Henderson sends Epatante to International Hurdle over Constitution Hill rematch

Epatante may have proved no match for Constitution Hill but her second-place finish in the Fighting Fifth has set her up in a bid to deliver Nicky Henderson a record seventh success in the Unibet International Hurdle (2.25 Cheltenham Saturday).

The six-time Grade 1 winner finished a distant runner-up at Newcastle last month behind the Champion Hurdle favourite and will avoid another clash with her stablemate in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle, a race she won last year, in favour of Cheltenham's Grade 2 contest.

Epatante could face up to six rivals in the 2m1f race, including stablemate First Street, but Henderson suggested on Tuesday that he may instead send the Gerry Feilden winner to Ascot for the Betfair Exchange Trophy Handicap Hurdle.