Constitution Hill set to head straight to the Champion Hurdle

03 January 2023 , 15:17

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Constitution Hill completes another stroll in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Image: PA)

Superstar hurdler Constitution Hill is unlikely to be seen on a racetrack until March after Nicky Henderson indicated he would take a direct route to Cheltenham with Unibet Champion Hurdle favourite.

After he posted a 17 length victory in the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day, a number of options were on the table for Constitution Hill but his trainer has now said, “I think almost certainly Constitution Hill will not run again before Cheltenham.”

Constitution Hill is five out of five over hurdles, winning his races with such dominance that he is 1-5 with William Hill to land the Champion Hurdle.

“He’s obviously very good fresh, he was very good the first time this year in the Fighting Fifth,” Henderson told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast.

“Last year we went from the Tolworth to Cheltenham and you couldn’t have had him any better so I really don’t see any point, there’s nothing to be gained.”

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He added: “I might have an open day or something so people can come and see him – I would have thought that was a possibility.”

Henderson’s fallen star Shishkin is due to step up in distance and has not been entered in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase following his eclipse in the Tingle Creek Chase, his first defeat in completed starts over fences. He has been engaged in both the Ryanair Chase and Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“The plan at the moment is to go to Kempton on Saturday week for the Silviniaco Conti over two and a half miles,” said Henderson.

Jon Lees