HILL IN LINE FOR FIGHTING FIFTH
CONSTITUTION HILL will clash with stablemate Epatante in Saturday’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle after Newcastle pledged to tailor the Gosforth Park going for the Champion Hurdle favourite’s return to action.
Trainer Nicky Henderson, who scratched Constitution Hill – 5-4 market leader for the Cheltenham Festival’s Tuesday feature – from his intended comeback at Ascot last Saturday, had pencilled in Cheltenham’s International Hurdle on December 10 for the five-yearold’s seasonal reappearance.
But the Seven Barrows trainer revealed yesterday: “Bear in mind the weather could stay as it has been down south, so there’s the risk Cheltenham could stay as it was for the last meeting. “We can’t risk that.” Constitution Hill, the 22-length winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last March, is a best-priced 2-7 to defend his unbeaten record over timber, with 2020 Champion Hurdle heroine Epatante — JP McManus’s mare captured the 2020 Fighting Fifth before dead-heating with the re-opposing Not So Sleepy 12 months ago — the 3-1 second choice.
“Perhaps in the beginning we were hoping he and Epatante wouldn’t have to meet at this stage of the season, but the dice have gone that way and we’ve got to let them both run,” added Henderson.
Explaining the move to irrigate ground currently ‘good to soft, soft in places’ Newcastle clerk of the course Eloise Quayle said: “I understand watering will raise a few questions, but you have to think about ‘winter’ horses waiting for ‘winter’ ground.”