Constitution Hill, the most celebrated horse currently in training, has undergone two intensive schooling sessions this week as trainer Nicky Henderson weighs up a potential return to the Champion Hurdle arena. The eight-year-old has not raced since a disappointing fall at Newcastle on November 29, marking his third tumble in just four starts and casting doubt over his future as a top-class jumper.
Confidence Boost Sought at Southwell
Henderson is pinning his hopes on a much-needed confidence boost for Constitution Hill when the gelding contests an all-weather flat race at Southwell on February 20. In preparation, the horse has been put through starting stalls at Seven Barrows this week, with Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy taking the high-profile ride during a recent gallop.
Jumping Specialist Involved in Training
What will particularly intrigue National Hunt enthusiasts is Henderson's decision to school Constitution Hill extensively. The horse, who triumphed in the 2023 Champion Hurdle, missed the 2024 renewal due to illness before falling in last year's running. The British Horseracing Authority remains in discussions with Henderson regarding the training regimen, with further schooling planned.
"He's had a confusing week!" Henderson revealed. "He schooled with jumping specialist Yogi Breisner on Monday, went through the stalls and galloped with Oisin on Wednesday, then Yogi returned. We're doing jump-flat-jump sessions with him."
Henderson emphasized that Breisner, regarded as the country's jumping guru, is playing a crucial role in rebuilding Constitution Hill's confidence. "He is going great. We are doing lots of jumping. We are playing around with him to get his confidence back. The only race in our minds right now is Southwell – and only Southwell. We'll see what happens there."
Lulumba's Game Spirit Chase Preparation
Provided Newbury avoids significant overnight rainfall, Henderson will run Lulumba in the Game Spirit Chase as a final tune-up for the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham on March 10. Lulumba currently stands as the hot ante-post favourite for that prestigious event.
"I want him to get experience," Henderson explained regarding Lulumba's planned run. "We were going to run Jango Baie in the Denman Chase but the ground isn't right. It just seems the right thing to do for Lulumba – it's close to home and I've got a few runners. We'll see how we go."
The coming weeks will prove crucial for both Constitution Hill's rehabilitation and Lulumba's championship preparations, with Henderson carefully managing two of his most promising jumpers during this critical pre-Cheltenham period.
