19 September 2023 , 10:17
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Nicky Henderson said there is 'nothing to be gained' by running Constitution Hill in chases that aren't the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
The trainer announced today that his superstar, unbeaten in seven races, will be staying over hurdles for the jumps season. Lambourn-based Henderson said it was a "unanimous decision" between himself, owner Michael Buckley and jockey Nico de Boinville.
It comes after the trio felt there would be stamina doubts for Constitution Hill at the Cheltenham Gold Cup distance of 3m2½f.
He said: "He would jump fences with his eyes shut, if we wanted him to, but the basis of the decision was we had to be 100 per cent sure that he would stay three and a quarter miles (in the Gold Cup).
"There was nothing to be gained by switching to fences by running in an Arkle, Champion Chase and possibly a Ryanair, great races though they are, but the Champion Hurdle is the Champion Hurdle, so if you are going to run in anything you might as well stick to what you know."
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Constitution Hill was hailed as one of the all-time greats after he beat his field in the first championship race of the 2023 Festival by an easy nine lengths.
William Hill go 4-9 that he can notch a double, during his short career which only began in December 2021 with Henderson.
Nico de Boinville (right) and trainer Nicky Henderson celebrate winning The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on Constitution Hill (David Davies/PA Wire for the Jockey Club)The Seven Barrows trainer confirmed Constitution Hill will follow a similar route to Cheltenham, but his campaign might feature an outing at the track in the build-up.
"We’ll start off in the Fighting Fifth, then there’s only 20-odd days until the Christmas Hurdle," Henderson added.
"This year what is different is they have moved the Unibet International to Trials Day at Cheltenham (January 27) when it used to be in December. That gives us another race potentially, before Cheltenham in March.
"We want to run him as much as everybody hopefully wants to see him."