Constitution Hill replaced as Champion Hurdle favourite as 'struggles' emerge

Despite connections stating they were satisfied with the workout astatine Newbury, the superstar jumper’s presumption successful the betting markets is nether menace from Lossiemouth

Constitution Hill mislaid his presumption arsenic favourite for adjacent year’s Champion Hurdle aft different nationalist gallop caused alarm successful the betting markets.

The unbeaten hurdler was incapable to support his 2023 rubric astatine this year’s Cheltenham Festival owed to illness.

Problems emerged aft helium trailed his companions successful what was expected to beryllium a regular workout astatine Kempton backmost successful February.

He has not raced since Boxing Day past twelvemonth but is owed to marque his much-awaited reappearance successful the Fighting Fifth Hurdle astatine Newcastle connected November 30.

Ahead of the contention trainer Nicky Henderson took him to Newbury wherever helium galloped with stablemate Sir Gino.

It was lone a gentle workout until the tempo gradually quickened from the 2 furlong pole. As James Bowen sat motionless connected Sir Gino, Nico de Boinville was pushing much vigorously connected Constitution Hill to enactment alongside.

As effect William Hill eased Constitution Hill to 8-13 from 8-11 for the Fighting Fifth and 7-4 from 6-4 for the Champion Hurdle.

Coral went further and pushed the equine retired to 13-8 (from 4-5) for the Newcastle feature, portion helium is present 5-2 (from 7-4) favourite for the Champion Hurdle alongside Lossiemouth, who was chopped to 5-2 from 3-1.

While Betfair took the astir utmost action, making Lossiemouth 5-2 favourite with State Man 3-1 and Consitution Hill 4-1 (from 11-8). The aforesaid steadfast eased Constitution Hill to 6-4 (from 8-13).

William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps said: “It wasn’t rather similar Kempton’s disastrous gallop successful February, but Constitution Hill didn’t look to enactment with his accustomed zest this greeting astatine Newbury. He looked to conflict to support up with Sir Gino, and arsenic a result, he’s drifted retired to 8-11 from 8-13 for Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth.

“Champion Hurdle backers indispensable person besides got a small disquieted watching his efforts astatine Newbury and he’s besides connected the drift there, retired to 2-1 from 6-4. There’s a agelong mode to spell earlier the large 1 successful March, but Constitution Hill fans surely can’t person been encouraged by what they saw this morning.”

Henderson seemed unperturbed, telling the Racing Post: “He’s acceptable for action. That made him enactment and it’s wherefore we’re here. People request to retrieve this equine has had atrocious luck. There’s thing incorrect with him, helium hasn’t been injured. It’s each portion and parcel of the game.”

De Boinville told Sky Sports Racing that Consititution Hill “felt large until astir the 2 (furlong marker) and past he’s had a truly bully blow.

“Today volition bring him connected an atrocious lot, we’ve got 1 much portion of enactment to go, he’ll astir apt schoolhouse this week and past we’re ready.”