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National Hunt racings star Constitution Hill will face Lossiemouth on his first start for 12 months in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
Only four of the eight five-day declarations stood their ground for the Grade 1 prize, but it looks set to be a cracker as Nicky Henderson's Constitution Hill makes his eagerly-awaited reappearance against Willie Mullins' star mare Lossiemouth.
The 2023 Champion Hurdle hero was forced to miss the defence of his crown in March after a below-par gallop at Kempton shocked the racing world and subsequent blood tests ruled him out of the Festival feature.
Later that month Henderson's star suffered more unfortunate news as he was diagnosed with a bout of colic, causing him to miss the remainder of the season.
An intended return-to-action in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle last month was shelved after Henderson revealed Constitution Hill was suffering from an unusual lameness after a gallop at Newbury, leaving the Christmas Hurdle as the next logical option for the nine-year-old.
The Michael Buckley-owned eight-time winner barely had to be shaken up to destroy Rubaud by nine and a half lengths on his sole outing last season, but one might expect a different contest this time around with Willie Mullins' current Champion Hurdle favourite Lossiemouth making the trip across the Irish Sea.
Rich Ricci's mare, who is unbeaten in all three starts in England, suffered her sole defeat under Rules when runner-up to stablemate Gala Marceau in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown last February.
Since then, she has recorded three victories at Cheltenham in the Triumph Hurdle, International Hurdle, Mares' Hurdle, alongside notable Grade 1 successes at Punchestown.
The five-year-old grey arrives at Kempton with the benefit of a recent run, and she could hardly have been any more impressive when downing Stayers' Hurdle hero Teahupoo in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse this month.
James Owen's Greatwood Hurdle winner Burdett Road will get his first taste of Grade 1 company over hurdles, while the Sam Thomas-trained Welsh Champion Hurdle scorer Lump Sum completes the quartet after finishing second to Sir Gino in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle last time
