21 March 2023 , 17:35
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Racing's superstar Constitution Hill is to try fences in 'secret' as connections dream of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Owner Michael Buckley hopes his easy Champion Hurdle winner will one day contest the Festival's feature race.
Bookmakers William Hill go just 4-7 that he will follow up in the day one highlight, over the smaller obstacles, next season. However jockey Nico de Boinville has suggested trials at home, behind closed doors, will dictate plans.
"I can guarantee we will be schooling him over fences when no-one else can see and from there we will make our decision," he said.
De Boinville, on board for Constitution Hill's six-race unbeaten sequence for trainer Nicky Henderson, reports the six-year-old to be in "great form" after Cheltenham.
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He eased nine lengths clear of proven Grade 1 performer State Man – and heads to Aintree next month to try and make it lucky number seven.
Ahead of the step up to two-and-a-half miles, the jockey felt relieved that the Champion Hurdle did end so well. Constitution Hill took off early at the final hurdle, but produced a massive jump to get from one side to the other.
De Boinville added in the interview with At The Races that he felt there was a reason for his mount's decision.
"There was a hair's breadth between success and failure," he said.
"One, he knew that he could do it (the jump). Two, the shadow was there – he did come up at that."
Annie Power's fall, attributed to the same factor, prevented a payout in the region of £40 million at the meeting eight years ago.
Punters despaired when the mare came down at the final hurdle after she appeared to jump the shadow in front of the obstacle as well.
Former Grade 1-winning rider Lizzie Kelly tweeted: "We were very lucky that Constitution Hill got away with it - not sure what can be done to remedy this issue."
Nico de Boinville with the Unibet Champion Hurdle trophy (David Davies/PA Wire for the Jockey Club)While Ruby Walsh said horse and jockey were 'whiskers from disaster.'
Back at Seven Barrows in Lambourn, Constitution Hill's team are looking to the future after avoiding late drama in the Unibet-backed contest.
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Buckley, 77, hopes his thoroughbred can follow Dawn Run's achievement from nearly four decades ago – and complete the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup double.
"There’s a hell of a lot of water to cover from here to doing that, but that would be the ambition," he said.