Constitution Hill heading to Ireland for Punchestown Champion Hurdle 'three-match'
Constitution Hill has been declared to run at the Punchestown Festival taking his place in a Champion Hurdle 'three-match'.
The former champion, undefeated under rules up to the Cheltenham Festival, has a reputation to rebuild after falling in the Champion Hurdle and again when he ran in the Aintree Hurdle at the Grand National Festival. He has a chance to atone in Friday's Boodles Champion Hurdle in which his two main rivals will State Man and Golden Ace, bringing together the last three winners of the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle.
State Man and Golden Ace were part of the other drama from this year's Cheltenham clash. Following Constitution Hill's early exit, the Willie Mullins 's trained State Man appeared to be coasting to victory until he crashed out at the final flight, presenting victory to the Jeremy Scott-trainer Golden Ace.
Constitution Hill will be without regular jockey Nico de Boinville who was injured in a fall at Plumpton last week. In his absence James Bowen will ride the Nicky Henderson star for the first time in public.
Bowen schooled Constitution Hill, 10-11 favourite for the six runner field which also includes County Hurdle winner Kargese, on Sunday.
Henderson reported: 'Constitution Hill jumped four fences on our Canter Carpet schooling strip this morning with James Bowen on top. Everything went extremely well and I couldn't be happier with his condition.
'Nothing whatsoever should be read into the fact he schooled over fences, he is definitely not going down that route, but after discussing it with Nico, Michael, James and myself we decided this was the best thing to do. It was a brave decision but they are only baby fences and we hope it works.'
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