Trainer Nicky Henderson Faces Constitution Hill Dilemma Ahead of Cheltenham Festival
Renowned trainer Nicky Henderson finds himself in a state of uncertainty regarding the future plans for his stable star Constitution Hill, following the horse's impressive Flat debut victory at Southwell last Friday. With the Cheltenham Festival just two weeks away, Henderson admitted the decision is proving to be one of the most challenging of his career.
The Daily Dilemma: A 50-50 Decision That Changes Constantly
"I promise you, it is 50-50. Every day, I change my mind, but I think we've got to say one way or the other," Henderson revealed during a media event organized by The Jockey Club at Kempton Park. The trainer, who has an impressive 75 Festival winners to his name, described Constitution Hill as "causing the biggest headache of my life" while simultaneously acknowledging the extraordinary experience of the horse's recent performance.
Henderson plans to school Constitution Hill over hurdles before making a final decision in consultation with owner Michael Buckley. "We're going to do something tomorrow. Michael and I have then got to sit down - it is as simple as that," he explained, appreciating the intense public interest in the horse's future while emphasizing the complexity of the decision.
Pre-Festival Jitters and British Hopes Against Irish Dominance
With the prestigious Cheltenham Festival approaching rapidly, Henderson confessed to feeling "a bit jittery" along with the rest of the racing community. "I think everybody will tell you that over the next few weeks everybody's a bit jittery," he noted, while reporting that his string of stars remains in good condition following their final serious work sessions.
The trainer expressed optimism about British trainers' chances of challenging the recent Irish dominance at The Festival. "I think the English squad is definitely stronger than previous years, so I hope between us we can raise a bit of a fight," Henderson stated. He pointed to trainers like Ben Pauling and Dan Skelton, along with quality horses throughout the country, as reasons for optimism in what he expects to be a very open competition.
Galloping Contenders and Individual Assessments
On Tuesday morning, Henderson galloped nine of his Cheltenham Festival contenders at Kempton Park: Jango Baie, Old Park Star, Jingko Blue, Hyland, Doddiethegreat, Impose Toi, Joyeuse, Iberico Lord, and Bold Endeavour. He provided detailed assessments of several key horses in his stable.
Regarding Jango Baie, a contender for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, Henderson expressed confidence: "I think he's entitled to be given a realistic chance. Everything's gone well." He noted the horse's strong performance in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase and his tactical speed that should serve him well in competition.
Lulamba, preparing for The Singer Arkle Novices' Chase, received positive feedback despite some early learning experiences at Newbury. "He was proper class," Henderson remarked, suggesting the horse might transition to longer distances in future seasons.
Old Park Star, entered in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, was described as "a big baby" with significant potential for development in coming years. While not expressing the same level of confidence he once had with Altior, Henderson praised the horse's extraordinary performances in recent runs.
The Extraordinary Impact of Constitution Hill
Henderson reflected on Constitution Hill's recent performance with awe, calling it "one of the most extraordinary nights I think we will experience" and describing the atmosphere as "surreal." He marveled at the horse's ability to capture public imagination, stating: "If that's what racing can do to other people, then we're very lucky, aren't we?"
The trainer acknowledged his privileged position while grappling with the difficult decision ahead. "I'm just in a privileged position, but I'm sitting on this guy that's now causing the biggest headache of my life," he admitted, while simultaneously celebrating what he called "one of the great days of my whole term in this office."
As the racing world awaits Henderson's final decision, the trainer's daily vacillation underscores the high stakes and emotional complexity of preparing elite horses for one of jump racing's most prestigious events. With British hopes riding on multiple contenders and Irish dominance to challenge, the coming fortnight promises intense anticipation and potentially historic outcomes at the Home of Jump Racing.
