New jockey for Constitution Hill as Nicky Henderson confirms Punchestown bid

Nicky Henderson has confirmed that James Bowen will ride Constitution Hill in next week's Boodles Champion Hurdle after giving his stable star the "green light" to run in the Punchestown Grade 1.

Earlier in the week, the Seven Barrows trainer had reported the star hurdler to be in good form, but his participation on the penultimate day of the Punchestown festival would depend on Constitution Hill coming through a "crucial" piece of work.

With regular rider Nico de Boinville ruled out of action for the foreseeable due to broken ribs and a neck injury caused by a heavy fall at Plumpton on Monday, Bowen was called up to ride the eight-year-old in his gallop in Lambourn on Friday morning.

Speaking to the Racing Post, Henderson said: "He worked this morning and everything went great. I couldn't be happier, it all went very well and I think he looks terrific. I must admit, his work was as good as ever.

"He'll have a school somewhere over the weekend and if that goes well then we'll be on our way to Ireland."

It is not the first time Bowen has partnered Constitution Hill. The Grade 1-winning jockey, who has registered 118 victories from 592 rides for Henderson in Britain, played a pivotal role in the early stages of his career.

Writing in his Unibet blog, Henderson said: "James rode him, which is ironic because the last time he sat on him was a few years ago when we finally discovered that he had an engine. He was the first person to discover that he was actually any good.

"They worked on the Jockey Club Estates All Weather gallop, which we refer to as ‘the back of the hill’, and everything went exactly as I’d wanted; it was super and he is in great form and I couldn’t have asked for more."

Boodles Champion Hurdle (Punchestown, May 2)
William Hill: 5-4 Constitution Hill, 6-4 State Man, 7-2 Lossiemouth, 7-1 Brighterdaysahead, 10 Golden Ace, 14 bar.

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