CONSTITUTION HILL made a devastating return to action with an easy Christmas Hurdle win at Kempton.

Jockey Nico de Boinville never had to ask the Champion Hurdle hero for any effort as he put the race to bed in a matter of strides.

Winning jockey De Boinville said: "I hope it was worth the wait for everyone. He's giving me a great spin round."

Constitution Hill was making his belated return after Newcastle's Fighting Fifth was cancelled last month.

Trainer Nicky Henderson opted not to run him at Sandown on Tingle Creek weekend in deep ground.

And the wait proved worth it as the greatest hurdler in training - and potentially the best we will ever see - made a scintillating comeback.

He is now as short as 1-3 to claim a second straight Champion Hurdle in March.

And, barring injury or a freak unseating or fall during the race, it seems simply nothing can rival him for speed, grace and soundness of mind.

Rubaud was a valiant runner-up at 15-2 while First Street outran his 33-1 odds.

Winning trainer Hendo said: "Everybody wants to see what he is, and as Nico says you couldn’t fail to be impressed as he is such an exciting thing to sit on as he goes so fast.

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"I’ve not seen one jump better, but the great secret to all these good two milers, and we have been very lucky over the years going way back when with See You Then, and then the Binocular, Epatante, and Buveur D’Air, it is the way they get from A to B.

"We had this discussion in the summer to jump fences, but what was there to be gained by doing it. He is very good at this.

"Is an Arkle and a Champion Chase going to change anybody's life? We want to win the Champion Hurdle again.

"I’d be very surprised if that is what we don’t do (try and win the Champion Hurdle multiple times).

"See You Then was never winning as easy as this, but you might say the opposition may have been stronger at that time.

"You have to put it all into perspective and he can only beat what is put in front of him. Obviously there will be a lot more to come in March."

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