Constitution Hill to gallop at Kempton Park on Tuesday

Constitution Hill will complete his Cheltenham Festival preparations with a gallop at Kempton Park on Tuesday morning.

The unbeaten eight-year-old undertook a similar workout 12 months ago and the lacklustre exercise proved to be the start of a number of issues that then kept him off the track for a full year.

Trainer Nicky Henderson found his 2023 Champion Hurdle hero to be suffering from a respiratory infection which scuppered a Cheltenham defence before a suspected bout of colic brought about an early end to his campaign last March.

Constitution Hill was pencilled in to return in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle in November but following a Newbury gallop where he was behind Sir Gino in November, he had short period of lameness that meant he did not hit the track until the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day.

He easily accounted for Lossiemouth on that occasion and a subsequent Trials day success at Cheltenham means he is the 4-7 favourite with the sponsors to regain his Unibet Champion Hurdle crown.

Despite last year’s troubles, Henderson has no qualms about revisiting his traditional Festival preparation, with JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Lulamba and his rival Palladium both set to have a spin after sidestepping a possible Kempton run on Saturday.

Speaking at the Sunbury track, Henderson said: “They’re all coming apart from Jonbon, Nico is quite keen for Constitution Hill to come.

“He did a bit of work yesterday (Friday) and Nico was very pleased with him, but we just think having a nice time around here will do him good. It won’t be any blistering head-shaking gallop, it will just be an away day rather than doing three strong pieces of work at home.

“Lulamba will be here and thank goodness I didn’t bring those four-year-olds here for the Adonis in that ground, that would have been a big mistake, so both Lulamba and Palladium will gallop.

“Jonbon is the one who won’t be here and he galloped this morning and I couldn’t be happier. But don’t forget he has run recently and doesn’t need it since the Clarence House. The rest will be here for a nice day out.”