‘He’s back’ declares Nicky Henderson as Constitution Hill dazzles in work following life-threatening illness
ARE you rushing to take the 5-2 about Constitution Hill for the Champion Hurdle?
Maybe you should be after a ‘buzzing’ Nicky Henderson declared the monstrous former king is ‘back’.
Arguably the best horse in training was forced to miss the defence of his crown in March after that infamous Kempton workout.
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A respiratory infection led to a spell in hospital with suspected colic and doubts over whether he would survive, let alone race again.
But Henderson is confident the unbeaten superstar is back to his best.
Such comments inevitably lead to a check of the ante-post markets for next year’s Festival.
And the 5-2 available now for Constitution Hill to win a second Champion Hurdle in three years could be a gift on the day.
Henderson has confirmed already Constitution Hill is set to follow his tried and tested path to success.
That means a reappearance in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle on November 30 followed by the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Then it will hopefully be onto Cheltenham where he could lock horns with the likes of Willie Mullins’ State Man and, possibly, Lossiemouth.
If Constitution Hill is anything like his former self and wins those two warm-ups at a canter then he’ll be odds-on at the Festival.
Henderson told the Racing Post: “He came home on Monday morning and was back in training on Tuesday.
“He looks absolutely fantastic and I think he’s got everything back – I’ve never seen him look so well.
“He’s had a great summer, everything has gone well and all things being equal he’ll be back at Newcastle.
“Hopefully it’ll be the same programme with him.”
Which all leads back to the question of whether or not to take those odds now…
Henderson has previous in bringing horses back from the brink.
Rememeber the grown men crying when ‘hospital case’ Sprinter Sacre regained his Champion Chase crown in 2016?
Commentator Mark Johnston roared ‘they say they never come back!’ as he crossed three-and-a-half lenghts in front of Un De Sceaux.
Some do. Some don’t. But is it a risk you’re willing to take?
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