Unibet Hurdle: Constitution Hill tries to make up for lost time with Cheltenham win, Nicky Henderson tells Unbridled | Racing news

Constitution Hill is back! In the latest episode of Unbridled, Matt Chapman and Paddy Brennan are joined on the phone by master Nicky Henderson for the latest on his superstar ahead of Saturday’s visit to Cheltenham.

The Champion Hurdle favorite returned to the top of his game with a win over Lossiemouth in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The two could meet again this weekend in the Grade 2 Unibet Hurdle before heading to the Festival in March.

2024 was mostly a year of disappointment and disruption for Constitution Hill, but now he’s firing on all cylinders again and Henderson is looking to make up for lost time.

Henderson said: “I couldn’t be happier with him, he’s been in great form.

“As you know this wasn’t really the plan. Immediately after Kempton we were thinking of going straight to Cheltenham in March but he’s come back so well so we feel we have to go.

“We missed a lot last year so let’s try to make up for it.”

Strong Leader is another top horse on the comeback trail as he tries to bounce back from a poor effort in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Trainer Olly Murphy thinks he has found the cause of this and is looking forward to facing Cramb again in the Cleeve Hurdle.

He told Unbridled: “He’s had the wind and, if he gets back to his best, he’s the one to beat.

“I hope that the operation really helped him and that the race was interrupted a bit.

“Crambo is the one to beat, but I wouldn’t trade my boy if he’s back to his best.

– So far, he has only been right-handed once and he was not comfortable in that race.