THE PRICEWISE VERDICT TOM SEGAL

MARES have won the last three Champion Hurdles in receipt of the 7lb sex allowance and, having won 16 from 16, it is going to take an extra-special two-mile hurdler to lower Honeysuckle’s colours.

However, as brilliant as she clearly is, she has been beating the same horses again and again and in Constitution Hill she might well be taking on a different calibre of rival. His time was six seconds faster than Honeysuckle at Cheltenham and he looks special.

Throw in the Willie Mullinstrained Triumph winner Vauban and County Hurdle scorer State Man, and this could be a vintage season for two-mile hurdlers.