Nicky Henderson, the esteemed trainer of the former Champion Hurdler Constitution Hill, has revealed that the immediate focus is squarely on the horse's upcoming Flat racing debut at Southwell on 20 February. This comes despite the recent enlistment of legendary jumping guru Yogi Breisner to assist the nine-year-old, who has faced significant confidence issues following a series of falls.
Constitution Hill's Turbulent Journey
Constitution Hill had already cemented his status among hurdling greats when he entered last year's Champion Hurdle as the overwhelming 1-2 favourite. However, a dramatic fall four flights from home appeared to shatter his self-assurance, leading to two more falls in his subsequent three starts. His most recent mishap occurred at the second flight in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, prompting Henderson to temporarily halt his hurdling career and schedule a Flat race at Southwell's evening meeting later this month.
Training Focus and Expert Intervention
Henderson described Constitution Hill's week as "confusing," with a mix of jumping sessions under Breisner's guidance and Flat training, including starting stalls practice and a gallop with jockey Oisin Murphy, who is booked for the Southwell ride. "He had schooling with Yogi on Monday, starting stalls and a gallop with Oisin on Wednesday, and Yogi is back again before the end of the week," Henderson explained. "So it's jump, Flat, jump for him this week. The jumping is going great, and we're doing a lot of jump, jump, jump. Yogi is there as he is the well-known guru who can do these things, so we're playing with him, but we're also concentrating on Southwell at the moment and only on Southwell."
Champion Hurdle Market in Flux
With Henderson's six-year-old Sir Gino, the Christmas Hurdle winner, sidelined for the season due to a pelvic injury, the ante-post market for the Champion Hurdle has become exceptionally open. Five horses, including Constitution Hill, are currently offered at single-figure odds. "The Champion Hurdle is so wide open, it's crazy," Henderson remarked. "You are sitting on two horses like Constitution Hill and Sir Gino and technically, at the moment, not running either of them. The difficulty of it all is if he gets round [at Cheltenham] then he'd probably be the one they have to beat. We're just working away and let's see how the Flat race goes first."
Newbury's Heavy Going and Handicap Hurdle Prospects
Turning to other racing news, heavy going is anticipated at Newbury this Saturday, Britain's last major weekend of trials ahead of the Cheltenham Festival. This conditions pose a challenge for Let It Rain, the warm favourite in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle, trained by Dan Skelton. Despite Skelton's impressive record in similar events, including four wins in the County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham over the past nine seasons, he has yet to secure a victory in Saturday's feature. Let It Rain, with only three hurdle runs to her name, shows promise but faces a tough test on near-bottomless ground.
In contrast, Ben Pauling's Lanesborough, priced around 8-1, presents a compelling each-way opportunity. Proven on heavy ground and likely to benefit from a return to two miles, Lanesborough previously defeated Williethebuilder, a subsequent dual winner, in December. With just 6lb separating the entire field on Timeform's ratings, this race promises fierce competition.
Saturday's Racing Tips and Highlights
Key selections for Saturday include Sober Glory at Newbury (1.00), who made a strong comeback last time, and Jubilee Alpha at Warwick (1.15), favoured by race conditions. At Newbury, Below The Radar (1.35) is unexposed at three miles, while Mambonumberfive (Warwick 1.50) aims to extend his unbeaten record over fences. Haiti Couleurs (Newbury 2.10), the Welsh Grand National winner, is a strong contender for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Lulamba (Newbury 2.45) faces his toughest test yet but has Grade One-winning form from Sandown in December.
Greg Wood's tips for the day feature Al Najashi at Lingfield (12.35) and Lanesborough as the nap at Newbury (3.20), with Below The Radar noted as the next best. Other notable picks include Knappers Hill at Warwick (2.25) in veteran company and various entries at Southwell's evening meeting, such as Yurinov (5.30) and He Bangs The Drums (8.00).
