Henderson unconcerned for Constitution Hill after 'biblical' rain hits Kempton

The going at Kempton turned soft on Friday morning with the arrival of 18mm of rain – a figure at the upper end of expectations – but Nicky Henderson is unconcerned with any easing in conditions for Champion Hurdle favourite Constitution Hill's appearance in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (1.55) on Monday.

Henderson also declared Epatante – a two-time winner of the race –with the field of five completed by Sceau Royal, Metier and Highway One O Two.

All nine entries were declared on Friday for the highlight of the festive period in Britain, the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (2.30), with the sponsors now just 13-8 about L'Homme Presse, who looks more and more likely to go off favourite at the expense of 9-4 chance Bravemansgame, who is joined by stablemates Hitman and Frodon.

Kempton's clerk of the course Barney Clifford does not envisage the ground easing to any worse than soft, heavy in places – even if the top end of the rain forecast materialises.

Clifford said on Friday: "We had 18mm this morning in an hour and a half, it was biblical for a bit. I'm calling it soft, there's some better ground but we've more showers forecast, there's some heavy showers around, but it'd ride soft today.

"I'm forecast 4-5mm of rain, but if it was another 10-15mm we'd probably end up soft, heavy in places. The course has taken the rain extremely well, but 18mm hasn't helped."

Constitution Hill is no bigger than 1-6 to continue his unbeaten run over hurdles and Henderson has no worries should the possible heavy showers arrive.

"Last season's Tolworth was run on horrible ground, but that didn't seem to bother him, so the ground shouldn't be an issue," said Henderson.

"Everything has gone really well, but he still needs to remember to stay sound, to eat up and not to cough between now and the race. We've declared 15 horses for Boxing Day and I can guarantee 15 won't make it to their races. At least one of them will tread on a stone or slip up on a banana."

Nicky Henderson could go straight to the Champion Hurdle with Constitution Hill if all goes well in Monday's Christmas HurdleCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Constitution Hill has run only four times over hurdles but delighted connections when taking the jump from novice to open company in his stride at Newcastle last month, dispatching Epatante by 12 lengths when making all in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle.

"He couldn't have done what he did at Newcastle without being sort of fit but you would expect any horse to come on a bit for their first run," said Henderson. "Nico [de Boinville] knows what sort of fractions to work on. If someone wants to go quicker than that, fine."

Henderson admitted that, if all goes to plan on Monday, he is inclined not to send Constitution Hill out again publicly before the Unibet Champion Hurdle on March 14.

"I know how people will react if I say he might not run after this until Cheltenham but that could be what we do," said the man who holds the record for Champion Hurdle successes with eight.

"Wincanton would not be a great place for him and I haven't been a great fan of the Kingwell Hurdle or had much luck in it. The Haydock trial doesn't appeal to me enormously and nor does going to Ireland in early February."

Henderson added: "It's a great shame they scrapped the Contenders Hurdle but I can see why they did because we seemed to go there for £25,000 with a Champion Hurdle favourite every year and scared everyone else off.

"Let's see how things go, though. If he blows up halfway down the back straight at Kempton he might need to have another run!"

I Like To Move It will contest the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year's Day rather than take on Constitution Hill at Kempton.

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "He's fine, 100 per cent, but Kempton is not his sort of track. I'd take them all on at Cheltenham but he'll be outpaced by them round there.

"I'm afraid we'll have to step up in trip as there may be no other race for him until the Champion Hurdle. I'm tempted by the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock but that's in the middle of January so will that be on? The Relkeel is the race we'll go for. The two and a half miles shouldn't be a problem but it's not ideal."

Away from Kempton, Shan Blue heads a field of 12 for the William Hill Rowland Meyrick Chase (1.35) at Wetherby on Monday. Forecast rain arrived early on Friday afternoon with 10mm due to fall by mid evening.

Clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson said: "If the forecast 10mm arrives we'll be nudging soft ground but we have a dry and bright weekend so I think we'll be back nearer good to soft by Monday."

Wincanton bore the brunt of heavy rain with 18mm falling on Friday morning to leave the course soft, good to soft in places.

Christmas Hurdle (1.55 Kempton, Monday)

Ladbrokes: 1-8 Constitution Hill, 8 Epatante, 11 Sceau Royal, 40 Metier, 50 Highway One O Two

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Introducing the ITV Racing Christmas Festival

The ITV Racing Christmas Festival features six days of top-class action on the channel from 12 different tracks in Britain and Ireland between December 26 and January 1.

Some 41 live races will be shown in all, including eight Grade 1s such as the King George VI Chase, with the Welsh Grand National and Cheltenham's New Year's Day card among the big-race highlights across a spectacular six days of racing on terrestrial television across the festive period.

December 26
Kempton: King George VI Chase day
Wetherby: Rowland Meyrick Chase day

December 27
Chepstow: Welsh Grand National day
Kempton: Desert Orchid Chase day

December 28
Leopardstown: Savills Chase day
Leicester

December 29
Leopardstown: Matheson Hurdle day
Doncaster

December 31
Newbury, Warwick and Lingfield

January 1
Cheltenham, Musselburgh and Tramore

Read more . . .

Confirmed runners and riders for the 2022 King George VI Chase – plus a free bet

2022 King George: who wins the big race at Kempton based on previous trends?

Confirmed runners and riders for the Christmas Hurdle and other big races

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