Champion Hurdle hopeful Constitution Hill will not run at the Cheltenham Festival after being ruled out by trainer Nicky Henderson, multiple news outlets reported Wednesday.
The decision follows a schooling session earlier in the week, the outcome of which prompted Henderson to withdraw the 2023 Champion Hurdle winner, according to Thoroughbred Daily News and Sky Sports. The Champion Hurdle is a premier race in the National Hunt calendar.
The six-year-traditional gelding had been drifting in the betting prior to the announcement, Racing Post reported, suggesting growing concerns about his readiness for the race.
Constitution Hill’s career as a hurdler has now ended, according to Sky Sports. The horse won the 2023 Champion Hurdle, but his participation in this year’s event had been uncertain following a previous setback.
Devdiscourse reported that Henderson made the decision to withdraw Constitution Hill from the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle.
