Trainer Nicky Henderson has issued an upbeat bulletin on leading Cheltenham Festival hopes Constitution Hill and Jonbon.
Henderson was speaking at the BoyleSports Cheltenham Preview night in aid of SVP at the Bardic Theatre in Donaghmore, Co Tyrone last Friday night.
The Champion Hurdle favourite, currently a 2/7 shot with Boylesports, was a facile winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival and is one of the shortest priced favourites of this year’s meeting.
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When quizzed by David Jennings from the Racing Post, Henderson revealed that he was struggling to find horses to work with his superstar.
“The trouble is, finding horses to work with him is a bit of a problem. He is just complete different gravy to be honest with you,” said Henderson.
“We’ve got some very good horses, but I can’t afford to use the rest of the Cheltenham team up just to keep him happy, so he can laugh at them.
“He could do that with the lot of them, but it’s not going to do them any good, so it isn’t the easiest thing in the world.
“He’s in very very good order. Nico (de Boinville) rode him this morning, and unfortunately, it’s still very dry over here.
“We’re only working on the all weather and I prefer to be on grass, but we can do plenty of work.”
When asked if Constitution Hill is different from Henderson’s other Festival heroes, the Lamborn-based trainer replied: “It's very hard to say that. He’s only had five races in his life.
“It’s very easy to get carried away. He’s barely out of Novice really, but what he’s done, (and he’s done it each time, that’s the amazing thing) is, he’s just been flawless.
“He just eats and sleeps and works. It’s like a book – it’s A,B,C. I think the strongest thing about him is his whole mind game.
“His attitude to life is wonderful, his attitude to racing, the atmosphere isn’t going to get to him, you could go as far as you’d like, you could go as short as you’d like, you could jump anything you’d like.
“I’m not going to run him in the Cross Country but otherwise anything else is an option.”
Henderson also admitted he was relishing the upcoming rematch between Jonbon and the Willie Mullins-trained El Fabiolo in the Arkle.
Jonbon won by a neck when they locked horns in the Betway Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree last year, but is currently 7/4 with Boylesports behind El Fabiolo, who is a 6/4 chance.
“Yeah, I think he’ll (Jonbon) win by a bit further this time. I think it will be a tough fight,” added Henderson.
“I think Willie’s got a battalion in there that are going to take him on. He’s done nothing wrong. I do think Warwick was a bit of a wake-up call.
“We’re happy with where we are. He had a really good blow at Warwick – it was the first time he actually had to get into a fight.
“He’s very versatile. He can make the running, but he doesn’t have to. “You could do most things with him, and he looks fantastic. We think he’s in very good form and everything has gone right really.”
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