Henderson gives Constitution Hill "green light" to run at Punchestown

Nicky Henderson has given Constitution Hill the "green light" to run in the Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown next week following a pleasing workout on Friday morning.

The Seven Barrows handler hinted his star hurdler would run in Ireland following his fall in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but connections decided to contest the William Hill Aintree Hurdle earlier this month instead, but he fell again when appearing to be full of running at the penultimate obstacle.

With regular rider Nico de Boinville on the sidelines, James Bowen rode Constitution Hill in a gallop on Friday morning, and pleased connections.

The eight-year-old is now firmly on course for the Boodles Champion Hurdle on May 2, and is set for one more schooling spin.

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

"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."