- Constitution Hill out of Festival
- Blood tests hinder preparation
- State Man becomes favorite
On the first day of the Cheltenham Festival the following week, Constitution Hill, the outstanding and unbeaten victor of the Champion Hurdle in the previous year, will not be able to defend his title. His trainer, Nicky Henderson, was compelled to concede defeat on Monday while attempting to prepare the seven-year-old for the event.
Monday afternoon, Henderson issued a statement on his X (Twitter) account stating that while Constitution Hill had “undoubtedly improved over the weekend,” an “all-important blood test reveals that while the figures have improved, they are still far from being satisfactory for a horse to begin serious training and compete in a week.”
The statement further stated: “The blood test revealed three noteworthy markers, all of which have decreased since the sample was collected last Thursday. However, they remain elevated to suggest that he has not entirely recovered from the ailment that was afflicting him. “Stressing him out is the only way to prevent further development, and he cannot run in these Olympic Games without adequate preparation.”
Constitution Hill’s participation in next week’s Cheltenham Festival has been in doubt ever since he completed a workout at Kempton Park six days ago, many lengths behind his galloping companions.
Henderson stated, “This is extremely unfortunate for all of us, but especially for Michael [Buckley, the gelding’s owner]. It is in the best interests of all parties involved that we ensure Constitution Hill is fit and healthy to reclaim his crown next year.”
Already regarded as one of the sport’s finest hurdlers, Constitution Hill has won eight consecutive races, including the last two Cheltenham Festivals by wide margins, without ever having to emerge from second gear. However, circumstances have worked against him in the current campaign. Henderson was forced to withdraw from Constitution Hill at Ascot in November due to the fast ground, one week before a futile journey north for the Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle that was abandoned because of frost.
A defective scope also disqualified Henderson’s gelding from competing in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in January; therefore, Constitution Hill’s only entry in the form book this season was an easy victory in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
During his absence, Willie Mullins’s State Man, which won the Irish Champion Hurllie at Leopardstown with ease in early February, will almost certainly begin the Champion Hurlline as the odds-on favorite.
Since joining Mullins’s stable in the summer of 2020, the seven-year-old has only suffered one loss in eleven completed starts: a nine-length setback to Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle last year.
In the ante-post market, State Man is the favorite at odds of 2-5. His stable companion Lossiemouth, who is also favored for the Mares’ Hurdle later that day, is positioned at 4-1. Gordon Elliott’s Irish Point, which was previously considered a leading contender for the Stayers’ Hurdle on March 14th, is one point further behind at 5-1.
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Mullins has appeared adamant in recent days that last year’s Triumph Hurdle champion Lossiemouth would not be rerouted to the Champion. However, the absence of Constitution Hill from next week’s field can only add to the rumor that both Irish Point and Lossiemouth will be aimed at the Festival’s opening-day main event.
The elimination of Constitution Hill also reduces the number of unchallenged ante-post favorites from British stables to two in advance of the 28-race National Hunt season showcase event next week. On March 14, Jonjo O’Neill’s Crebilly is a 4-1 favorite for the Plate Handicap Chase, whereas Sir Gino, owned by Henderson, is a 4-6 favorite for the Triumph Hurdle that same afternoon.
