Nicky Henderson has 'every intention' of aiming Constitution Hill at Aintree and Punchestown after revealing surprise spring plan

Nicky Henderson has opened the door to the tantalising prospect of Constitution Hill running in the Aintree Hurdle before potentially competing at Punchestown.

The eight-year-old, who will have a key workout next week before a final decision is made, lost his unbeaten record when crashing out in the Champion Hurdle 

"I spoke to [owner] Michael Buckley this morning and Constitution Hill is ridiculously well in himself," said Henderson. "We're having another look at the Aintree Hurdle. He didn't have a hard race at Cheltenham. He was tanking away before he fell and then he cantered home on his own. 

"I don't think we could let a race like this slide away. We know what the gap is between Aintree and Punchestown but at the moment we'd have every intention of running there too. It's a plan, so it's not cast in stone, but at the moment we would be very optimistic in saying we might look at both."

Constitution Hill had his first start in 12 months when winning the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton from Lossiemouth before landing Cheltenham's Unibet Hurdle the following month from Brentford Hope, despite making a mistake at the final hurdle.

Team Constitution Hill could be in for a busy AprilCredit: Edward Whitaker

"After the Christmas Hurdle we were probably going to go straight to Cheltenham but surprised everybody by going for the Unibet Hurdle on the way, which was grand," said Henderson. "He didn't have a hard race last time for obvious reasons and there's no reason why he shouldn't come again.

"He's taking everything so much better these days than he used to. He's older but is not getting any wiser as he's slipped in these errors. I hope people don't start to brand him as a bad jumper as he made one mistake and had a fall. We've got some schooling to do in the meantime and that's all going to count. 

"He'll have one good gallop towards the end of next week, which will tell us what to do. Nico [de Boinville] will ride him and knows him so well. If he's happy then there's every chance he could go to Aintree next month."

Constitution Hill: won the Aintree Hurdle in 2023Credit: Edward Whitaker

After winning the 2023 Champion Hurdle, Constitution Hill stepped up to two and a half miles for the Aintree Hurdle the following month, justifying odds-on favouritism when beating Sharjah by three lengths. 

"I wouldn't say it's his best trip," said Henderson. "We're asking him to do it again at an easier track. It wasn't his most impressive day at Aintree. He was always tanking a bit and I think Nico would have liked to have quietened things down, which is easier said than done.

"He didn't ride him like a non-stayer because you have to be positive. He took it up a long way from home and probably ended up doing a little bit too much. We would try to conserve a bit more energy this time."

Henderson also issued updates on some of his other stable stars including Jonbon, who has come out of his defeat in the Champion Chase well and is set to follow the same route as last season by lining up in the Melling Chase before heading to Sandown for the Celebration Chase.

"The horse who came out best of all those who ran at Cheltenham is Lulamba, so we might have to consider him for something having thought he'd probably be doing nothing," added the trainer. "He's a big four-year-old and you'd love to give him the time, but he'll nearly have to have a bit of work to keep him quiet."

Read more:

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Punter turns £20 into almost £100,000 with audacious Friday night multiple 

'Pure ecstasy' - Welsh jockey makes Group 1 breakthrough ten years after quitting to take up office job 

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