“A banged knee has done nothing to stop Nicky Henderson wanting to run Constitution Hill in a Flat maiden – and a Champion Hurdle tilt is still possible. The master of Seven Barrows was in great form when I gave him a quick call on Sunday, and was bullish about a “good squad” for March’s”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
A banged knee has done nothing to stop Nicky Henderson wanting to run Constitution Hill in a Flat maiden – and a Champion Hurdle tilt is still possible.
The master of Seven Barrows was in great form when I gave him a quick call on Sunday, and was bullish about a “good squad” for March’s Cheltenham Festival.
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Credit: Getty Images “When you look through them we have a lot of horses who are near or at the top of their division,” Henderson said. “It’s exciting.”
What will happen next with Constitution Hill remains one of the biggest discussions in jumps racing with the brilliant 2022 Supreme and 2023 Champion Hurdle hero having fallen in three of his last four starts.
His last tumble came in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle on November 29.
Since then, all has been quiet, but Henderson revealed: “Constitution Hill is fine, although he missed a couple of weeks when he banged a knee and was in his box. It didn’t really hold us up though he just had a fat knee. We have a few ideas of what to do. He was ridden this morning.
“There is still chance he will run in the Champion Hurdle but I’d love to run him on the Flat in early February. If anyone wants to put on a Flat mile and a half maiden then please let us know.
“There are a couple of novice races he can go in but they are over 1m2f and for winners which might be tricky.”
Credit: SPORTSFILE Jonbon is primed next for the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 17 which means he’s staying over two miles, although Henderson is keen to up him in trip at some point.
The trainer said: “Jonbon goes for the Clarence House and will have entries in the Champion Chase and Ryanair at Cheltenham. We will just have to see where he goes but I’d love to see him back over two and a half miles. He’s won twice over that trip at Aintree.”
A decision is yet to be made whether Champion Hurdle hope Sir Gino is out again before Cheltenham. “It’s the big question,” Henderson said: “He could go for the Unibet Hurdle – it will be there if we go anywhere.”
Meanwhile crack novice and Arkle hope Lulamba is primed for a run in the Kingmaker at Warwick, King George fourth Jango Baie is being prepared for the Gold Cup and Henderson’s main earner this term, Long Walk victor Impose Toi, is bang on course for the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Henderson also had news on very useful novices Old Park Star and Act of Innocence, touched off by Minella Yoga at Newbury the other day.
“Everyone seemed to forget to mention that Act of Innocence was giving a stone and 6lb to Minella Yoga,” Henderson said.
“He’s a good horse and he wants to go up to 2m4f. Old Park Star is a two-miler and so the Supreme is the race for him.”
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