"There’ll be a rather fun day in Punchestown now" - Constitution Hill to make Irish debut next month
Following a shocking fall at the Cheltenham Festival, trainer Nicky Henderson announced that Constitution Hill is now set to compete in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle. Though Constitution Hill came away unscathed, Henderson emphasized the importance of sharpening his mental process. The fall led to Golden Ace's unexpected win, with top competitors looking to rematch at Punchestown. Meanwhile, Sir Gino, another of Henderson's horses, has returned from a serious infection, with hopes of racing again next season. Henderson remains optimistic about both horses' futures.
- Constitution Hill to compete in Punchestown after Cheltenham fall
- Trainer Nicky Henderson remains optimistic, planning a comeback
- Sir Gino recovering from a serious infection, aiming to return next season
Nicky Henderson has confirmed that Constitution Hill is being trained for the Punchestown Champion Hurdle, following his mishap at the Cheltenham Festival.
Everyone in racing was hoping for a ding-dong battle between Constitution Hill and Brighterdaysahead in the Champion Hurdle last week. Nicky Henderson's star was popular in the betting against his Irish rival, as State Man drifted out to 9/1 on the day of the race.
Nico De Boinville was happy to track the pace at King Of Kingsfield made the running for Brighterdaysahead. The Cheltenham faithful was then silenced as Constitution Hill, for the first time in his career, stepped into the middle of the fourth hurdle from home and came crashing to the ground.
With Brighterdaysahead seemingly beaten, State Man strode clear of the field. With a second Champion Hurdle win at his mercy, Willie Mullins' star took a crashing fall at the final flight, allowing Golden Ace to claim a shock victory.
The day after his star's untimely tumble, Nicky Henderson spoke to the press to give an update on Constitution Hill.
"He seems fine – he’s very bright and breezy,” Henderson said. "He hasn’t had a race, obviously, and we’ll just have to think of a plan."
"When you’re jumping as fast as they jump, you’ve got to get it deadly accurate. You’d like to see the replay of it, but it doesn’t really matter what he did. I can’t take it out of his vocabulary, they will do these silly things."
"Somebody said the hurdle swung back into him. He was having a lovely time and he’s run two miles even if he didn’t have Nico on his back and he’s come back in here very fresh."
"It’s tough, but we have to live with it. We know what we’re playing with and that’s the game – you have to take these things. It’s just typical it’s on a day like this."
"So, now what do we do? I know what we’ll do – surely there’ll be a rather fun day in Punchestown now?"
Owner, Michael Buckley also reiterated the plans to head to the Punchestown Festival, a trip that he's been reluctant to take in recent years.
“All being well, we’ll go to Punchestown and sharpen up his mental process, so that he gives himself a bit more air." Buckley said.
“He doesn’t leave much to chance when he jumps. He has got a bit sloppy, taking chances by standing off miles from the hurdles.”
Brighterdaysahead has been put away for the rest of the season, and will go novice chasing next term. Constitution Hill will square off against State Man again at Punchestown, and they'll be joined in the field by Jeremy Scott's Champion Hurdle winner, Golden Ace.
Henderson also provided an update on Sir Gino, who has recently returned to Seven Barrows. Sir Gino missed his intended outing in the Arkle Challenge Trophy - which was won in his absence by stablemate Jango Baie - after picking up a potentially deadly infection. Henderson was delighted to welcome his top chaser back home and was already looking forward to next season.
"He's been at Donnington since way before Cheltenham and it's been pretty nasty, but Henry O'Neill and his team have done amazingly." Henderson revealed. "They think they're on top of it, which is the main thing, but we have to stay on top of it."
"He came home this morning after five weeks away. He does seem well, but nobody would feel amazing if they'd been bed-ridden for five weeks."
"He's got a long recuperation and rehabilitation to come before we get an idea if he's going to be a racehorse again, but everyone is hopeful. He's got all of the summer to come, when he'll hopefully get out in the field, and everyone has done a brilliant job."
"It's a bit sad, though. The one thing he won't do is win an Arkle because he won't be a novice anymore, but all that matters is that he comes through it."
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