All-important gallop set to determine whether Constitution Hill runs at Punchestown

Constitution Hill faces a “crucial” gallop which will decide whether he runs at the Punchestown Festival on May 2 or not.

Nicky Henderson believes it will be easy to tell if the former champion hurdler – who enjoyed himself at the Lambourn Open Day on Good Friday – is in top shape after his falls at Cheltenham and Aintree.

“We had a parade of the old champs in the afternoon, Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Coneygree and I actually took Constitution Hill with them,” said Henderson, speaking on Nick Luck’s daily podcast on Monday.

“We were just trying to say ‘go and have a day out, walk round for 10 minutes and come home without getting too battered’, which he has been the last twice. It was a mental game really, I can’t say it made any difference and he just walked round like he does.

“I think he enjoyed the day, he went out yesterday and again this morning, he’s fresh and we’ve got to start making decisions shortly.

“I’m thinking he’s got to have a school and then one piece of work. That piece of work will determine whether we do or we don’t (go to Punchestown), it’s very simple.

“Nico (de Boinville) will have one ride on him, one piece of work and that will tell us. If he’s 100 per cent he will go and if he is 98 (per cent) he won’t, but we’re thinking he’s good.

“I don’t think we need to rethink anything in the autumn, we just start again. There’s only so many things you can do, we’ve had lots of advice needless to say, but he seems very bright at this particular moment.

“That gallop is going to be crucial and everything hinges on that. I hope we’ll be able to (go), so fingers crossed.”

Meanwhile, Henderson could have a part to play in the Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins trainers’ title battle, with Jonbon a likely favourite in the £175,000 bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

“Paddy (Murphy) is very happy with Jonbon, he’ll jump a fence tomorrow which tells him a race is coming,” said Henderson.

“He’s got lost in the Mullins and Skelton thing, but Dan asks every day ‘how’s Jonbon’ as he could hold the key with all that prize-money, Dan is very keen on Jonbon!

“I think it’s great for the game, it’s given National Hunt racing a big kick at the end of the season. Both have got their fans and supporters and everybody is watching all these races, the novice hurdles worth five grand that Dan can win are becoming important.

“We don’t need to export everything, the UK budget has already been moved to Ireland! We’re all very good mates, but Dan deserves to have one.”