Superstar hurdler Constitution Hill is back where his fans believe he belongs - as favourite for next year’s Champion Hurdle.

The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner had not run in a race for 12 months when he won the Ladbrokes Hurdle as the 1-12 favourite. He had filled many column inches in the intervening period but unfortunately none were about his exploits on the track.

Trainer Nicky Henderson had to rule him out of his Champion Hurdle defence in March when he was diagnosed with an infection followed by a bout of colic.

He was on schedule to return to action in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle last month until that had to be scrapped due to lameness.

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The pressure was on Constitution Hill to deliver when he finally returned to action at Kempton on Day in which he was to be tested by the Willie Mullins-trained mare Lossiemouth, who had been promoted to Champion Hurdle favourite.

But he ended any lingering doubts as he maintained his perfect record as he beat the mare by two and a half lengths to the delight of a packed crowd.

Constitution Hill is now odds-on again for the Champion Hurdle after being cut to 4-6 by William Hill.

Owner Michael Buckley said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to bits, couldn’t be happier.

“Nicky is a master trainer. Anybody who’s got a brain could work that out and he absolutely cares for his horses. That’s why his horses have a long career when they’re in training.

“There’s no point in running these horses when they’re not right. What a waste of time that is. Also it would disappoint the public who support them.

“Look at this place today. There’s a gigantic crowd here and I should think some portion of that is due to him.”

Henderson said: "Everybody's done their part. It’s been entertaining getting him back. The last three weeks have been good. I’ve never seen him look better.

“I’d like to see how he takes this race. We’ve had to be quite hard on him the last three weeks. I’d like to run him again but if he says know we will go straight to Cheltenham.”