Nicky Henderson is pleased it is time for the talking to stop and the action to unfold as Constitution Hill looks to silence any remaining doubters by regaining his crown in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
The Seven Barrows superstar looked unbeatable when winning the 2022 Supreme Novices' Hurdle by 22 lengths and was similarly dominant when dismissing State Man by nine in the Champion Hurdle the following year.
There have been a few bumps in the road since, with a lung infection ruling him out of a Festival defence 12 months ago, but he has returned this winter with further triumphs in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and the Unibet Hurdle on Festival Trials day in January to extend his unblemished record to 10.
Some still question whether Nico de Boinville’s mount can possibly be as good as he was a couple of seasons ago, but Henderson’s faith is unshakeable.
"He’s done everything right and, touch wood, we have had a relatively uncomplicated prep and here we go. We’re nearly at the time where it’s in his and Nico’s hands and what will be will be," he said.
"It’s going to be tough because the Irish are going to take us on all week and they’re not coming for the fun of it.
"I’m pretty happy he is the same as what he always was, I know some people don’t think he is but I don’t see why. Everyone is happy and his schooling the other day was brilliant."
Constitution Hill was a 1-12 favourite for his latest visit to Cheltenham in late January and duly obliged, although he gave his many supporters a heart-stopping moment at the final flight.
Henderson admitted he was feeling the nerves heading to Prestbury Park that day, adding: "I wasn’t that fussed at Kempton to be honest with you because I thought he could get beaten, but from my point of view I hated Cheltenham the other day – jeepers creepers, that absolutely killed me!
"It was sort of a no-win situation because he had to be very good, which he was, although he kept everyone on their toes by trying to destroy a hurdle!
"It does put the pressure on us a little bit, but he was great and certainly enjoyed himself."
The eight-year-old enjoyed a hero’s welcome on his return to the winner’s enclosure in January and there are likely to be even greater scenes if he can become only the third horse to regain the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday after Comedy Of Errors and Hurricane Fly.
Henderson said: "He got a great reception after the Unibet Hurdle, which shows National Hunt racing in a great light and to be fair, the crowd at Kempton was fantastic as well. I think they were pleased to see him back, weren’t we all?
"At Cheltenham, the last time I saw that sort of crowd was in Sprinter Sacre’s day and that is a very, very special thing.
"It’s great for National Hunt racing, people do love these horses, and it just shows that while a five-runner race with a 1-12 shot for some people is a tragedy, for most people it was something fantastic."
Gordon Elliott is confident Brighterdaysahead has what it takes to serve it up to Constitution Hill.
Not many would have had the Gigginstown House Stud-owned mare down as a genuine contender for the two-mile crown in the autumn, but back-to-back defeats of Willie Mullins' reigning champion State Man – and in particular her 30-length demolition job at Leopardstown over Christmas – put her right in the mix.
After toying with the idea of taking the perceived easier option of the Mares’ Hurdle, connections confirmed last week they would roll the dice and bid for Champion Hurdle glory with a six-year-old who is held in the highest esteem by her trainer.
"I’m not going to say she’s the best I’ve trained because I’d be telling you a lie, but she knows how to win and that’s what you want, isn’t it?," said the Cullentra House handler.
"She’s been good over two and a half miles, but was impressive the last day over two miles.
"I just decided to miss the Irish Champion Hurdle because we started off early in Down Royal and we’ve had three runs, so we didn’t need to have four before Cheltenham. I just thought I’d freshen her up.
"I always thought she was very good and I always said from day one what I thought of her."
Brighterdaysahead has been beaten only once in 10 outings to date and that was at last year’s Festival when third behind the reopposing Golden Ace as an odds-on favourite for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Elliott has no track concerns, though, as he blames himself for that defeat.
He added: "She only had one blip and that was in Cheltenham last year and that was my fault because I said to Jack (Kennedy) 'don’t set the race up for Paul Townend (riding Jade De Grugy)’ and Willie probably said the same thing to Paul. The two of them seemed to look at each other and something went by both of them like a bullet.
"I always go back to what Jack Kennedy said to me, that she doesn’t quicken she just gallops. She’s got a cruising speed and when she gets into it it’s hard to stop her – she’s a relentless galloper I suppose would be the term to use."
In Lossiemouth's absence, Willie Mullins will rely on defending champion State Man and rank outsider Winter Fog.
While no match for Constitution Hill two years ago, State Man did emerge victorious in his absence last season and is back to defend his title.
The chestnut suffered successive defeats to Brighterdaysahead before winning his third Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, but how much can be garnered from that victory is questionable given his stablemate Lossiemouth crashed out four flights from home.
Mullins has decided to fit his charge with cheekpieces for his return to the Cotswolds, telling Racing TV at Cheltenham on Monday morning: "I just put them on him last week during work and we were very happy with it.
"He’s an older horse who has been running since he was three and he’s lazy, isn’t he? When Lossiemouth fell (at Leopardstown) he didn’t do anything, he just thought he wasn’t in a race.
"He was always laid-back and only ever beats what he has to beat – he never goes and wins by 10 lengths. He’s a horse with a lot more ability I think than people think he has, so we’ll find out."
