CONSTITUTION Hill demolished his Unibet Champion Hurdle rivals to register a quite brilliant success on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

Unbeaten over hurdles for trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Nico de Boinville, Constitution Hill was sent off the 4-11 favourite and fairly strolled to victory over State Man.

De Boinville flicked the reins on the turn for home and Constitution Hill kicked up a gear, striding up the hill to come home nine lengths clear in a canter.

Henderson told ITV Racing: "He’s just an extraordinary horse. You can’t believe at this stage of his life he’s doing things like that.

"He is just remarkable and Nico is great, he’s a cool boy isn’t he!

"You are always worried something is going to go wrong, if you haven’t done enough, or this or that or the other – he hasn’t run since Christmas.

"Of course there is pressure on, it’s always fun but underneath it, it’s not quite as much fun as you think it is. When it’s over, I promise you it is."

De Boinville added: "What a horse, just absolutely delighted.

"He’s given me a terrific spin and I’m delighted for Michael (Buckley, owner). The guv’nor has done a fantastic job – everyone at Seven Barrows (has)."

De Boinville now boasts wins in the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup.

He said: "On a personal level, it’s been a dream of mine to get the big three and I’m delighted I’ve achieved it."