Trainers keen on International rescue but BHA and Ascot keeping their counsel

Rescheduling the International Hurdle would not damage the potential line-up for the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle according to some of jump racing's biggest trainers, who suggested the superstar presence of Constitution Hill in the latter contest was threatening to scare off many of his potential opponents at Kempton.

Trained by Nicky Henderson for Michael Buckley, the brilliant Fighting Fifth winner is a general 1-3 to be crowned king of the division in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

The five-year-old is due to appear next in the Christmas Hurdle on December 26, where he could meet a host of horses who were due to contest the International Hurdle, which was cancelled at the weekend because of frozen ground at Cheltenham.