Nicky Henderson: “Constitution Hill is electric, nothing can go with him”

I WAS delighted with Jonbon at Warwick on Wednesday and that will have put him spot on for the Henry VIII at Sandown on Tingle Creek day (3rd December). It might have been just three runners but the other two are no slouches and it was a proper race so I was very pleased with how Jonbon went about his business and Aidan made it a good test which is what you like to see. You could go two and a half with him but what’s the point? He isn’t short of pace and if it ‘ain’t broke’ as they say, then why fix it? He was very professional in his jumping and was very clever at a couple down the back straight so I couldn’t be happier. He’s come out of it in great form and trotted up fine this morning.

We took a few horses to Newbury on Tuesday for their annual gallops morning ahead of the Coral Gold Cup and they all went well.

Epatante did a nice piece with First Street and Marie’s Rock and while it was nothing taxing it did them all good to have an away day and it would have sharpened them up mentally and physically.

I was particularly pleased with First Street who went very nicely upsides Epatante and I think there will be a big day in him this season. He’ll start off back at Newbury in the Gerry Fielden, which has been the plan from a long way out, on the same day that Epatante heads up to Newcastle to try and win the Fighting Fifth again.

Shishkin did everything we wanted and worked beautifully with Champ and Chantry House. Nico was very happy, but I don’t want to say he will definitely run in the Tingle Creek, because if I do and he doesn’t make it, you can imagine all the abuse I’ll get from the media, so it’s best to say that at this stage things are going very well and we are still targeting Sandown.

Champ galloped in cheek pieces under AP and I was pleased with him. It just gave him something else to think about and I’m in a bit of a dilemma as to where to start him off. He could run in the Long Distance Hurdle which would put him right for another crack at the Long Walk at Ascot but he might be the sort of horse to run better when fresh, although on the other hand, Newbury is very suitable and he’s fit and ready to go so we have a bit of decision making to do over the next week.

Chantry had a good blow afterwards so that will have brought him on a lot and the plan remains for him to run in the Coral Gold Cup where I think he could be quite interesting in a race we have a decent record in.

Mister Coffey was forced to miss Cheltenham last week owing to the ground but he, too, will likely turn up at Newbury in the Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Chase which is a race I’d rather like to win – in fact, I shall be wearing some new head gear myself that day, so keep an eye out for me on the course!

Marie’s Rock is entered in the Mares’ Listed race at Kempton on Monday but I don’t want mess around playing with running her over three miles first time out so she might have to wait for the Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day.

Balco Coastal is all ready to make his Chase debut and is entered at Kempton on Monday but there are four entries rated higher than him which would mean he wouldn’t be well treated at the weights but Thunder Rock and Goshen are at Ascot this weekend so we’ll see how the race cuts up, if he doesn’t go to Kempton, he’ll head to Newbury instead.

ASCOT

2:40 G2 Hurdle

Constitution Hill (Nico De Boinville)

Everything has gone very well in the lead up and I’m pleased that the rain has finally arrived because I must admit I was starting to worry slightly because they were saying the ground was Good to Firm, in which case he wouldn’t have run, but we needn’t have worried and I’m very happy coming into this. He’s going up in trip which I can’t see being a problem at all and it’s great to get him started for the season. As usual he is very relaxed in everything he does until you press that button, and when you do, he is electric and nothing can go with him which is great for him but not the ones he working with! It’s not going to be a ‘gimme’ but we have to start somewhere and this looks an ideal point to kick off.

3:50 Bumper

Immortal (Nico De Boinville)

He is a gorgeous, big strong gelding who joined us last spring and did some very nice work but the ground had already started to dry up and because he’s such a big person, I had no intention of running him just for the sake of it so we put him away and brought him back in quite early in the autumn and he’s filled out considerably. He is a fine individual with lots of ability who shows plenty in his work. He’ll make a spectacular chaser one day.