- Due to fitness issues, Constitution Hill’s last race was last Boxing Day
- Nicky Henderson had said he couldn’t not wait to unleash unbeaten hurdler
Nicky Henderson’s plans to launch Constitution Hill’s season are in disarray after the 2023 Champion Hurdler became lame following a high-profile public gallop.
Constitution Hill went to Newbury on Tuesday and worked with stablemate Sir Gino as Henderson looked to ramp up his star horse’s fitness ahead of a planned comeback in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle a week on Saturday.
The nature of his display, though, led to questions about his well-being.
Henderson was adamant at the time that everything had gone to plan and was incredulous when informed that stories on social media suggested Constitution Hill would be retired.
The trainer then doubled down on his stance that he could not wait to unleash the unbeaten hurdler.
But on Friday Henderson issued a gloomy update about the seven-year-old, who has been ruled out of his trip to Newcastle. His last race was last Boxing Day at Kempton Park, when he took the Christmas Hurdle at a canter.
‘It’s horrible, but there we go,’ said Henderson. ‘He was perfectly fine the morning after his Newbury gallop but then he was lame. We’ve gone into an investigation because there’s no obvious reason. He had to be moving forward to get him to Newcastle.
‘I really needed to do another bit of work with him over the weekend. If the race was a week later, it wouldn’t be an issue. Too many people are trying to write him off. ‘Watching all the coverage on the TV, it looked like it was his obituary. He’ll be back.
‘I appreciate people love him and want to see him — but so do we.’
There is a ready-made replacement for Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth in
Sir Gino, who had been lined up by Henderson to go novice chasing with a debut at Kempton on Monday.
That plan is now on hold and the four-year-old could stay over hurdles while his illustrious stablemate recovers.
