'I'd miss out on all the fun' - Michael Buckley resisting big offers for Constitution Hill

Constitution Hill's owner Michael Buckley has said he has received offers for Constitution Hill that economically he ought to have accepted – but feels it would be pointless selling him at any price because he could never replace the Champion Hurdle favourite.

Buckley was talking to the Racing Post for a major interview in Sunday's newspaper in which he reveals his remarkable upbringing, recalls the obstinance that saw him insist on buying Constitution Hill despite opposition from Nicky Henderson and excitedly ponders the possibility of his unbeaten star one day emulating the great Dawn Run as a Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup winner.

Constitution Hill has won a little over £264,000 by winning five from five under rules, but his perceived value has come to colossally exceed his earning power.

However, Buckley's business instincts in this case have been comprehensively outweighed in this matter by every other fibre of his being.

"They say there's a price for everything," he said, "but funnily enough with him there isn't, and I can say that with some certainty. There have been one or two bids that were big enough that economically I should have accepted , but I'm lucky I've got a nice business, so I won't starve, and emotionally I'm not interested.

"I've thought about it a lot: if I sold this horse, I'd have to change my life quite considerably because there would be no point ever buying another horse. I'm never going to find another horse like this.

"Other horses will come along, of course, but they won't come along for me, so there would be no point even looking. It would be pointless to sell him and try to replace him – every time he ran it would irritate me, and I'd miss out on all that fun."

That fun will next come at Cheltenham, with Constitution Hill inked in for a hugely anticipated clash with State Man in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

"I'll be scared of everything as we get nearer the day, of course," Buckley added, "but if we have the luck to get there safely, and then we have a bit of luck in the race, he'll be a tough nut to crack."

Read more from Michael Buckley in The Big Read, available in Sunday's newspaper or online for Members' Club Ultimate subscribers from 6pm on Saturday. Click here to sign up.

Read this next:

Willie Mullins: 'We might bump into a freak but we're living the dream with State Man' 

Can State Man beat Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle? 

Festival subscription offer | 50% off three months 

It's festival time – get 50% off for three months! Now is the perfect time to subscribe and lock in 50% off your first three months, so you can take advantage of all the great content we've got coming up. To redeem this offer, head to the checkout and enter the code FESTIVAL23 at the payment screen to unlock your discount*. Subscribe now. Available to new subscribers purchasing Members' Club Ultimate Monthly using code FESTIVAL23. First three payments will be charged at £19.98, subscription renews at full monthly price thereafter. Customers wishing to cancel will need to contact us at least seven days before their subscription is due to renew.