Ascot Coral Hurdle: Nicky Henderson says Constitution Hill is doing a little ‘freakish’ issues as Champion Hurdle dream begins

There is an awesome theme amongst these fortunate sufficient to cross paths with Constitution Hill: He is something however regular.

His coach Nicky Henderson goes so far as to label the Champion Hurdle favorite a ‘freak’, describing his work from home this week as “frightening”.

After dominating all earlier than him final season, taking two Grade One titles together with some of the memorable Cheltenham Festival victories in latest reminiscence within the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, all eyes are again on the five-year-old as he begins a brand new marketing campaign within the Coral Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday, reside on Sky Sports Racing.

Henderson has seen all of it and is not any stranger to a famous person, lifting the Champion Hurdle crown on a document eight events with 5 completely different horses, but the Seven Barrows maestro nonetheless finds himself in awe.

Asked how Constitution Hill compares to his previous Champion Hurdle victors, Henderson advised Sky Sports Racing: “Well, you’d need to say he is doing a little very freakish issues.

“Through the summer time we have been saying to ourselves: ‘Can this actually be true or what’s all of it a fluke?’

“The Supreme last year was just crazy and the stats backed it up: The time and the distance. That all said it wasn’t a fluke.”

The repute of each horse and coach stay intact as Ascot approaches.

Their each step on the highway to the Champion Hurdle, for which Constitution Hill is already as quick as 6/5 favorite, shall be scrutinised and debated, however Henderson is relishing the problem.

“There’s obviously pressure but there’s also a lot of pleasure and that’s what keeps you going,” Henderson mentioned.

He makes your life very simple. It’s like sitting on a driving faculty pony half the time. He simply involves life on the gallops. I’ve by no means felt something prefer it, it’s like driving a Flat horse

“He is an extraordinary character as you can see when he’s walking around the yard, you wouldn’t give six pence for him because he looks half asleep. He eats and he sleeps but he does work.

“That’s certainly one of his strengths. His thoughts recreation is extremely good and when he is doing his work, he simply follows alongside and he does it.”

Constitution Hill’s relaxed nature has been evident from very early on, with former Champion Hurdle-winning jockey Barry Geraghty – who was tasked with helping the horse school as a three-year-old – feeling comfortable enough to sit his then six-year-old daughter on the gelding’s back.

“I used to be ringing Barry up and saying: ‘For goodness sake, you advised me this was horse,” Henderson said. “He’s displaying me nothing!’ He mentioned: ‘I promise you, I promise you!’

“One morning somebody found the button that you have to press and once we found that he could go through a race with the same thing.

“Once we are saying go, he goes!”

‘I’ve little doubt Energumene needs a rematch’

Another horse who is aware of all about carrying the mantle as Henderson’s hottest prospect is Shishkin, a former Supreme winner himself from 2020.

Sent over fences for the 2020/21 marketing campaign, the Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned star gained all 5 begins as a novice chaser earlier than including final season’s Desert Orchid and Clarence House titles to his spectacular CV.

The latter race at Ascot produced one of many finishes of the 12 months as Shishkin outbattled Willie Mullins’ Energumene in an exhilarating duel.

The pair met once more in a highly-anticipated rematch within the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March, just for all of it to collapse in entrance of Henderson’s eyes as Shishkin was pulled up after leaping simply eight fences.

“It seemed bizarre because we thought he was in great order the day before and yet the day after he was so bad, you wouldn’t know which leg he was lame on,” Henderson mentioned. “They discovered 5 completely different hotspots which have been inflicting it.

“I’ve no doubt Energumene is looking forward to a rematch.

“You’ve received to name it 1-1 however I do not assume it actually was as a result of we have been pulled up earlier than the fence so I do not assume Energumene can actually declare to have overwhelmed us.

“But, he [Shishkin] has got to come back to his best and that’s going to be quite a tall order.”

Like Constitution Hill, he’s very laid again and is aware of his job. He has his days when he’ll throw a form and hold you in your toes however I don’t thoughts that in any respect

Having efficiently begun his personal chasing profession at Warwick on Wednesday, Henderson shall be hoping Jonbon – second to Constitution Hill within the Supreme earlier than touchdown his personal Grade One prize at Aintree – can observe within the footsteps of Shishkin.

He is now a basic 7/4 for the Arkle on the Cheltenham Festival, a race gained by his stablemate in 2021.

“He’s a beautiful horse,” Henderson mentioned. “He’s the absolute opposite to Constitution Hill in that he’ll get pretty warm at the races. He’s naturally just a free sweater and gets himself a little on edge.”

It’s not that he’s naughty, he simply likes to do his personal factor each morning. If you retain him in his routine, he’s a cheerful horse and loves his work

In the identical colors of highly effective proprietor JP McManus, 2020 Champion Hurdle winner Epatante is all set to make her seasonal return within the Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on November 26, reside on Sky Sports Racing.

The eight-year-old took the race in 2020 however needed to share the spoils final 12 months after ending in a dramatic dead-heat with Hughie Morrison’s Not So Sleepy.

That counted as certainly one of three Grade One successes final season as she went on to gather the Christmas Hurdle prize at Kempton and the Aintree Hurdle over two-and-a-half-miles in April.

“She had a good year last year, winning two-and-a-half Grade Ones if you take into account the dead-heat in the Fighting Fifth,” Henderson mentioned.

She’s an absolute pleasure and it makes my day coming in to experience her. Dare I say it, I believe she’s higher once more this 12 months. She’s come again stronger and has her confidence again

“She was very good at two-and-a-half at Aintree so that opens a few doors this season as well.

“She’s working very nicely. She’s carrying a little bit of situation however she’s at all times a bit like that.”