Zanahiyr likely to take on Constitution Hill in Champion Hurdle

Asked for one horse whom he felt was his best chance in one of the Cheltenham handicaps, Gordon Elliott opted for Imagine in the Martin Pipe

SEEKING GOLD: Gordon Elliott is happy with Conflated ahead of his bid for Cheltenham Gold Cup glory. Picture: Healy Racing

Zanahiyr, who was disqualified from third place behind Honeysuckle in last year's Champion Hurdle after testing positive for a banned raceday substance, is set to take on Constitution Hill in this season's renewal.

Trainer Gordon Elliott was fined £1,000 (€1,127) by an independent disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) after a post-race urine test from Zanahiyr was found to contain 3-hydroxylidocaine, a metabolite of the local anaesthetic lidocaine, the source of which could not be established.