Constitution Hill confirmed his position as the all-conquering two-mile champion of his generation when he destroyed the opposition to win the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle.
Hard as the Irish Champion Hurdler State Man tried on the approach to the home bend, he was never able to land a serious challenge to the Blue Bresil gelding who shot clear on the run to the final flight and ultimately recorded a bloodless triumph by nine lengths without ever coming off the bridle.
The victory, a fifth Grade 1 success and second at the Cheltenham festival after his triumph in the Supreme at last year’s festival, has seen the now six-year-old remain unbeaten when under the care of Nicky Henderson, having started his career when second in a Tipperary point-to-point for Warren Ewing.
Nicky Henderson, who was enjoying his 73rd Cheltenham Festival victory and nineth in the Champion Hurdle, said: “He can be very long. You can do anything with this horse. You could jump a fence, you could go three miles. He has had six races now and has barely come off the bridle, but it won’t last forever so let’s enjoy it while we have got it.
“Sprinter did amazing things for us and the emotion behind him for his comeback was unbelievable. This horse has got into those echelons after six races. It is an extraordinary thing to happen but he is an extraordinary horse. I said to Nico let’s keep it as simple as you possibly can and he did.
“I’ve watery eyes, I always have had and I always will have but that would bring a tear to most eyes when you see a horse quite like that as I think that is pretty unique. I had 12 months of them (anxious moments) but that is our life. I think as it gets closer and closer you get even more anxious. Have you done this or have you done that.
“There is a brilliant team behind him and they have done fantastic. We all know the last few weeks are horrible. I hope I’ve not been too bad but they have been brilliant behind us. One of these comes around in a lifetime. You have got to have a lot of horses to find one of these. That is only the sixth race of his life and he is doing that now.
“We have had some wonderful days with Sprinter Sacre in particular. This horse is going to extraordinary levels at the moment and we are lucky to be the custodian of him but a lot of responsibility goes with it.”
