AINTREE is off the agenda for jumps star Constitution Hill and owner Michael Buckley believes his pride and joy would receive a “very, very special” reception if successful at Punchestown.
Trained by Nicky Henderson, Constitution Hill remains unbeaten in ten completed starts Under Rules, although of course he fell behind Golden Ace when trying to win a second Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last week.
Constitution Hill makes his way back at Cheltenham having fallen in the Champion Hurdle – now he will look for redemption at Punchestown rather than Aintree[/caption]
Both Punchestown’s Champion Hurdle on May 2 and the William Hill Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles on April 3 would be reasonable options for Constitution Hill following his Cheltenham exit.
The son of Blue Bresil landed the Liverpool race in 2023 denying Sharjah by three lengths, although had had to be nudged out for a comfortable success.
My Saturday NAP
This jockey-trainer combo won the Ultima with the bottom-weight Myretown and I think they can go close again here with a similar sort.
However, Buckley told me: “Constitution Hill is not going to Aintree and all being well we are going to Punchestown.
“We have a plan to brush up his jumping as he’s just started to take things too easy. He’s almost too good.
“So he’ll be doing plenty of schooling to hopefully sort things out.”
Buckley has enjoyed significant success in Ireland, most recently with Rock the World who took the Grade 3 Ballybrit Novices’ Chase at Galway in 2015.
His Beat That also landed a Grade 1 novice at Punchestown in 2014.
“The Irish come to Cheltenham and are hugely competitive,” Buckley added.
“I’m sure Willie Mullins has an aspiration to win every race at the Festival.
“And the one thing about the Irish is that they do love very good horses. They are fans of good horses.
“If Constitution Hill gets to Ireland and he happens to run well and win I think the reception will be very, very special. Amazing.
“Constitution Hill has obviously won at Aintree, but he is particularly good at two miles, and we discussed going to Ireland earlier in the season.
“We just hoped we would going there having won the Champion for a second time.”
One horse who could be in the Aintree Hurdle or indeed the slightly longer Liverpool Hurdle is the improving Altobelli, trained by Harry Fry.
Altobelli has won two decent handicaps at Ascot this season, and connections are now keen to go for gold.
“Altobelli’s form keeps getting franked,” trainer Harry Fry said.
“Most recently by Aston Martini, who he beat in January and who scored at Kempton the other day, and by Joyeux Machin who was second to him in Febraury and who should have won at Uttoxeter.
“We decided not to run in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham and step up in trip for either the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle or the Aintree hurdle.
“He’s gone up 15lb for his two wins so we thought we’d rather find out how good he is in a Grade 1 than another handicap.”
Fry also had news on his crack novice chaser Gidleigh Park, who when last seen at Windsor destroyed impressive Cheltenham winner Caldwell Potter.
Not for the first time he had a heart issue after that success, but all is well now.
“Gidleigh Park is on course for Aintree – that’s what we are working to,” Fry said.
“He’s gone up 4lb without leaving his box this week with Caldwell Potter winning at Cheltenham – he’ll be entered in the two and a half mile Grade 1 novice chase at Aintree and the two mile Grade 1.
“The ground will probably decide where we go, but the Grade 1 novice on the Saturday is an hour after the Grand National which is annoying.
“I did take it up with the Jockey Club last week as I can’t understand why there is a Grade 1 after the big race.
“It’s also not ideal for a horse like Gidleigh Park as he will be amongst the atmosphere of Grand Nationnal day for longer than we would want.”
Gidleigh Park goes everywhere with a heart monitor at his yard.
“We noticed something not right in a schooling session after Windsor and it told us his heart wasn’t quite right,” Fry said.
“Luckily it reset almost immediately. There is nothing wrong with him at all it’s just he has a very large heart – a big organ.
“While in some ways it’s a blessing in others it’s not so good.”
There will be a hearty reception should Gidleigh Park score at Aintree, while Consititution Hill will no doubt feel the love at Punchestown.
This jumps season is far from over.
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