Nicky Henderson: “We intend to run Constitution Hill in the G2 Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham’s Trials Day”

WE have all been very happy with Constitution Hill since the G1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day and he has taken the race particularly well. Consequently, with that in mind, it is our intention to run him again in the G2 Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham on 25th January en route to, hopefully, regaining his Unibet Champion Hurdle crown in March.

It is a race we unfortunately had to miss last year but everything has gone very well since Christmas and he will have a gallop tomorrow which will put him spot on for a week’s time.

The decision was quite easy because he has just been very well in himself, he looks great, and I really am delighted with how he has come through Kempton, so that is our plan.

He doesn’t need to, but he will jump five hurdles between now and then, more so to amuse himself and Nico, because it’s certainly not amusing for me, it’s frightening watching him! Matty Gill, who rides him every day, says he feels great and from what I can see as well, I think this is the right decision.

He had a spin up the grass on his own earlier in the week and looked in very good order so Prestbury Park here we come!

I’m also pleased to report that everything is going nicely with Palladium who schooled very, very well this morning and we are going to be launching him soon. The plan is to appear over hurdles in the very near future.

 

WINDSOR – FRIDAY

12:40

Excello (Nico De Boinville)

He’s posted two very solid efforts this season, both over two and a half, and I think now is the time to step him up (in trip). The ground will be in his favor, but it’s quite a competitive race and he will need to be at his best to win.

 

1:15

Bhaloo (Nico De Boinville)

He was due to run at Kempton on Saturday, but that was called off, so he comes here instead, and similar comments very much apply to last week’s blog. The switch back to fences should suit and while he was disappointing at Cheltenham last time, I don’t think it was the trip that caught him out; it was the fact he was never able to get into a nice rhythm so Nico will hopefully get him out there in front and enjoying himself. He’s a very likeable person, and I expect him to go well.

 

3:00

Iberico Lord (Nico De Boinville)

Unfortunately things didn’t go exactly as planned over fences, so we find ourselves going back over hurdles and up in trip. He holds an entry in the Newbury Hurdle, which he won last year, and this race fits in very nicely on the way back to it. It’s a tight little race, but he should be there or thereabouts.

 

SOUTHWELL

5:00

King Ottokar (Benoit De La Sayette)

I think the Hurdles have rather been getting in the way, so he’s switching back to the flat and we have enjoyed quite a lot of success in these colours on the level for Paul & Susan Roy. I must admit, there is absolutely no future plan, we have no targets, he’s simply running here because the trip will suit and it looks a reasonable opportunity to get his head back in front.

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