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Henderson set to confirm plans for Seven Barrows superstar Constitution Hill next week




Legendary Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson is set to reveal his plans for Seven Barrows superstar Constitution Hill next week.

The six-year-old is unbeaten in seven starts over hurdles, winning the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham by an emphatic nine lengths in March.

And, with the National Hunt hero having recently returned from his summer holidays, six-time champion trainer Henderson has been weighing up whether to keep his stable star over hurdles or send him chasing over fences.

Legendary Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson
Legendary Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson

Henderson and his team will school Constitution Hill over fences, with owner Michael Buckley harbouring ambitions of emulating the great Dawn Run by following up his Champion Hurdle title with a tilt at the Gold Cup.

However, Constitution Hill would have to prove he can be just as good over three miles if Henderson is to make the switch, with another season of potential dominance in store if he chooses to remain over hurdles.

“We’ll announce what we’re doing next week,” Henderson said.

“We’re still to-ing and fro-ing, so many things have to go right so whatever we do is a bit of a risk.

“We won’t send him chasing unless we’re absolutely sure.

“He’s had a great summer – he’s even been training with an unbeaten boxer – and we’re still weighing up our options.”

Henderson has found himself in a similar situation before when he sent Altior, who was unbeaten in five outings over hurdles, to go chasing.

That proved a masterstroke as the Patricia Pugh-owned star won 15 of his 18 starts over fences, including two Champion Chase crowns as well as an Arkle title.

However, while Henderson admits there are a lot of similarities between the two decisions, the lure of the three mile Gold Cup means Constitution Hill will have to prove he has more staying power than his predecessor.

He said: “It’s a lot like the Altior situation, but there are a few key differences.

“I always felt Altior ought to jump fences, but we knew he was a two-miler.

“We won’t send Constitution Hill (over fences) unless we’re as sure as can be that he’s going to stay three-and-a-quarter miles.

“There’s no point switching to fences just to win the Champion Chase now, because you might as well win the Champion Hurdle again.

“That’s the big question.”

Henderson has also welcomed a couple of high profile acquisitions to Seven Barrows, with both Willmount and Break My Soul arriving from Neil Mulholland’s Conkwell Lodge Stables in Bath.

The highly-rated Willmount commanded a £340,000 fee at the Tattersalls Cheltenham sale following a maiden point-to-point win and has since won twice under rules, storming home by 13 lengths on his debut.

“I can’t say too much about him, because he’s only just got here and we haven’t had much of a look at him,” Henderson said.

“Clearly, he’s got something and we’re hoping he might just be a bit special.”

Meanwhile, Ascot Chase champion Shiskin has returned after spending a couple of weeks practising dressage with Olympian Zara Tindall.

And Henderson, never one to shy away from defying convention, felt the change of pace will benefit the nine-year-old as he builds-up towards a crack at the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

He said: “He’s got nine months with me now, so I thought it might do him some good to spend some time with someone else.

“It was a bit of fun for him, something different, and it keeps his mind focused, because that can be a weakness of his at times.

“Zara said he was great, so we’re very happy.”



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