'This is probably not what we were hoping for' - Constitution Hill's Champion Hurdle bid in more doubt after blood test blow

The prospects of Constitution Hill participating in next month’s Unibet Champion Hurdle hinge on the results of a scope and blood tests in the coming days, with Nicky Henderson's superstar hurdler showing a "significant degree of inflammation" on Thursday.

Evidence of mucus was found in Constitution Hill’s scope following a disappointing piece of work at Kempton on Tuesday, leading to last year’s Champion Hurdle winner being usurped in the ante-post betting by State Man with several firms.

Following the latest update on the wellbeing of British jump racing's star, who will be scoped on Friday and have another blood test on Monday, Coral shortened State Man to 4-9 favourite (from 4-7) in their non-runner money-back market, with Constitution Hill out to 4-5 (from 4-6).

In a statement on X, Henderson posted: "The result of the blood test taken this morning goes quite a long way to explaining his disappointing performance at Kempton on Tuesday and confirms he has a significant degree of inflammation.

"The figures themselves suggest he is definitely under the weather and we will need to repeat the test on Monday in the hope that the situation improves.

"We intend to scope him again tomorrow morning but it appears the blood test is a more conclusive barometer and the one we need to concentrate on. This is probably not what we were hoping for but at least it tells us exactly where we are."

Nicky Henderson: "If it was any normal horse you wouldn’t be running"Credit: Edward Whitaker

Henderson is hoping to see some improvement in the blood test results to enable him to work his seven-time Grade 1 winner next week in readiness for the Grade 1 event on Tuesday week.

Speaking to Sky Sports Racing earlier on Thursday, Henderson said: “It will be very interesting to see the mucus and neutrophil levels when he is scoped again tomorrow as that will tell us whether this is on the up or down. Horses get these problems, like kids in schools getting colds as there are always bugs around, but he hasn’t coughed at all.

“You can’t get 100 per cent of your team feeling 100 per cent all the time, but it is the timing that is wrong. If it was any normal horse you wouldn’t be running on Tuesday week, you would leave him alone for a week or ten days and aim at something else. There is something else to aim at for him but there’s only one Champion Hurdle.

“You have to be 100 per cent for a race like that though. We all know it’s going to be a tough race and a horse has to put an enormous amount in. He can put 110 per cent in, unlike most horses, which is the reason he’s as good as he is.

"He’s done all his galloping but will need to do another piece of work in the middle of next week to see where he is – if everything is testing well. He’ll have to do a piece of work and he’d have to be at his best.

Nico de Boinville debriefs Nicky Henderson after Constitution Hill's disappointing racecourse gallopCredit: Edward Whitaker

“He’s the most relaxed horse you’ll ever see and he looks quite bright and alert this morning. He obviously wasn’t feeling well at Kempton as his work was so sub-par.”

Billy Aprahamian spent three “invaluable” years as assistant trainer to Henderson before taking out his own licence in 2022 and says the six-time champion jumps trainer will do what is right by Constitution Hill.

Aprahamian said: “When I was there we took every single step we could – we wouldn’t sleep until the right things were done for each and every horse – and I’m sure Mr Henderson, George Daly [assistant trainer] and Charlie Morlock [second-in-command] are probably not getting a lot of sleep at the moment.

“Nicky quite rightly will only do what is right by Constitution Hill. He won’t be pressured into anything and does exactly what is right for the horse. He runs them when they're right and he's the master at it.

“You pick up and learn an awful lot by working closely with him, or even just spending a morning on the gallops. The time I spent with him was invaluable.”

Unibet Champion Hurdle, 3.30 Cheltenham, March 12
Coral (non-runner money-back): 4-9 State Man, 4-5 Constitution Hill, 3 Lossiemouth, 6 Irish Point, 12 Not So Sleepy, Zarak The Brave, 16 Luccia, Pied Piper, 20 bar

Read more . . .

Cheltenham rivals sympathise with Nicky Henderson but are eyeing Champion Hurdle with or without Constitution Hill  

Nicky Henderson positive about Constitution Hill as Gordon Elliott keeps Champion Hurdle option open for Irish Point 

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