HENDO’S PLAYING IT SAFE WITH HILL

NICKY HENDERSON last night warned “no chances will be taken” ahead of Constitution Hill’s planned return to action at Ascot today.

Midweek rain in Royal Berkshire convinced Henderson to give William Hill’s 5-4 Champion Hurdle favourite his comeback in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle — but drying conditions are giving the master of Seven Barrows cause for concern.

“If it was today’s ground, not even a worry about it — it was great — but we have to make sure it’s safe,” Henderson said last night.

“It is obviously a result of that long, dry summer but we’ve got to see what the morning brings.

“It has dried out dramatically, considering where we were two days ago — no chances will be taken. You get horses as good as this, it’s absolutely crazy to start taking risks.”

Ascot’s clerk of the course Chris Stickels watered the track overnight to maintain the going at ‘good to soft, good in places’.

“We are just putting 5mm on areas that were ‘good’ — three to four furlongs’ worth of ground halfway up the home straight to about halfway down the hill — and drying out,” reported Stickels.