Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth are set for a titanic battle in Thursday’s Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle on day one of the Grand National festival, with the race off at 3:30pm. Both star performers had different outcomes at Cheltenham with the former falling in the Champion Hurdle, while the latter cruised to glory in the Mares’ Hurdle. However, how will the pair fare when they both take on impressive Martin Pipe winner Woodhoh in an intriguing renewal. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers previews the race and picks out his 1-2-3 for the contest.
CONSTITUTION HILL
(Nico De Boinville/Nicky Henderson)
A perfect ten from ten over hurdles going into the Champion Hurdle, Constitution Hill was sent off a red-hot odds-on favourite to maintain his dominance in the two-mile hurdling division, but a fall in the middle of the contest sent Nico De Boinville crashing to the Cheltenham turf and dreams of a second Champion Hurdle win went up in smoke. Seemingly fine in the aftermath of that run, Nicky Henderson has opted to step him up in trip for the Aintree Hurdle and providing that tumble hasn’t left any effects on him then he’s going to be tough to beat. He was travelling serenely well at Cheltenham before that race-ending fall, so if he can produce his best here then he’s going to be hard to beat. He cruised to victory over Lossiemouth when the pair met in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, so it’s going to be hard to see that form being turned around.
LOSSIEMOUTH
(Paul Townend/Willie Mullins)
There was disappointment when Lossiemouth was sent down the Mares’ Hurdle route at the Cheltenham Festival, but the Willie Mullins team felt it was the most likely race she would taste victory in. She duly outclassed her fellow mares again with a sumptuous display to retain her crown, but now she’s back taking on the boys and will be the major rival to Constitution Hill. No match for her British rival at Kempton on Boxing Day, she is one that will enjoy the 2m 4f trip of Thursday’s Aintree Hurdle and the smooth travelling mare will be ready to capitalise on any mishaps the Henderson hotpot may have during the contest.
WODHOOH
(Danny Gilligan/Gordon Elliott)
Gordon Elliott’s Woodhoh rounded off a seven-timer when scorching to victory in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and now the five-year-old mare is being sent in the deep end here. A facile four-and-a-quarter length winner off a mark of 141 in that Martin Pipe contest, she will need to continue her progression to land any sort of blow on the front two in the betting, but the manner in which she stormed to victory last month suggested there’s plenty more in the tank. This will be a whole new ball game for her, as a smallish field lines up, but the Cullentra House team are certainly fond of her and wouldn’t let her line up unless they feel she can figure prominently.
THE FIELD
Four other contenders will take their place in the line-up and the first of those is Gary & Josh Moore’s Salver, who was last seen finishing third in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell and is one that failed to kick on from a promising juvenile campaign. Third in the Mares’ Hurdle, Take No Chances was beaten over nine lengths by Lossiemouth last month, so it’s hard to see that form being turned around, while Break My Soul and Tellherthename have failed to show any sort of form that can see them causing an upset here and look to be making up the numbers.
VERDICT
Providing the fall at Cheltenham hasn’t left a mark then CONSTITUTION HILL can bounce back to winning ways with aplomb in a fascinating Aintree Hurdle. He showed when trouncing Lossiemouth at Christmas, albeit over two miles, that he’s far superior and if he can replicate that run then he should have no problem getting the better of her again over a further trip of two-and-a-half miles. Wodhooh is an interesting runner, but she’s going to face a rude awakening here and may just struggle to continue her improvement to play a part in the finish.
2025 Aintree Hurdle 1-2-3
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