Just 4 runners made this the joint-smallest field for this prestigious race this century, but few were complaining beforehand or after an event in which the best hurdler of recent times (and possibly of all time) Constitution Hill returned from a year on the sidelines to see off a very smart mare and win his third consecutive Christmas Hurdle. A good pace (half a furlong up on the later maiden hurdle by halfway) also ensured that this represented a test, one which Lossiemouth struggled with from an early stage, and that the overall time backed up the 160s rating justified on form. The winner still managed to bang in a 52.91s final 4f for a faster-than-par 105.9% finishing speed on ground that was borderline “good” and “good to soft”, if nearer the former for hurdles and later for chases.

CONSTITUTION HILL (h164+ here, 184? previously) won his third consecutive Christmas Hurdle in good (rather than exceptional) style and is the one to beat at Cheltenham in March providing all goes well from here, several niggles having kept him off for a year prior to this and his career thus far punctuated by absences as well as moments of jaw-dropping brilliance. He looked a lot like his old self in travelling and jumping well (stood right off the fourth), tracking the pace, leading 2 out and shaken up to go into a lead of a couple of lengths, pinging the last and kept up to his work most of the way. This effort against a possibly non-firing Lossiemouth is 15 lb to 20 lb below his sensational Supreme Hurdle and Champion Hurdle wins but suggested plenty still in the locker. It’s great to have him back!

LOSSIEMOUTH (h154 here, 154+5 previously) got second in the end, which may be the best she could realistically manage against a horse of Constitution Hill’s quality, but turned in a rather laboured effort and might not have been right at her best, tending to jump big early and niggled to keep in touch with the good pace, ridden after 2 out and left a clear second at the last, staying on but unable to lay a glove on the winner. This test on a sharp 2m on predominantly good going might not have played to her strengths but she has slipped a few places in the pecking order on the back of this.

BURDETT ROAD (h152+3 here, 138+ previously) had shown himself to be decidedly smart on the flat (won a Newmarket listed race by a wide margin in September) and seems to be every bit as good as a hurdler now, setting a good pace, headed 2 out and one paced when sprawling at the last, but for which he would have been a few lengths closer. He is the second-best or third-best British-trained 2m hurdler now that Sir Gino has gone chasing, and he could well pick up one of the generally weak Champion Hurdle “trials” even if the big race itself proves beyond him.

LUMP SUM (h119+ here, 145 previously) showed up well until weakening quickly going to 2 out, better than the result at a grade or 2 higher than he would be comfortable with at this stage.