- Constitution Hill was found to have lameness in his leg after Newbury
- Nicky Henderson believes his superstar horse can race the Christmas Hurdle
Nick Henderson is optimistic Constitution Hill will be able to launch his season in the Christmas Hurdle after making steady progress from his bout of lameness.
The 2023 Champion Hurdler has been the focus of constant debate for the past week since he galloped at Newbury and was subsequently found to have an issue in a leg. There is a huge eagerness to see Henderson’s superstar back on track after racing only once last winter and the trainer is confident that he will be primed to run at Kempton on Boxing Day.
‘He’s not 100 per cent but he’s doing a lot better,’ he said. ‘The idea is to run in the Christmas Hurdle. We have time.’
Henderson, who watched novice chaser Iberico Lord win at Kempton on Monday, was forced to shelve plans to run Constitution Hill in this weekend’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle and Sir Gino will now take his stablemate’s place at Newcastle.
‘Sir Gino is in very good form,’ said Henderson. ‘He’s already been out for his racecourse gallop, so he doesn’t need a mad workout ahead of the race. We’re all very happy and it’s the way we’re going to go with him.’
Nicky Henderson is optimistic that Constitution Hill will make the Christmas Hurdle
His horse has been suffering from a bout of lameness and has had to be replaced elsewhere
