'We can't make any promises' - Nicky Henderson undecided on Honeysuckle clash

Nicky Henderson is still grappling with a decision on whether to take leading novice Constitution Hill to Punchestown but, if he does head to Ireland, it will only be to take on Honeysuckle in a salivating Paddy Power Punchestown Champion Hurdle clash.

Further discussions with owner Michael Buckley took place on Wednesday evening but ended without agreement as to whether the dominant winner of last month's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner would head over.

Henderson had previously said he had a preference for keeping novices in "their own company" but, speaking after a Cheltenham winner on Thursday, stressed if the the horse did travel over it would be to take part in the highly anticipated clash on April 30.

He told the Racing Post: "The big question is not the race we're running in, it's whether we go at all. I'm not sure. Does he need to? He's only five, only had three runs in his life. That's the problem with good horses but they're the problems we like having."

Henderson expects to receive plenty of advice from guests visiting his stable on Friday's Lambourn Open Day, where Constitution Hill will be one of the star attractions.

He added: "I was talking to Michael [Buckley] last night and we've got a bit of work to do over the weekend, and we've got Lambourn Open Day which is most important. They'll get to see Constitution Hill as well and I expect I'll get a lot of advice as to what to do.

"We'll see how the work's going but then we have got to sit down and think about it. If he runs, that's probably what he runs in. We can't make any promises at the moment, a fortnight is quite a long time."

The trainer also said recent Aintree Hurdle winner Epatante would be on the Punchestown roster, as would Marie's Rock who landed the Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on her latest start.

"Epatante and Marie's Rock are both going over and might end up in the same race together, it depends on which race Epatante goes - she's in the Champion Hurdle and the Mares," the trainer said.

A £100,000 bonus is being put up by Paddy Power if a British-trained horse can deny Honeysuckle and land the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.

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