'I hope it wasn't a flash in the pan' - Nicky Henderson on Constitution Hill

Saturday: 2.25 SandownUnibet Tolworth Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Stars are to be expected at Sandown on Tingle Creek Chase day and the Nicky Henderson-trained Constitution Hill made a huge impression when running out an impressive winner of the opening novice hurdle that afternoon.

After ranging upsides the highly regarded Might I at the final flight, the five-year-old son of Blue Bresil unleashed a ferocious turn of foot which enabled him to surge 14 lengths clear of the now 135-rated favourite.

Simon Holt, the racecourse commentator, summed up the general feeling as Constitution Hill crossed the line under Nico de Boinville.

“Here’s a smart one. This could be a top novice,” was Holt’s call. He could well be right.

Now second favourite for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham behind stablemate Jonbon, who could run next in the Grade 2 Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle in a fortnight’s time, Constitution Hill will start at prohibitive odds for the Tolworth. Henderson, though, is taking nothing for granted.

The trainer, who is self-isolating at Seven Barrows after testing positive for Covid-19, said: “All has gone well since Sandown. He’s done everything we’ve asked of him at home.

“It’s a big step up in class and the ground is a definite question mark. It’s up in the air about whether he’ll handle it. The ground will be horrible there on Saturday.”

Nicky Henderson: will not be at Sandown for the Tolworth after testing positive for CovidCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com)

He added: “I did particularly like the way he quickened up the hill at Sandown. I just hope it wasn’t a flash in the pan.”

Henderson has an outstanding record in the Tolworth, having won it five times via New York Rainbow (1992), Minella Class (2011), Captain Conan (2012), Royal Boy (2014) and L’Ami Serge (2015).

New York Rainbow and Royal Boy both sported the colours of Constitution Hill’s owner Michael Buckley, and the former won the same novice hurdle at Sandown’s Tingle Creek meeting in similarly scintillating style before finishing fourth in the Supreme.

Can lightning strike twice? Henderson certainly hopes so. “We’ve won the race on two previous occasions for Michael Buckley. The Tolworth has been good to us over the years. Hopefully, Constitution Hill can do the business once again.”

Potter set for Tolworth thrill

It’s not unusual to see the likes of Henderson and Paul Nicholls represented in the Tolworth, but Ryan Potter will be new name in the frame when he runs Jetoile.

The seven-year-old is dropping in trip after winning at Chepstow and Leicester, a decision made after advice from the sidelined Daryl Jacob. Lorcan Williams takes over.

Potter said: “We only got our licence last July, so this is our first full season. We don’t have many horses, but have been well supported. To have a runner in a Grade 1 at Sandown so soon is just unbelievable. It’s a thrill just to be involved.

“I thought Jetoile could be a Ballymore horse after his win at Chepstow, but Daryl jumped off him at Leicester after he had made all over two and a half miles and said we ought to go back to two miles on soft. He’s a relentless galloper, and will make up into a decent two-mile chaser next season.

“I’ve had a look through the field and there doesn’t seem to be any obvious front-runners apart from our fellow. Those sort of tactics work well at Sandown, and it’s most likely that we’ll pop out and make it a good test on ground he'll enjoy.”

What they say

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Datsalrightgino
He’s done nothing wrong this season, and is two from two over hurdles at Fontwell and Cheltenham. I feel he’s come on again from Cheltenham last month. Datsalrightgino will have to take another step forward in the Tolworth. The favourite was impressive on his debut, but I’m looking forward to seeing our horse run. His wins have been on good ground, but he possesses bumper form on soft ground. He should go on any ground. We did his wind over the summer, which has helped him.

Harry Cobden, rider of Mr Glass
He is two from two over hurdles. It’s a step back in trip after his win at Newcastle last time, but on ‘Sandown soft’ you really need to stay two and a half miles, so that’s in his favour. He’s a very nice horse who is still improving. We’ve been very pleased with him at home, and he goes there with a chance.

Gary Moore, trainer of Shallwehaveonemore
He’s a nice horse. It’s a bit ambitious going for the Tolworth, but there should be a good, strong gallop and we need to teach him to settle – he was too free first time out at Ascot. The horse who finished third in that race, Peking Rose, has since won easily at Newbury, so the form looks okay. They also say that the horse Shallwehaveonemore beat in his bumper at Kempton, Walking On Air, is pretty good, but he hasn’t been out since.

Richard Newland, trainer of Whizz Kid
It’s a starting point for us. He’s a highly rated horse on the Flat and has schooled well at home. We’ve got to start somewhere and this is a fact-finding mission. We’ll get a small field and will pick up prize-money if he gets round. He does everything right at home he seems a nice horse. He could have gone for an 18-runner novice hurdle somewhere, but there’s good prize-money here. You couldn’t, realistically, expect him to win the race, but hopefully he puts up a positive show.

Saturday's Sandown previews:

1.50 Sandown: trainer sees 'no negatives' for our expert's fancy in competitive handicap chase

3.00 Sandown: 'This has been on the radar for a long time' – golden oldies take centre stage

3.35 Sandown: which handicap hurdler does the trainer believe to be 'very well handicapped'?

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