Constitution Hill none the worse for Aintree fall, says Henderson

Constitution

Hill emerged unscathed from his fall on Thursday – but trainer Nicky Henderson admits there are “issues” to address with his star performer.

The eight-year-old suffered a shock tumble when odds-on favourite for last month’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, bringing an unceremonious end to his 10-race unbeaten run, and he again came to grief at the penultimate flight in the Aintree Hurdle when seemingly still travelling with ease under Nico de Boinville.

While stablemate Jonbon put his Cheltenham disappointment behind him with victory in Friday’s Melling Chase, could now try to get his career back on track at the Puchestown Festival on May 2, although his training team have work to do ahead of that target.

Henderson hailed De Boinville’s resilience in giving Jonbon a finely-judged ride and said: “That wasn’t a very easy day for any of us yesterday. We all feel that and I know he does, too.

“We have issues we’ve got to sort out with Hill, but he and I will work that one out. For him to come back and give a horse a ride like that today, that’s a great man.

“That (Punchestown) would be our intention. He’s back at home in Seven Barrows in his box and he was sound this morning.”

Henderson feels Constitution Hill remains unperturbed by his recent jumping blunders, adding: “Unlike Jonbon, he’s a very laid-back horse and it (the fall) certainly won’t worry him.

“If he’s OK, he’ll certainly go to Punchestown.”