'It's a nightmare' - ground concerns rule out Constitution Hill

Nicky Henderson on Saturday apologised for withdrawing jump racing's most exciting talent from his engagement at Ascot, but insisted he had to do what he felt was best by Constitution Hill.

Owned by Henderson's great pal Michael Buckley, Constitution Hill was an exceptional winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last season and is favourite for the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

He had been due to run in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday afternoon, but Henderson inspected conditions and deemed them too quick for the five-year-old.

The Lambourn trainer had a winner at the track on Friday when conditions were good to soft, good in places, but it had dried to good, good to soft in places when he made the call after stretching his legs on the Berkshire turf with stable jockey Nico de Boinville.

"I'm sorry to say we can't," Henderson said. "It's disappointing for everyone, but I promise you it's disappointing for us, Michael, Nico and the whole team. It didn't take long to make up our minds.

"All the horses we ran here yesterday were all right this morning, but we've been chatting all morning and a certain amount of damage was done yesterday – and the ground today will only dry out in the next two hours.

"What they call it and what I'm prepared to run my horses on are two different things.

"It's quick. It's really sad and we wanted to run. This throws out the whole programme. It's a nightmare. We tried to warn people last night this was on the cards – I wouldn't run much on it."

Constitution Hill: Fighting Fifth Hurdle or International Hurdle are options for the Supreme scorerCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Constitution Hill is entered in next Saturday's Betfair Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, but that is the main objective for stablemate Epatante.

The Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham on December 10 is another option.

"I need to talk to Michael about what happens next, but this throws the whole plan out of sync," added Henderson, whose close friend Alan King withdrew Arkle winner Edwardstone from Ascot's card.

"I spoke to Kingy this morning and Kingy and I spoke to [clerk of the course] Chris Stickels last night. It's quite extraordinary but there was firm in the description on Monday and Tuesday morning and then we got the rain to get some soft places, but it has dried.

"It's difficult for tracks and Newbury had a heap of rain in the week and [clerk] Keith Ottesen said he couldn't believe where it had gone – it had just vanished. The rain is just running through these courses at the moment and I suppose it's because the water table is so low."

Constitution Hill is the 5-4 favourite for the Champion Hurdle and many see him as the sport's next big thing.

"He could be anything," Henderson said. "But you don't take a risk with any horse. We're as responsible for a 100-rated horse as we are this fella. He has his life in front of him and he's a big horse, twice the size he was last year. We know he goes on heavy ground – he loves it – so it's unlikely he'd really want to go on it this quick, and he does hit it hard too.

"He's done everything right and he's here – he'll be asleep if I know him. He's going to miss his day out, which is sad and I'm sorry for everyone and apologise, but one thing comes first and that's him.

"There are only two options, Newcastle or wait for the International. Epatante will go for the Fighting Fifth, but that doesn't mean he can't. I quite like the idea of the International, but the timing doesn't get you anywhere [as it is close to the Christmas Hurdle], so you'd go to Haydock for the Champion Hurdle Trial after it."

De Boinville said after walking the course: "However much rain they've had, it's just gone in and evaporated. It's gone. The trouble with this time of year and the changing climate is that good ground in autumn is very different to good ground in spring.

"We're coming off the back of one of the biggest droughts in our history and, whatever's happening on top, underneath it's still rock solid."

He added on Sky Sports Racing: "Horses like Constitution Hill don't come around very often, they're horses of a lifetime, and you have to be mindful of that. He won the Tolworth on soft-heavy ground and as a team it's better to be safe than sorry."

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