Nicky Henderson delivers Constitution Hill update after ‘serious money’ pours in ahead of crunch Friday test

NICKY HENDERSON has delivered a big Constitution Hill update ahead of a crucial 48 hours.

The unbeaten superstar’s odds shot up for his Champion Hurdle defence yesterday on the back of a dismal Kempton workout.

He was found to have significant mucus in his airways and a mild infection just two weeks before Cheltenham Festival.

Seven Barrows boss Henderson posted an update on the horse’s condition on Wednesday – as Betfair opened a market on whether or not the horse will run.

More than £300,000 has been matched on the horse on the Betfair Exchange and he is many people’s banker of the whole meeting.

Henderson, 73, said in a new statement: “I am pleased to say that Constitution Hill appears perfectly normal this morning.

“He is bright and well and ate everything last night.

“His temperature has remained normal both last night and this morning.

“As with all the other horses that galloped at Kempton yesterday they are having an easy day today.

“They have had a lead out and all appear to be sound and well and are having a good pick of grass.

“We would plan to ride them all, including Constitution Hill, tomorrow although he will have a quieter exercise for the next 48 hours at least as we still have to bear in mind that he has got a hopefully relatively mild lung infection which has to improve considerable before any serious work could begin again.

“Fresh air is as important as anything for a horse’s lungs.

“The intention is to re-scope on Friday to re-monitor which way this is going.

“While on I would just like to thank all the members of the press and Racing TV that were at Kempton yesterday for their understanding and patience during what was an anxious situation for us all.

“It was much appreciated and made our life rather easier than it might have been.

“I would also like to thank everybody that has so kindly sent us so many messages of support.

“Again, it is much appreciated by us all.”

Henderson’s words came as William Hill reported ‘serious money’ hitting the volatile Champion Hurdle market.

Spokesperson Lee Phelps said: “We were the first bookmaker to come back out with prices (Non-Runner Money Back) and our initial prices of 6-4, 5-4 and then evens were incredibly popular upon re-releasing the market.

“There was some serious money injected into these prices in the first hour of trading.

“At this stage we are not too concerned laying these prices given what happened yesterday.

“We don’t see how Nicky Henderson can be 100 percent confident he will be back to 100 percent fit/ready and therefore there will have to be some guesswork from the yard when deciding on his participation.

“This is probably the only race Nicky Henderson would take any sort of chance with the horse in our opinion and we feel that with these doubts, the market could not possibly send off Constitution Hill at anywhere near the 1-4 and 1-3 he was trading prior to his gallop.

“There is an argument that State Man might go off favourite even if they both run hence we were happy to lay some 6-4, 5-4 and evens.”

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