Tag Archive for: Nicky Henderson

Darryll Holland ‘owes everything’ to Barry Hills

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Tributes continue to pour in for the late Barry Hills, with Darryll Holland describing one of the greatest trainers of his generation as a “father figure”.

Hills, who died at the age of 88 and saddled over 3,000 winners during a long and decorated career in the training ranks, had a huge influence on Holland’s early career and is also credited with setting many on the path to success within the racing industry.

Holland enjoyed many big-race wins around the world in the saddle before setting up as a trainer himself.

However, he will always remember fondly the early days of his racing life which were shaped by Hills and his wife Penny, becoming champion apprentice under Hills’ stewardship in 1991.

Darryll Holland began his career with Barry Hills
Darryll Holland began his career with Barry Hills (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I owe everything to Barry and Penny, they engineered my career and guided me to where I am today,” said Holland.

“He made me champion apprentice and then first jockey and he was a tough man but very fair and a genius of a trainer. It’s an end of an era really.

“I was a raw 15-year old from Manchester and he guided me through, I owe him an awful lot.

“It was a steep learning curve at times and I had the pleasure of bumping into him at the Lockinge meeting (Newbury) and introducing my kids to him and he was still as scary then as he was 30 years ago, but he was an amazing fellow and I always had nothing but respect for him.

“He was a father figure and him and Penny were like my second mum and dad and it was a very sad day yesterday when I got told the news from Michael (Hills).”

Nicky Henderson has paid tribute to his great friend Barry Hills
Nicky Henderson has paid tribute to his great friend Barry Hills (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)

There were also words of sorrow from the world of jumps racing, as Nicky Henderson reminisced about the times he enjoyed with his great Lambourn neighbour.

Henderson said: “We were good friends but he certainly taught me a few things. I was a bit younger and it was a bit of a strange duet really but we would do an awful lot of things together on and off the racecourse. We had some wonderful times.

“He always said whatever he thought and we could have had an argument, but there was no point as he was always going to win it. If he said something you disagreed with, you just went with it as he was always going to prove he was right in the end!

“He made himself but he also made a lot of people who got on the bus with him and we have to be very grateful to have been a part of it.”

Barry Hills was head of a great racing dynasty (PA)

Speaking to Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday, he added: “It was one of those incredible innings and you get the feeling the last few weeks haven’t been easy.

“He’d had a few adversities over the year but kept coming back and back, mainly through Penny, who has just been unbelievable throughout.

“He would always call it ‘God’s waiting room’ and he visited it a few times but kept coming back and these last few weeks he just didn’t want to leave the party and that’s what he was all about, as he had such a will to live and love it all.

“That family has just been remarkable and Penny has pulled him through so many battles, he would keep coming back for more and what a lot of fun we have had over some fantastic years.

“He was just a man of huge integrity and friendship and the family he brought up, he would just be so proud of them all. I know he will look on it as a fantastic era, as we all do.”

Constitution Hill removed from Gold Cup reckoning

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There will be no Gold Cup bid at Royal Ascot for Constitution Hill after he was scratched from the race on Friday.

Nicky Henderson teased the exciting prospect of his hurdling star switching codes when handing the eight-year-old an entry for the Group One staying showpiece.

However, after a disappointing spring, which has included falls at both the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree, he will now head for a summer break after a lacklustre performance at the Punchestown Festival.

Speaking at Newbury, Henderson told Sky Sports Racing: “He’s good and he’s actually been having various tests throughout the week. He had a body and bone scan which actually told us very little and there is nothing chronically bad about it at all at the moment.

“We did actually take him out of the Gold Cup at Ascot this morning and he will very shortly be going to Charlie Vigors (of Hillwood Stud) for his summer holiday. I think some R and R is the best thing for him.”

Constitution Hill may have left Seven Barrows for the summer, but Sir Gino is still under the watchful eye of his handler as he continues to recover from the leg injury which became infected and left him in hospital.

Henderson continued: “He’s good and he’s still at Seven Barrows. Gradually we are getting there and he’s walking further and further. Hopefully we’ll get him out in a field before too long.”

Henderson and Aston Martini are the toast of Compiegne

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There was a poignant victory for Nicky Henderson at Compiegne, as Aston Martini took advantage of a misfiring Il Est Francais to register an emphatic success in the Prix du Cher.

It is the second time Henderson has won the Listed event after Fixe Le Kap’s triumph in 2017 and the Seven Barrows handler was delighted to visit a track he once rode at some 50 years ago to celebrate a horse bred and then leased to the syndicate named in honour of the late Henry Ponsonby by the late Richard Aston of Goldford Stud.

Henderson said: “That was fantastic, a great performance, and we only came here to achieve one thing and that was to get some black type, as there were no more Listed races in Britain and we’ve had it in mind for some time.

“It nearly scuppered our plan to see Il Est Francais in the race, but she was amazing – it’s a beautiful track and it was beautiful ground with so much grass on it, it’s a great place.

“I was talking to Noel George and he said it wasn’t just Il Est Francais in there and there was also some other very good horses in there.

“It’s actually the second time we’ve won that race and we won it with Fixe Le Kap in 2017 and I rode here 50 years ago in a cross-country, which is a bit scary.”

Aston Martini jumped excellently throughout in the hands of Felix de Giles, moving stylishly into contention in the home straight and soon alongside Il Est Francais, who folded tamely before the last, allowing the six-year-old mare to stride clear for a thoroughly impressive 10-length success.

Trainer Nicky Henderson enjoyed a great victory at Compiegne
Trainer Nicky Henderson enjoyed a great victory at Compiegne (Nigel French/PA)

Henderson revelled in having old ally De Giles back riding for him again on a big occasion, while also praising the huge team effort that was required to overcome some obstacles en route to cross-channel glory.

“It was great to have Felix on board again and he’s a good old friend – he actually started with us the same year as Nico (de Boinville),” continued Henderson.

“There was a group of them – Nico, David Bass, Andrew Tinkler, Jerry McGrath, Richard Killoran – they were all here the same years and it was lovely to have Felix ride for me again – he’s even learnt to speak French properly now, which is the whole point of having him as then I don’t have to try.

“We schooled her over fences to get her ready for these hurdles as they really are considerably more substantial than ours and she’s jumped beautifully the whole way.

“We’ve had to be here rather a long time as there was a strike on Monday and all sorts of complications and it was a lot of hard work. I have to praise my girls in the office as well as it has been a nightmare and we almost ditched it, but thankfully we didn’t.”

Henderson dismisses talk of retirement for Constitution Hill

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Nicky Henderson has ruled out any thoughts of retiring Constitution Hill following a series of setbacks in recent months.

Having kicked off his campaign with a couple of victories, the eight-year-old fell at Cheltenham and Aintree before finishing a distant fifth behind State Man at Punchestown on Friday.

That run of results prompted speculation that connections could opt to cut short the former Champion Hurdle winner’s career, but Henderson said: “I can say next season does happen, anything otherwise is out of the question.”

The Seven Barrows handler is hoping a summer break will allow Constitution Hill to regroup and shrug off any mental scars incurred from such a miserable spring.

Speaking on Racing TV’s Luck on Sunday programme, Henderson said: “The one thing you can’t do is read a horse’s mind! We think we can, but we can’t – and what he’s thinking is not what I was thinking at the time.

“For all the advice I’ve had since Aintree, since even Friday, there are a million different opinions of what we should and shouldn’t be doing.

“Now, if I put them all into operation the confusion would be horrendous, so I think we’ll stick to our own plan and that’ll be turn him out and hope that he can just literally mentally forget it.

“They do remember, of course they do, but there’s not much else you can do. Horse psychiatrists, whisperers, they do exist, and we’ll do everything, but it’s just not that easy.

“I think just a really quiet piece of time and go back to Charlie Vigors, where he’s spent all his summers, ever since he came here, he’ll be happy there and we’ve just got to try to get him to relax, which is what he’s good at.”

However, when reflecting on Constitution Hill’s most recent reversal, Henderson did admit to believing his charge was still feeling the effects of his two previous tumbles.

Henderson added: “The conclusion at the end of the day is that there was one tell-tale moment, it was when he was at the start and he just turned his head as if he was saying ‘I don’t want to do this’.

“That is the most unlike Constitution Hill moment I’ve ever seen. It’s just so unlike him, he wouldn’t turn his head from anything, he would answer anything and never let you down.

“He’d had two crunching falls, the Liverpool fall was horrible. We had schooled and he’s done everything right. He was a bit sorry for a week after Aintree but then he brightened up and bounced out and we said ‘OK, if you want to go, you want to go’ and he did.

“But that moment at the start told me everything, just because it is so unlike him.

“He’s the most willing, level-headed horse you could find, with a willing temperament, but I’m afraid we’ve probably just emptied that little part of him and that is what his thought was then, it was just so out of character.”

Lulamba boost for Henderson after Constitution Hill disappointment

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Lulamba turned the tables on his Cheltenham Festival conqueror Poniros to land the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown.

So impressive on his British debut at Ascot, Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba looked set to follow up in the Triumph Hurdle after getting the better of a protracted battle with East India Dock. But both were caught late by the Willie Mullins-trained 100-1 shot Poniros, who was making his hurdling debut.

Lulamba was an 11-10 favourite to exact his revenge on Irish soil and give Henderson and jockey James Bowen a welcome boost following Constitution Hill’s disappointing run in the Boodles Champion Hurdle just over 24 hours earlier – and ultimately did so in good style.

Always close to the pace, Lulamba led Poniros into the home straight and finished strongly from the final flight to win the rematch by four lengths, with Hello Neighbour a close-up third.

Lulamba was providing owners Joe and Marie Donnelly with their second Grade One winner of the week following State Man’s victory over Constitution Hill on Friday.

Henderson said: “These are big days, it’s been a big week and a great week for the Donnelly family. Two winners like that is pretty special.

“We tried to get in the way yesterday, it was a bitter pill, but well done them. Now we’ve done it together.”

Lulamba after winning at Punchestown
Lulamba after winning at Punchestown (Gary Carson/PA)

He added: “This is a fantastic place, we love it. This is a proper horse for another day. He deserves it as much as everybody.

“I wouldn’t say he was unlucky not to win in Cheltenham, he couldn’t do anything about it at the time and we got a bit of revenge there.

“He’s a lovely horse for the future, you wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t come back over fences next year. I don’t know, it’s early days and it’s only the fourth race of his life.

“He’s a big baby to be doing juvenile hurdles against Flat horses, so fair credit to him.”

Of Constitution Hill, Henderson said: “He’s OK. He’s a bit sore, but he’s fine.

“He’s got a long summer in front of him, he’ll be back.”

Henderson left to ‘unravel the mystery’ with Constitution Hill

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Nicky Henderson vowed to “unravel the mystery” following Constitution Hill’s lacklustre display in the Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

The former undisputed king of the two-mile hurdling division arrived for his first run in Ireland since his point-to-point days with something to prove, having fallen when trying to regain his Champion Hurdle crown at Cheltenham and then coming to grief at Aintree.

He was all the rage to get his career back on track as the 8-13 favourite, but there were early warning signs for his supporters as he briefly shied away from the starting tapes and then gave the first flight plenty of air and landed steeply.

The eight-year-old did make some ground in the back straight under James Bowen, who was deputising in the saddle for the sidelined Nico de Boinville, but the Seven Barrows superstar had no more to give from the home turn and eventually trailed home a very lacklustre fifth, beaten 27 lengths.

Henderson said: “It’s disappointing, but it’s a tough game.

“It was sad he had to be beaten that way because you could live with going down in a battle. He was beaten two out and James looked after him.

“Something has obviously gone wrong because that’s not him and our job is to try to unravel the mystery. He’s got such a great mind, nothing worries him, but you can’t look inside his head.

“He’s very uncomplicated, unflustered and his work was good. He was travelling well turning in, but then it was like flicking a switch.”

At the request of the raceday stewards, Constitution Hill was examined by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board veterinary officer after the race and was found to be sore and have grazes to his right-hind cannon bone.

The post-race reaction was far more positive from trainer Jeremy Scott, whose stable star Golden Ace proved her shock Champion Hurdle success at Cheltenham was no fluke with a fine effort to finish second to the front-running State Man.

Golden Ace profited from the State Man’s final-flight exit at Prestbury and while she was unable to lay a glove on him in the rematch, Scott was understandably proud of her performance in defeat.

He said: “I’m gutted we weren’t good enough to win, but I’m delighted with her.

“She was staying on at the end and today she probably needed a little bit further, ideally.

“I was so impressed with the way she jumped today, she travelled really well, she just didn’t have that kick that the winner had, but I think the first three have all run very well and it’s quite nice we’ve got as close to State Man as we have, because I rather felt everyone assumed we’d be beaten a mile.

“If you’d had the Cheltenham hill in front of you, that might have just sapped the stamina of State Man, who knows? I feel slightly more vindicated anyway.

“She might not start next season quite so early, but we’ll see how she is in the autumn and take it day by day. I couldn’t be happier with her today anyway, without winning.”

State Man rules supreme in Champion Hurdle showdown

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State Man produced a dominant front-running display to win his third Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown, where Constitution Hill proved a huge disappointment in finishing a well-beaten fifth.

The Grade One contest staged a mouthwatering rematch between the Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson-trained superstars, who both fell in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, with the presence of Jeremy Scott’s eventual Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace adding further spice.

Despite suffering a second successive fall in the Aintree Hurdle, Constitution Hill was a heavily-supported 8-13 favourite to get back on the winning trail on his first trip to Ireland, but he was a spent force from before the home turned and weakened rapidly out of contention.

State Man following his Champion Hurdle win at Punchestown
State Man following his Champion Hurdle win at Punchestown (PA)

In contrast, State Man (9-4) – who looked to have a second Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham at his mercy when crashing out at the final obstacle at Prestbury Park in mid-March – continued to pour it on in front under Paul Townend and came home with four and three-quarter lengths in hand over Golden Ace.

Mullins said: “It’s the performance we always thought he had in him. In fairness to Constitution Hill, I don’t think he turned up on the day. It’s very hard to travel from England after having two falls and things just didn’t go right for him.

“Our fella has run his true race and that’s been a constant thing in his racing life, he always turns up and runs his race. It was a huge performance.

A jubilant Paul Townend and Willie Mullins with the big-race trophy
A jubilant Paul Townend and Willie Mullins with the big-race trophy (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He’s just very genuine without ever being flashy. I think the cheekpieces have made him a bit flashier than he used to be. He’s a lazy horse and cheekpieces just help him.

“Paul has been adamant about this horse for the last few years, people are going on about Lossiemouth and State Man – he’s always thought State Man every day of the week and it’s been proven.

“I think we were all waiting for this contest and it delivered. We’re just delighted.”

Crack hurdlers poised for eagerly-awaited Punchestown ‘decider’

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Constitution Hill, State Man and Golden Ace are all set for what Nicky Henderson is calling a “decider” in the Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday evening.

There were gasps aplenty when Constitution Hill crashed out four from home in a remarkable Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham – and those in the stands did not get much time to recover before State Man exited at the last with the race looking at his mercy.

Jeremy Scott’s mare Golden Ace took full advantage to triumph at 25-1 in the hands of Lorcan Williams, with Burdett Road second at 66-1.

An upbeat Henderson said after enjoying a one-two with Jeriko Du Reponet and Doddiethegreat at the Kildare track on Thursday: “Constitution Hill arrived last night and with him it wouldn’t matter where he was. It just doesn’t bother him one dot. If he got flustered, I’d be worried!

“He’s in good form and it will be a fascinating race and it is a decider between three of them really, and there’s three others in the race as well.”

Constitution Hill also fell at Aintree, and Henderson went on: “These falls are pretty stupid at the end of the day and I hope we’ve got them out of our vocabulary and we can have a clean fight.”

With Nico de Boinville sidelined, James Bowen will ride Constitution Hill for the first time, and Henderson added: “It’s good for everybody that the two horses (Jeriko Du Reponet and Doddiethegreat) have come and run like that. It’s great for James. He had a good walk around with Barry (Geraghty) and he knows where he is going.”

James Bowen celebrates victory with Jeriko Du Reponet
James Bowen celebrates victory with Jeriko Du Reponet (Brian Lawless/PA)

Bowen said after was a confidence-boosting success with Jeriko Du Reponet: “I’ve never had a winner over in Ireland, so it’s great.

“I’ve worked him (Constitution Hill) and schooled him and hopefully all goes well. I didn’t ride him (this morning), but I saw him out and he looks good.”

Scott, meanwhile, is hopeful Golden Ace can repeat the trick in what is undoubtedly a must-see event.

The Somerset trainer said: “She’s very well. I’m very, very happy with her. She left on Wednesday morning and I’m very happy with the preparation.

“Who knows what would have happened had they stood up, but we’ll get a bit more of an answer. It’s a different track, and from my point of perspective huge expectation, but obviously we’d like her to prove herself a worthy Champion Hurdle winner.

Trainer Jeremy Scott celebrates Golden Ace's Champion Hurdle success
Trainer Jeremy Scott celebrates Golden Ace’s Champion Hurdle success (David Davies/The Jockey Club)

“That was always the plan (a rest) having had a couple of quick runs so she’s going there fresh and well.

“They’re telling me they are aiming for good to soft and if they achieve that then I’ll be very happy on that.”

Following her trip to Ireland the daughter of Golden Horn will have a well-earned summer break before a likely shot at defending her title at the Cheltenham Festival next season.

Scott added: “(She’ll have) a good holiday. I would imagine the Champion Hurdle is the plan again next season. We’ll get through Friday and it slightly depends on how that goes and that guides you where you’ll end up, but all things being equal I think that’s where we’d like to go again.”

Lorcan Williams aboard Golden Ace at Cheltenham
Lorcan Williams aboard Golden Ace at Cheltenham (Adam Davy/PA)

Like Constitution Hill, State Man is out for redemption and Patrick Mullins, assistant trainer to his father, Willie, is relishing the opportunity.

The 2024 Champion Hurdle victor looked all set to go back-to-back when his spill at the final obstacle handed victory to Golden Ace on a plate.

He is bidding to win this particular prize for the third year in succession, and Mullins said: “State Man was unlucky and lucky at Cheltenham.

“It was an awful fall. It was great that he got up. He seemed 100 per cent afterwards. It doesn’t seem to have knocked his confidence at all so it’s going to be fascinating to see the two English horses come over and take him on, on home soil.

“I think he was well in the process of redeeming his reputation at Cheltenham and I would be expecting him to redeem it even further at Punchestown, so bring it on!”

Mullins also has Cheltenham Festival winner Kargese in the field, with the six-strong line-up completed by Ian Donoghue’s Break My Soul and Aidan Melia’s Bottler’secret.

Constitution Hill declared for Punchestown assignment

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Constitution Hill has been declared for his eagerly-anticipated Punchestown Festival appearance in the Boodles Champion Hurdle on Friday evenine.

Nicky Henderson had stated his intention to visit Ireland with his hurdling star after he suffered the first loss of his career when falling in this year’s Champion Hurdle.

The Seven Barrows flagbearer also came to grief on his next outing in the Aintree Hurdle and arrives at the Kildare track for what is a mouthwatering clash with Willie Mullins’ State Man – another to fall in the Champion Hurdle – with questions to answer for the first time in his illustrious career.

There is also a change of jockey for Constitution Hill, with James Bowen deputising for the injured Nico de Boinville, while the eight-year-old will face five rivals that include Jeremy Scott’s Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace and one of Mullins’ Festival winners in Kargese.

Henderson open-minded on Constitution Hill Royal Ascot run

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Nicky Henderson has left the door open for a tantalising Gold Cup tilt with Constitution Hill after the hurdling star was entered for the Royal Ascot showpiece.

The 2023 Champion Hurdle hero is set to strut his stuff at Punchestown on Friday in a bid to get back to winning ways following falls at both Cheltenham and Aintree so far this spring, but the Seven Barrows handler is keen to give him the option of trying his hand on the Flat during the summer.

“It’s something we’ve discussed over the last couple of years to be fair,” Henderson told the PA news agency.

“Due to the fact he’s had two tumbles, you could say Flat racing is a good idea, but that’s not really the point and it’s something we’ve mulled over and discussed for a good year or so.

Constitution Hill has met his challenges over hurdles this term
Constitution Hill has met his challenges over hurdles this term (Bradley Collyer/PA)

“I know we schooled him over fences, as you saw in the film I put out on Sunday, but he won’t be going chasing and the Flat is another option.

“We have every intention of running at Punchestown on Friday and the plan is to travel on Wednesday, but after that we will take a view.”

The Constitution Hill team once considered heading over fences, but running in the Flat version of the Gold Cup rather than the three-and-a-quarter-mile Cheltenham edition appears more likely after he was one of 25 entries for one of the highlights of the Royal meeting.

Potential rivals include Aidan O’Brien’s Kyprios, who will hope to notch a third win in the Group One event, last year’s St Leger winner Jan Brueghel and James Owen’s dual-purpose performer Burdett Road, a regular challenger to Constitution Hill over hurdles.

However, there is plenty still to be considered before the 10-times hurdles winner is given the go-ahead to deviate from timber for the first time in his illustrious career.

Nicky Henderson with his pride and joy Constitution Hill
Nicky Henderson with his pride and joy Constitution Hill (Adam Davy/PA)

Henderson continued: “I’m certainly not ruling it in, but I’m certainly not ruling it out, otherwise I wouldn’t have put him in the race.

“There are two drawbacks to Ascot and one is the ground. Then you have to consider the timing, it’s June but then that is not too far away and it’s not like you have to keep him going forever.

“I’m not going to rule it out, but you also have to consider he’s never been in a starting stall and then he’s probably more of a two-miler than a two-and-a-half-miler over hurdles, in which case does he even stay two and a half on the Flat.

“The ground would be the most obvious reason not to do it, but every now and then you do get a slow-ground Royal Ascot. We’ll just see what happens this week (at Punchestown) and the next couple of weeks as well.”

‘See you at Punchestown!’ Henderson ‘couldn’t be happier’ with Constitution Hill

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Constitution Hill remains on course to run at the Punchestown Festival on Friday after delighting Nicky Henderson in a Sunday morning session over fences at Seven Barrows.

The eight-year-old will travel to Ireland on a recovery mission following falls in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Aintree Hurdle, but Henderson appears more than happy with his well-being.

In a post on X, he said: “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.”

Constitution Hill running loose after falling at Aintree
Constitution Hill running loose after falling at Aintree (Mike Egerton/PA)

Henderson confirmed last Friday that he had given his stable star the “green light” to head to Punchestown for the Boodles Champion Hurdle, “barring any hiccups” in a weekend spin over obstacles.

It will come as a surprise to many that Constitution Hill jumped fences rather than hurdles under Bowen, who will deputise for sidelined stable jockey Nico de Boinville.

But Henderson added: “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 (Buckley, owner) and James 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.”

Constitution Hill after falling in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham
Constitution Hill after falling in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham (Ashley Iveson/PA)

The trainer also issued an upbeat post-race report on Jonbon after he found the Willie Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps too strong when bidding for a third victory in Sandown’s Celebration Chase on Saturday.

“I’m pleased to report that Jonbon has come out of Sandown in good form. He’s understandably quite tired, but he’s been to every party and is such a warrior,” he said.

“It was unfortunate he bumped into a fresh horse but he beat Energumene and Edwardstone like he did at Ascot and if he was going to get beaten by anyone, it was always going to be by a Willie Mullins horse. That is, however, not in any way to detract from what a remarkable training performance it was.

“Well done, Willie; see you at Punchestown!”

Henderson gives ‘green light’ for Constitution Hill’s Punchestown run

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Nicky Henderson has confirmed Constitution Hill will run at the Punchestown Festival “barring any hiccups” in a planned schooling session in the coming days.

The Seven Barrows handler floated the idea of running in Ireland after Constitution Hill fell in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, but then opted to send him to the Aintree Hurdle earlier this month, where he again came to grief at the penultimate obstacle.

With regular partner Nico de Boinville currently sidelined, James Bowen rode Constitution Hill in a gallop on Friday morning and the eight-year-old is on course for the Boodles Champion Hurdle on May 2, pending a satisfactory schooling spin.

“The news is good, and I’m delighted to say that we will give the green light for Constitution Hill to run at Punchestown next Friday,” Henderson said in his Unibet blog.

“James Bowen rode him, which is ironic because the last time he sat on him was a few years ago when we finally discovered that he had an engine! He was the first person to discover that he was actually any good!

“They worked on the Jockey Club Estates All-Weather gallop, which we refer to as ‘the back of the hill’ and everything went exactly as I’d wanted; it was super and he is in great form and I couldn’t have asked for more.

“He will school either tomorrow or Sunday and barring any hiccups he’ll be heading off to the Emerald Isle.”

Mark Walsh confirmed to ride Jonbon at Sandown

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Nicky Henderson has announced Mark Walsh will ride Jonbon for the first time in Saturday’s bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown, while James Bowen is in line to partner Constitution Hill if he is given the “double green light” to run at the Punchestown Festival next week.

With stable jockey Nico de Boinville sidelined by injury, the Seven Barrows handler is having to make alternative riding arrangements for his two stable stars.

Speaking in his Unibet blog, Henderson said: “Firstly I want to say thank you to everyone for their thoughts and kind messages following Nico’s fall, which we have passed onto him. He is now back at home and will need to rest. We don’t know exactly when he’ll be back riding but we wish him a speedy recovery.

“In the meantime we do have to make riding plans for our horses and Mark Walsh will come over to Sandown Park on Saturday to ride Jonbon.”

Having gone unbeaten in his first 10 career starts, Constitution Hill has suffered successive falls in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Aintree Hurdle.

Henderson has left open the option of a first trip to Ireland for the Punchestown Champion Hurdle, but a final decision on his participation has yet to be made.

He added: “Constitution Hill has an important gallop on Friday and he will be partnered by James Bowen. If that goes well they will school together over the weekend and if we get a double green light so to speak, then we can all head over to Punchestown. Everything hinges on how this weekend goes.”

The trainer could also send his star juvenile Lulamba to Ireland’s end-of-season meeting, saying: “Lulamba is in great form and could also head over. It’s a brave shout but I’m very happy with him and James would also take the ride if we line up.”

De Boinville due to head home after overnight hospital stay

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Nico de Boinville was set to head home on Tuesday after spending the night in hospital following a fall at Plumpton.

The 35-year-old was treated on track and reported to be conscious before being taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton for further assessment, after parting company with Nicky Henderson’s As The Fella Says at the first flight in the Southern Cranes Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

“Nico is fine and he will be on his way home today, hopefully he is all good,” said De Boinville’s agent Sam Stronge.

“He got a nasty fall, but I’ve spoken to him this morning and he’s set to go home today and we’ll know more in the next few days.”

It is still to be determined when De Boinville will return to the saddle in a week where one of his star mounts, Jonbon, is due to run in Sandown’s bet365 Celebration Chase on Saturday.

Stronge added: “I’m not sure what the plan will be and obviously Nico is not riding today, but I think he’s just going to get home, see how he is and go from there.”

All-important gallop set to determine whether Constitution Hill runs at Punchestown

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Constitution Hill faces a “crucial” gallop which will decide whether he runs at the Punchestown Festival on May 2 or not.

Nicky Henderson believes it will be easy to tell if the former champion hurdler – who enjoyed himself at the Lambourn Open Day on Good Friday – is in top shape after his falls at Cheltenham and Aintree.

“We had a parade of the old champs in the afternoon, Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Coneygree and I actually took Constitution Hill with them,” said Henderson, speaking on Nick Luck’s daily podcast on Monday.

“We were just trying to say ‘go and have a day out, walk round for 10 minutes and come home without getting too battered’, which he has been the last twice. It was a mental game really, I can’t say it made any difference and he just walked round like he does.

“I think he enjoyed the day, he went out yesterday and again this morning, he’s fresh and we’ve got to start making decisions shortly.

“I’m thinking he’s got to have a school and then one piece of work. That piece of work will determine whether we do or we don’t (go to Punchestown), it’s very simple.

“Nico (de Boinville) will have one ride on him, one piece of work and that will tell us. If he’s 100 per cent he will go and if he is 98 (per cent) he won’t, but we’re thinking he’s good.

“I don’t think we need to rethink anything in the autumn, we just start again. There’s only so many things you can do, we’ve had lots of advice needless to say, but he seems very bright at this particular moment.

“That gallop is going to be crucial and everything hinges on that. I hope we’ll be able to (go), so fingers crossed.”

Meanwhile, Henderson could have a part to play in the Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins trainers’ title battle, with Jonbon a likely favourite in the £175,000 bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

“Paddy (Murphy) is very happy with Jonbon, he’ll jump a fence tomorrow which tells him a race is coming,” said Henderson.

“He’s got lost in the Mullins and Skelton thing, but Dan asks every day ‘how’s Jonbon’ as he could hold the key with all that prize-money, Dan is very keen on Jonbon!

“I think it’s great for the game, it’s given National Hunt racing a big kick at the end of the season. Both have got their fans and supporters and everybody is watching all these races, the novice hurdles worth five grand that Dan can win are becoming important.

“We don’t need to export everything, the UK budget has already been moved to Ireland! We’re all very good mates, but Dan deserves to have one.”