Nicky Henderson, the esteemed trainer of Constitution Hill, has made a significant announcement regarding the future of his troubled star hurdler. While confirming that legendary jumping specialist Yogi Breisner has been enlisted to work with the nine-year-old, Henderson emphasised that immediate focus remains firmly on Constitution Hill's upcoming Flat racing debut at Southwell on 20 February.
Rebuilding Confidence After Setbacks
Constitution Hill had already established himself among hurdling's elite performers when he approached last year's Champion Hurdle as the overwhelming 1-2 favourite. However, a dramatic fall four fences from home appeared to severely impact his confidence, with the horse subsequently falling twice in just three starts since that fateful day at Cheltenham.
Following Constitution Hill's most recent mishap at the Fighting Fifth Hurdle in Newcastle, Henderson made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend the horse's hurdling career. This strategic pause has led to the scheduling of a Flat race at Southwell's evening meeting later this month, marking a significant departure from his established jumping programme.
A Week of Mixed Preparation
"He's had a confusing week," Henderson revealed on Friday. "He had schooling with Yogi on Monday, starting stalls and a gallop with Oisin Murphy on Wednesday, and Yogi is back again before the end of the week. So it's jump, Flat, jump for him this week."
The trainer elaborated on their approach: "The jumping is going great and we're doing a lot of jump, jump, jump. Yogi is there as he is the well-known guru who can do these things, so we're playing with him, but we're also concentrating on Southwell at the moment and only Southwell."
Wide-Open Champion Hurdle Market
Henderson's stable has suffered another significant blow with Sir Gino, the Christmas Hurdle winner who had emerged as a likely favourite for this year's Champion Hurdle. The six-year-old sustained a season-ending pelvic injury during the International Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, leaving Henderson without his leading contender.
This development has created remarkable uncertainty in the ante-post market, with five horses including Constitution Hill currently available at single-figure odds. "The Champion Hurdle is so wide open, it's crazy," Henderson observed. "You are sitting on two horses like Constitution Hill and Sir Gino and technically, at the moment not running either of them."
The trainer acknowledged the complex situation: "The difficulty of it all is if he gets round at Cheltenham then he'd probably be the one they have to beat. We're just working away and let's see how the Flat race goes first."
Newbury's Heavy Going Challenge
Meanwhile, attention turns to Newbury this Saturday for Britain's final major weekend of trials ahead of next month's Cheltenham Festival. Heavy going appears certain, presenting particular challenges for competitors in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle, Britain's most valuable event of its type.
Dan Skelton seeks his first victory in this prestigious race, despite having won the two-mile County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham four times in the last nine seasons. His contender Let It Rain arrives as warm favourite, though questions remain about her ability to handle the testing conditions.
With just three hurdle runs to her name, including a close third in a similar race at Ascot before Christmas, Let It Rain possesses obvious potential for improvement. However, the transition from good-to-soft ground at Ascot to near-bottomless conditions at Newbury represents a substantial challenge.
Alternative Contender Emerges
Given the competitive nature of the field and Let It Rain's relatively short odds, attention turns to Ben Pauling's Lanesborough as an appealing each-way alternative at around 8-1. This contender has proven form on heavy ground and should benefit from the return to approximately two miles, having demonstrated his capability at this distance during his seasonal debut victory in December.
Saturday's Racing Highlights
Newbury Selections:
- 1.00 Sober Glory returns to winning form with strong timefigure backing
- 1.35 Below The Radar remains unexposed at three miles with valuable claimer assistance
- 2.10 Haiti Couleurs, Welsh Grand National winner, eyes Cheltenham Gold Cup qualification
- 2.45 Lulamba faces toughest test yet but brings Grade One-winning form
- 3.20 Lanesborough represents value in testing conditions
Warwick Features:
- 1.15 Jubilee Alpha benefits from favourable race conditions
- 1.50 Mambonumberfive seeks to extend unbeaten fence record to four
- 2.25 Knappers Hill brings most convincing profile in veteran company
The racing community watches with keen interest as Constitution Hill embarks on this unconventional path toward potential Cheltenham redemption, while Saturday's action at Newbury and Warwick provides crucial preparation for the approaching Festival season.
