Nicky Henderson pulls Constitution Hill from £650,000 race after trainer admitted ‘something has gone wrong’

NICKY HENDERSON has pulled Constitution Hill out of a £650,000 race – after he admitted ‘something has gone wrong’ following his disastrous end to the season.

The former Supreme and Champion Hurdle superstar fell at Cheltenham and Aintree.

PAConstitution Hill looked destined to be the greatest hurdler ever but he is now on the mother of all recovery missions after a dreadful end to the season[/caption]

And he was humbled by old rival State Man in the Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown earlier this month.

A Christmas Hurdle win over Lossiemouth – when Willie Mullins’ mare ran well below par – was the only bright spot in an otherwise horrific season.

And the blows kept on coming as Henderson officially scratched Constitution Hill from next month’s Ascot Gold Cup on Friday morning.

When the Michael Buckley-owned eight-year-old was winning everything (ten wins and unbeaten under rules) there was talk he could at least try his luck on the Flat.

The mega-money Melbourne Cup had been suggested, as well as the 2m4f Group 1 contest at Royal Ascot.

But the latter is definitely off the agenda now after Henderson took him out 11 days before the official deadline.

Based on what we know from his hurdle runs, 2m4f at Ascot, with the stiff finish, would probably have been too far for Constitution Hill.

And jumping form doesn’t necessarilly translate to the Flat, especially when he would have been taking on the likes of Aidan O’Brien’s borderline unbeatable Kyprios.

Nevertheless, it would have been interesting to see Constitution Hill line up at Ascot.

But it was always a long shot – bookies had him priced at 33-1 – and really it looks like the right decision has been made.

Henderson was left scratching his head after his former superstar appeared to lose all confidence at his hurdles.

His two falls were shockers but he was the opposite at Punchestown, ballooning his obstacles where previously he looked slick.

Hendo said after that defeat, where he finished in fifth of six and 27 lengths behind State Man: “It’s disappointing but it’s a tough game.

“It was sad Constitution Hill had to be beaten that way because you could live with going down in a battle.

“Something has obviously gone wrong because that’s not him and our job is to try to unravel the mystery.”

While the jumps season is over it continues to be a very busy time for the legendary Seven Barrows boss, who will turn 75 this year.

He is having a yard clearout and has sent 21 horses to the Doncaster sales later this month.

While he continues to bang in winners, including a spectacular £33,000 midweek smash-and-grab in France.

Aston Martini was brilliant in seeing off former superstar chaser Il Est Francais.

The King George runner-up was sent off odds-on for the Listed hurdles contest but couldn’t get anywhere near Hendo’s mare.

Sun Racing’s Matt Chapman was one of those commenting on Il Est Francais’ latest nightmare.

And he suggested the horse could benefit from being sent to Henderson, with a change of scenery perhaps enough to reignite his career.

Chapman said on Sky: “You know what, if I was the owner I’d try a change of scenery.

“That’s not to do with the way current connections train the horse, but I’d maybe send him to Nicky Henderson.

“Perhaps different surroundings, a different feed, whatever might make a difference to the medical condition – or whatever it is he has.

“Maybe it won’t make a difference where he was, but I would just try something different and see if anyone else can sort out his issues.

“Because they have been going on some time now and, for me, it might time to try something different… or give up!

“But I wouldn’t personally give up on him.”

George didn’t sound too disappointed afterwards, saying Il Est Francais would now enjoy a summer break before coming back in the autumn.

Another crack at the King George looks logical but he is out to 20-1 for that now.

Speaking after the win, Henderson said: “That was fantastic, a great performance, and we only came here to achieve one thing and that was to get some black type, as there were no more Listed races in Britain and we’ve had it in mind for some time.

“It nearly scuppered our plan to see Il Est Francais in the race, but she was amazing.

“It’s a beautiful track and it was beautiful ground with so much grass on it, it’s a great place.

“I was talking to Noel George and he said it wasn’t just Il Est Francais in there and there was also some other very good horses in there.

“It’s actually the second time we’ve won that race and we won it with Fixe Le Kap in 2017 and I rode here 50 years ago in a cross-country, which is a bit scary!”