Nico de Boinville is well aware of the electrifying jumping prowess of Constitution Hill, leaving "no room for error" – especially in the white-hot cauldron of the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson's shining star is on a quest for a second consecutive triumph in the prestigious race, following last year's impressive nine-length victory over State Man. Opinions vary on State Man's superior preparation this season, having secured four Grade One wins since their previous encounter, while Constitution Hill has only made one appearance since April. Nevertheless, De Boinville firmly believes in Henderson's expertise in getting a horse to peak performance on the grand stage.
"I couldn't have been happier with him at Kempton. State Man has shown his prowess on the other side of the Irish Sea, but with four weeks remaining, we're keeping our fingers crossed,"
De Boinville revealed.
"I've been in similar situations before with horses like Altior, where last-minute mishaps can occur. So, we're hoping for everything to go smoothly and have exceptional preparation”.
When discussing Constitution Hill's electrifying jumping technique, De Boinville continued,
"The feeling of having no margin for error is quite prominent due to the high speed at which we're racing, almost grazing the top bar. The Champion Hurdle will be run at a blistering pace, and we hope the deserving contender emerges victorious. Henderson is undoubtedly someone you can rely on. If not for the weather, we would have had two runs, and no one would be questioning anything as he would have participated in both the Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle. Unfortunately, the weather disrupted our plans. Hopefully, the upcoming spring will be eventful enough, with possibilities like Aintree and Punchestown after Cheltenham, provided he comes through it well”.
Henderson and De Boinville celebrated a successful day at Newbury, with Iberico Lord winning the Betfair Hurdle. More significantly, Shishkin secured his ticket to the Gold Cup with a straightforward victory after a season full of interruptions. De Boinville expressed his satisfaction, saying,
"It was highly encouraging. I heard someone describe him as an inconsistent horse, but I beg to differ. Once he sets off, he tends to deliver exceptional performances and is often in the vicinity of the winner's enclosure. I had no doubts on Saturday. From the moment I hopped on him in the paddock, he was eager and ready to go. As soon as we lined up, he was content, and off he went. I was pleased with his performance, and he showed good stamina, making it an excellent preparatory race for the Gold Cup".
Furthermore, De Boinville highlighted Shishkin's ability to finish strongly, regardless of the race distance. He mentioned the horse's occasional tendency to race lazily but praised his ability to pick up the pace when encouraged. De Boinville also expressed his confidence in Shishkin's capabilities, stating,
"I believe he's the best among the British contenders. I'm eagerly anticipating L'Homme Presse's performance at Ascot, but Galopin Des Champs certainly sets the standard. I'd like to think that we can give him a run for his money”.