IRISH-JOCKEY Robbie Power isn't as convinced as others in the racing industry that Nicky Henderson's horse Constitution Hill will storm to victory in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next week.
The six-year-old horse has been backed by several bookmakers to win the featured race on the opening day of Cheltenham next week.
Several bookmakers in the UK and Ireland are offering a price of 1/3 for the horse to secure victory on Tuesday.
“I was fully still in the Honeysuckle camp last November, but as the winter progressed and Constitution Hill was spectacular at Newcastle in the Fighting Fifth, and was just so professional in the Christmas Hurdle, from being on the fence I am now fully converted to the Constitution Hill camp. I think he is a spectacular racehorse," said former Irish-jockey Ruby Walsh to Racing TV during the week.
Power has not nailed his colours to the Constitution Hill camp like Walsh. He believes that Henderson's horse will have a lot more to do to win the race against the likes of other horses like Henry de Bromhead's Honeysuckle and Willie Mullins horse State man next week.
Final touches for Constitution Hill's Cheltenham prep! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/DN7a4rOGY1
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 28, 2023
"I think Constitution Hill will win but I don’t think it will be as convincing as everyone thinks it will be. I think State Man will give him a race, but Constitution Hill just looks that bit special. He has been so impressive on his two starts this season, really good in the Supreme Novices last year but he has got to go and do it on the big stage," said Cheltenham Betting and Boylesports
Power also went onto to say that Constitution Hill has to win the Champion Hurdle before he can be mentioned in the pantheon of racing greats alongside the likes of Istabraq.
Istabraq won the Champion Hurdle on three occasions. He was trained by Aidan O'Brien and owned by John Patrick McManus. Jockey Charlie Swan rode him in all of his 29 races over jumps.
"He hasn’t won a Champion Hurdle yet; Istabraq was the best that I have seen so far. Constitution Hill is going in that direction, but he has got to go and prove it, then we can maybe start mentioning him in the same sentence as Istabraq."
The 2023 Cheltenham Festival will run from Tuesday, March 14 to Friday, March 17. The meeting is run over four days with seven races on each day, so 28 in total. The first race of each day will be due off at 1:30pm with the last run at 5:30pm.
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