.

“He has had a nice spin today and it has saved us a lot of galloping at home.

“We know where we are with him. He’ll have a quiet week now and then we’ll start the engines up again.

“If we can get to the Champion Hurdle in the sort of form we are in today, we’ll go there with a big hope. We have 4 to 5 weeks to play with.”

Nico de Boinville said: “My heart was in my mouth at the last but he was just doing it so easily. He was either on a long way or was just going to fiddle away (jumping the last) but has kind of done something in the middle. He found a leg and it was fine. He wouldn’t even blow a candle out as he’s hardly blowing (after the race).

“To have hm back at Cheltenham is great and it’s great everyone came out to see him today. I’m delighted with him and angry with myself more than anything.”

Gold Cup hope

L’Homme Presse (4/5 favourite) maintained his positioned as the leading British-trained contender for the Cheltenham Gold Cup when battling his way to victory in the Grade 2 Betfair Cotswold Chase. The 10-year-old was partnered by Charlie Deutsch and got up after the last to deny longtime leader Stage Star by three-quarters of a length.

Winning trainer Venetia Williams said: “You always felt he was getting on top but Stage Star made him pull it all out. He’s trotted back – how may horses go three and a quarter miles around Cheltenham and then trot back in?

“He came back from Kempton in good form and it was a normal progression to here. We are pleased to get this race in the bag.

“We’ll see about the Gold Cup now. It’s one step at a time. The ground is quite relevant to him. He wasn’t getting tired today and I don’t think stamina is a problem.

“At the end of the day it’s who wins on the day you don’t know which of the main protagonists will turn up on the day and on the top of their game. We’ll see – it’s another day.”

Four horses have won the Cotswold Chase and gone on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the most recent being Looks Like Trouble in 2000.