04 March 2024 , 12:29
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Constitution Hill will not run at the Cheltenham Festival, trainer Nicky Henderson has announced, in a massive blow to the biggest jumps meeting of the year.
The unbeaten and defending Champion Hurdle hero worked poorly at Kempton Park last Tuesday, putting his participation at the showpiece meeting in major doubt. A scope showed mucus in his lungs and despite slightly more positive news in the following days, results of a blood test on Thursday proved to be another blow.
He was scoped again on Friday morning, with trainer Nicky Henderson saying that "showed the Neutrophil percentage, indicative of infection, was back to normal parameters with no mucus evident".
However, he stressed another blood test on Monday would probably prove to be the "acid test", and on receiving the results Henderson posted the announcement that fans of of the sport were all dreading.
He said on his official X account: "Very sadly we are going to have to admit defeat in the battle to get Constitution Hill ready for the Champion Hurdle and therefore have to declare that he will not be running there this year.
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"He has undoubtedly improved over the weekend and seems noticeably brighter than he was at the end of last week and I really did think he was much perkier when ridden this morning.
"Unfortunately the all-important blood test shows that although the figures have also improved they are quite a way from being satisfactory for a horse to commence serious training and to race in a week's time."
He went on: "There are three significant markers on the blood test all of which have come down since Thursday's sample but are still raised enough to indicate that he has not fully recovered from whatever was ailing him.
"The only way to continue that improvement is not to stress him and he obviously cannot run in these Olympic games if he's not trained sufficiently.
Constitution Hill and Nicky Henderson, who has had to rule the star out of Cheltenham (AFP via Getty Images)"This is very sad for all of us particularly Michael but it is in everybody's best interests that we ensure we have a fit and healthy Constitution Hill to win back his crown next year."
Henderson has been transparent throughout the period since Constitution Hill suffered his setback with regular updates on the horse's health, but said Monday's would be the last.
"As no further bulletins will be required I would just like to say how much we have all appreciated everybody's support and messages over the last week. Thank you all sincerely."
Last year's Champion Hurdle runner-up State Man, trained by Willie Mullins, is now 1-3 favourite with Coral for the Champion Hurdle.