Trip mulled for Epatante after 'great season' and Constitution Hill emergence

If Seven Barrows has the ace in the Unibet Champion Hurdle pack in Constitution Hill, then , who won the race in 2020, is no back number, as she showed with Grade 1 victories in the Fighting Fifth, Christmas Hurdle and Aintree Hurdle last season.

She was also second to Honeysuckle in the big one in March and Nicky Henderson said: "She had a great season, while she proved she stays two and a half miles at Aintree, which opens up options, including the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

"That's a possibility if it says she isn't going to beat Honeysuckle and Constitution Hill. She was brilliant at Aintree, but she also ran wonderfully at Cheltenham, and missed the last when she was only a length down."

Marie's Rock prepares to be paraded at Seven Barrows on SundayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Henderson has the reigning Mares' Hurdle heroine in the yard in , also a winner at the highest level at the Punchestown festival in April when Epatante could only manage third.

"Marie's Rock was a revelation," said the Lambourn trainer. "I knew she was good, but I didn't know she was that good! Her progress was incredible and they've all got to go down their own roads, but I think she could go three miles easily.

"I imagine will stay hurdling and he was very good in the Long Walk. He's had more work on his back and we have to play with it every year, but JP's [McManus] team are very good at it."

Highly regarded duo and are winning but inexperienced hurdlers, and their chasing careers could be put on hold, but , who might have been a staying hurdle livewire last season, is not guaranteed to return from a pelvis injury and that is also the case for the unbeaten , at least for this term.

Walking On Air: dark horse for staying hurdle divisionCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I might see where Walking On Air belongs over hurdles and it's the same for Wiseguy," explained Henderson. "He's had some time off with a silly injury, but he's repaired and could easily excel.

"It's too early to tell with Buzz. He's tried to build up where there is considerable muscle wastage, and he's sound, but I've no idea if we can get him back and nor have the vets. If it's not looking the right thing to do, we'll stop.

"When Doddiethegreat won at Kempton he got a really nasty injury and is no certainty to get here this season. His legs felt great when I saw him over the summer, but the scans weren't as good.

"He was at [owner] Kenny Alexander's having a great time and looked super, but it was a horrible injury – a nasty gash to the deep-flexor tendon, which is even harder to mend than the superficial-flexor tendon, which is where you get more common injuries."

The useful is set to appear soon in a limited handicap hurdle for four-year-olds at Chepstow on October 8, while smart second-season hurdler is pencilled in for the Listed Newbury contest known as the Gerry Feilden, now sponsored by Coral, in November.

Read more from Seven Barrows . . .

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'Firestep could be a top dog but there are more' – Henderson on his youngsters

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