Renowned horse trainer Nicky Henderson remains calm and confident leading up to the upcoming showdown between Constitution Hill and rising star The New Lion this Saturday. Constitution Hill, previously undefeated in ten races, faced setbacks in recent races, falling as the favorite in the Champion Hurdle and at Aintree.
Ahead of the new season, Henderson took Constitution Hill for a thorough assessment, likening it to a visit to an equine vision specialist. The eight-year-old horse is currently the third favorite at 5-1 for the next Champion Hurdle, trailing behind top contenders like Lossiemouth and The New Lion.
The highly anticipated BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle will see Constitution Hill face off against The New Lion, who triumphed at the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Other notable entries include Anzadam by Willie Mullins and the reigning Champion Hurdle winner, Golden Ace.
Bookmakers Coral have the two frontrunners closely matched at 11-8 odds, with Anzadam at 3-1, Golden Ace at 20-1, and Nemean Lion at 33-1. Henderson expressed confidence in his horse’s readiness for the challenge, highlighting a successful training session with jockey Nico de Boinville.
As the race day approaches, Henderson shared his race day plans, mentioning the possibility of a pacemaker before ultimately deciding against it. While Henderson will be at Newbury for other races, owner Michael Buckley will be present at Newcastle to support Constitution Hill.