Constitution Hill injury a huge blow to Henderson – and Festival
CONSTITUTION Hill has been ruled out of the Champion Hurdle in a major setback to Nicky Henderson — and the Cheltenham Festival as a whole.
The participation of jump racing’s superstar in the event he won so brilliantly 12 months ago had been in doubt since last Tuesday, when he galloped poorly in a workout at Kempton.
He was immediately tested, with results showing he was suffering from an infection. Trainer Henderson had hoped a course of antibiotics would bring the gelding back to health in time for the big race a week today.
But further tests yesterday confirmed Constitution Hill — who has not been beaten in eight starts — would not be able to race.
Henderson said: ‘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.’
State Man, trained by Willie Mullins, is now hotly fancied for the Champion Hurdle.
And Mullins says a ‘conversation will be had’ as to whether connections reconsider Lossiemouth’s Festival target.
Gordon Elliott has already indicated he could switch Irish Point from the Stayers’ Hurdle as a result of Constitution Hill’s absence.
Lossiemouth is currently the favourite for the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, which connections stated would be her target after her superb win in the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham in January.
Mullins has State Man but is yet to decide if there will be a change of plan for Lossiemouth, who is one of five remaining entries for the Closutton team.
‘It’s tough on Nicky (Henderson) and Michael Buckley (owner),’ Mullins said.
‘We’ve a week to go and we’re not there yet either, anything can happen in this game.
‘I haven’t really thought about whether we’d supplement anything else. We have plenty still in it. Lossiemouth is still in it and I suppose a conversation will be had.’
Elliott had been keen to tap into Irish Point’s stamina by running in the Stayers’ Hurdle but is now rethinking that decision.
‘I’m keen to run him,’ Elliott told Racing TV.
‘State Man is going to be very hard to beat, but I’d prefer to take him on around Cheltenham rather than going round Punchestown or Leopardstown.
‘He’s the horse everyone has to beat and he looks a good thing, but I’d like to take him on with Irish Point.
‘We’re going to be second favourite if Lossiemouth doesn’t run, I’ll have a chat with Brian (Acheson of owners Robcour) in the morning and we’ll go through the horses, but I’d be keen to run him.’
Constitution Hill could yet run again this term, with Aintree and Punchestown possible options according to owner Buckley, though future plans are on an immediate hold.
He told the Nick Luck Daily podcast: ‘I think that’s what we’d like to think of doing (going to Aintree and/or Punchestown next). I think we will wait for 10 days and just make sure.
‘There’s no point in talking about it to anybody now simply because we just want to make sure he does get rid of all these infections and he seems to be fine and perky and so-forth, and then we might think about one or the other.
‘I doubt that we would run in both to be truthful, but who knows.’