- Unbeaten Constitution Hill will head to the Festival on the back of single run
- He strolled to victory in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day
- Trials Day run dismissed after tests indicated the gelding has an infection
Superstar Champion Hurdler Constitution Hill will not run until he defends his crown at Cheltenham on March 12.
The option of running him in the Unibet International Hurdle at the track’s Trials Day a week on Saturday has been dismissed after tests indicated the gelding has an infection.
The decision means unbeaten Constitution Hill will head to the Festival on the back of single run, a stroll to victory in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Trainer Nicky Henderson said: ‘A routine scope last week wasn’t entirely satisfactory and a follow up this morning shows the issue hasn’t resolved and therefore there would not be time to get him ready for next week.
‘In the meantime he will continue with light exercise, be rescoped in a fortnight and then start his preparation for March.
Constitution Hill will not run until he defends his crown at Cheltenham on March 12
‘Both (owner) Michael Buckley and I and all the team had very much hoped for a better result this morning so that we could run on Saturday week but in the horse’s and indeed everyone’s interests, it would be foolish to do so.’
Henderson’s Jonbon and Willie Mullins-trained El Fabiolo — top two in the betting for the Queen Mother Champion Chase — have scared off the opposition in Saturday’s BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot.
Elixir De Nutz (33-1) and Unexpected Party (100-1) are the only other entries.
Cheltenham Gold Cup hope L’Homme Presse, trained by Venetia Williams, has been entered in Sunday’s Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield. He has not run since last season’s King George VI Chase.
