Constitution Hill OUT of Cheltenham Festival confirms ‘very sad’ Nicky Henderson

2 months ago 28

CONSTITUTION HILL is OUT of Cheltenham Festival – a ‘very sad’ Nicky Henderson has confirmed.

The unbeaten superstar – who was many people’s banker of the meeting – will not defend his Champion Hurdle crown after he failed to get fit in time.

Constitution Hill will not be at Cheltenham Festival this year[/caption]

Constitution Hill trails behind his two stablemates at Kempton pic.twitter.com/jY8Ds4DDqZ

— Jack Keene (@jkeene124) February 27, 2024

He had been as short as 1-4 to give trainer Henderson a record-extending tenth win in the race until disaster struck on a racecourse gallop last week.

Henderson, 73, said in a statement on Monday: “Very sadly we are going to have to admit defeat in the battle to get Constitution Hill ready for the Champion Hurdle and therefore have to declare that he will not be running there this year.

“he has undoubtedly improved over the weekend and seems noticeably brighter than he was at the end of last week and I really did think he was much perkier when ridden this morning.

“Unfortunately the all-important blood test shows that although the figures have also improved they are quite a way from being satisfactory for a horse to commence serious training and to race in a week’s time.

“There are three significant markers on the blood test all of which have down since Thursday’s sample but are still raised enough to indicate that he has not fully recovered from whatever was ailing him.

“The only way to continue the improvement is not to stress him and he obviously cannot run in these Olympic Games if he’s not trained sufficiently.

“This is very sad for all of us and particularly Michael but it is in everybody’s best interests that we ensure we have a fit and healthy Constitution Hill to win back his crown next year.

“As no further bulletins will be required I would just like to say how much we have appreciated everybody’s support and messages over the last week.”

The racing world was shocked when the Michael Buckley-owned seven-year-old was too bad to be true in a gallop at Kempton.

The Champion Hurdle markets were suspended by bookies as word spread and when they reopened Willie Mullins’ State Man was made the new ante-post favourite.

Henderson, 73, confirmed Constitution Hill had ‘significant mucus’ in his airway but at that moment retained some hope the horse would recover in time.

However, the results of a ‘more conclusive’ blood test last Thursday showed the horse was suffering ‘a significant degree of inflammation’.

The legendary trainer indicated then that today’s new blood tests would probably be the determining factor in how well the horse was.

Sadly, for him, punters and racegoers desperate to see this awesome horse in the flesh, it’s more bad news.

The devastating blow means Henderson’s dream of another Champion Hurdle look a long shot at best.

He has also entered mare Luccia and Under Control in the race.

But they are 16-1 and 50-1 respectively at the time of writing with more appealing races elsewhere.

Constitution Hill missed his intended run at Cheltenham’s Trials Day in January after a bad scope.

The public have seen the horse just once this season, when he won the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

From Henderson’s words it seems unlikely we will see Constitution Hill at the Aintree Grand National Festival either to defend his Aintree Hurdle title next month.

And connections could opt to swerve a likely showdown with State Man at the Punchestown Festival in Ireland at the end of April.

Paddy Power now make State Man the 2-5 favourite, with Gordon Elliott’s Irish Point and Rich Ricci’s wondermare Lossiemouth both 4-1.

Matt Chapman confirmed via Ricci that Lossiemouth, who is huge odds-on fav for the Mares’ Hurdle, will be kept in the Champion Hurdle until the last minute in case the race cuts up further.