Every Effort Will Be Made by Henderson for Constitution Hill

Nicky Henderson remains optimistic about Constitution Hill's chances of defending his Unibet Champion Hurdle title, despite concerns raised after a lacklustre workout at Kempton Park.

The unbeaten superstar will undergo another "rescoping" session on Friday to assess his condition.

Henderson, a familiar face at the Sunbury circuit, took a group of his Festival hopefuls for a test run, including Constitution Hill, who has only competed once this season in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Following the disappointing workout, bookmakers swiftly suspended betting markets as Henderson revealed that Constitution Hill had scoped poorly.

"Unfortunately, in today's gallop, Constitution Hill was below par, and subsequent examination revealed the presence of mucus,"

said Henderson.

Despite the setback, Henderson remains hopeful that Constitution Hill can recover in time for Cheltenham. The superstar had excelled in previous sessions, but unforeseen issues, similar to those earlier in the year, have arisen. Henderson acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Constitution Hill's participation but expressed optimism about a potential recovery.

In an update on social media, Henderson shared that Constitution Hill's tracheal wash revealed a slight increase in neutrophils, indicating a respiratory infection. The horse will begin a course of antibiotics and will be closely monitored ahead of another scope session on Friday.

Although Constitution Hill's odds fluctuated, with Willie Mullins' State Man gaining favouritism, Henderson and his team are determined to address the issue promptly to ensure the horse's well-being and potential participation at Cheltenham.