'Nothing can frighten him' - Constitution Hill primed for Champion Hurdle clash

Constitution Hill, jumping's newest superstar who threatens to illuminate the Cheltenham Festival next month, was again hailed on Monday morning by smitten trainer Nicky Henderson, who seemed to be warming to the mouthwatering prospect of the odds-on Unibet Champion Hurdle favourite running over fences in the future.

Owned by Henderson's longtime pal Michael Buckley, Constitution Hill is 4-11 with Betfair to provide the yard with a record-extending ninth Champion Hurdle triumph in four weeks' time.

Five flawless wins over hurdles have helped make the six-year-old that price and he could be set for a period of domination in the division, but Buckley, in an interview with the Racing Post, last week floated the idea of seeing him go chasing and perhaps possibly trying to emulate Dawn Run, the only horse to win a Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Henderson, entertaining the media at his historic Seven Barrows base for a Cheltenham preview event, was asked if he could see the sport's most exciting horse switching codes and said: "I could yeah, without a doubt. That will be a decision for the summer and I remember it was similar with Altior and I said to the Pughs they could win a Champion Hurdle but then it would be too late to go chasing.

"You could go chasing, you could go two and half miles and why wouldn't he go three? I think he'd go as far as you'd like. We'll see."

Before then, Henderson will plot a path to the Champion Hurdle with the son of Blue Bresil, who has not raced since bolting up in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on December 26.

Nicky Henderson was in good form at Monday's media day at Seven BarrowsCredit: Richard Heathcote (Getty Images)

"He's doing freakish things, but he's only had five runs in his life," the trainer added. "Normally when you come into a Champion Hurdle you've had ten or 12 races, so it's hard to gauge him except from the fact he's done nothing wrong.

"He's fine and everything has gone great. He worked on Saturday and he's got a few more bits to do. We usually go to Kempton for an awayday on the all-weather and I would like him to have a racecourse gallop somewhere.

"He hasn't done anything wrong, but plenty can go wrong."

Sandown's now-defunct Contenders Hurdle is a race Britain's most successful operator at the festival liked to use as a stepping stone and he said: "The Contenders Hurdle was lovely and I'd have liked to have run him. I thought about having an open day and letting people come and see him gallop, but we'd get thousands of people here and where would we put them all.

"We're going to have to be careful though because our ground is drying up. We worked on the grass on Saturday. I won't go up there tomorrow, but I need it next weekend and there's no rain in the forecast at all."

In second-favourite State Man, Constitution Hill has a "proper challenger" according to Henderson, thrilled to be sharing such a special journey with Buckley.

"Michael has been with me a long time and we've had some wonderful days together and a lot of good horses, but he's had some rotten luck along the way with what were going to be good horses, who didn't make it," he said. "I thought Spirit Son was going to be a world-beater, but he died. With Finian's Rainbow and Brain Power we had some good days but this is an extraordinary animal and his greatest asset is his head.

"His whole mind game is absolutely brilliant. Nothing — not even the press — can frighten him! His racing brain is brilliant and you could go three miles with him because you just switch him off and he goes to sleep. You then wait until you get to the right moment and Nico [de Boinville] presses the button and it works.

"It's as simple as that. The good thing is his temperament, I can't stress that enough. You go into that cauldron of Cheltenham and it does affect horses. With Sprinter Sacre and Altior we'd have hoods, ear plugs and all sorts, but you won't need them with him."

Read these next: 

'He's off the critical list but misses Cheltenham' - awesome Allaho out of Ryanair Chase 

What's on this week: D-day for Shishkin as connections eye step up in trip 

Tom Segal had a 16-1 winner on Saturday - get 50% off for three months 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.