Constitution Hill's Cheltenham run hangs in balance after star scopes dirty

27 February 2024 , 12:31

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Trainer Nicky Henderson held a morning with the media on February 22, where he was pictured with Constitution Hill (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Superstar Constitution Hill scoped poorly after a highly-anticipated racecourse gallop, which has put his Cheltenham Festival run in doubt.

The meeting's headline act was eased down by Nico de Boinville during the spin with several stablemates this morning. It led to bookmakers suspending betting on the Unibet Champion Hurdle after trainer Nicky Henderson discovered a problem with his top horse.

"The vet has scoped him and there is evidence of mucus,” reported the six-time champion handler. “We’re taking a sample of it to a laboratory to analyse it, which will tell us about the significance of it and we should know more after that. Last week, he worked brilliantly and he was scoped ten days ago, but these things happen."

Henderson was at the course to watch the workout, with Constitution Hill accompanied by Triumph Hurdle favourite Sir Gino and a Seven Barrows-trained stablemate.

The seven-year-old 'banker' for many at the four-day Festival on March 12 had been priced up as the 1-4 favourite. Following the health scare, leading firms including William Hill, Coral and Ladbrokes stopped taking bets on the two-mile championship contest.

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A seven-time Grade One winner, Constitution Hill missed Cheltenham's Trials Day fixture in January, after another poor scope. He has run only once this season, when he emphatically retained his Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle title, around the same circuit as today's exercise.

Melissa Jones