{"id":4013,"date":"2024-08-28T16:32:58","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T16:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=4013"},"modified":"2024-08-28T16:32:58","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T16:32:58","slug":"constitution-hill-horse-news-nicky-henderson-reports-stable-star-fresh-and-bright-ahead-of-new-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/constitution-hill-horse-news-nicky-henderson-reports-stable-star-fresh-and-bright-ahead-of-new-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Constitution Hill Horse News: Nicky Henderson Reports Stable Star ‘Fresh and Bright’ Ahead Of New Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having missed last season’s Champion Hurdle with injury, the Constitution Hill horse news coming out of the Nicky Henderson yard is that his stable star is fit and well ahead of the new 2024\/25 jumps season.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Constitution Hill ‘Fresh and Bright’<\/em> For The Season Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Jumps horse racing<\/a> fans were robbed of seeing the 2023 Champion Hurdler Constitution Hill<\/strong> defend his Cheltenham Festival crown after some unsatisfactory blood tests ruled him out of the meeting back in March.<\/p>\n

However, five months on and the reports coming out of Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows yard is that Constitution Hill is ‘Fresh and Bright’<\/em> after returning to the yard from his summer break.<\/p>\n

Henderson also said his stable star has been given the five-star treatment on his return.<\/p>\n

With his own grass-covered area and a window overlooking the gallops.<\/p>\n

The six-time champion trainer told the Racing Post.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

“Like a lot of horses, he likes being turned out,” said Henderson. \u201cAs we had some respiratory issues, we’re just trying to create an environment that could benefit him.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Essentially it gives him as much fresh air as possible. He seems really fresh and bright in himself, which is of course the main thing, and he\u2019s enjoying his new environment, and Michael [Buckley, owner] came down to see him on Monday.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Constitution Hill also strode out in the Tuesday morning workout at the yard. Leading the JP McManus-owned Jonbon on a sand gallop at Seven Barrows.<\/p>\n

Next stop, Henderson said, was to get a racecourse gallop into Constitution Hill, before returing to the track in what is expected to be a similar route to Cheltenham that he’s taken in the past (see below his next likely races).<\/p>\n

Constitution Hill Hasn’t Raced Since Boxing Day 2023<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The 7 year-old hurdling star was last seen in action on Boxing Day 2023 at Kempton when landing the Christmas Hurdle for a second time (watch below).<\/p>\n

He was expected to defend his Champion Hurdle title at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. However, time was against trainer Nicky Henderson with the horse ruled out with injury.<\/p>\n

With no Constitution Hill in the race, the Champion Hurdle in 2024 was won by the Willie Mullins-trained State Man.<\/p>\n

There was further talk of running in the Punchestown Festival in April 2024, but connections decided to give Constitution Hill more time to recover ahead of the new 2024\/25 campaign.<\/p>\n

Despite this setback in 2023, Constitution Hill still has plenty of time on his side, aged just 7, and remains unbeaten from his eight starts over hurdles.<\/p>\n