Constitution Hill will not appear in next month’s Gold Cup at Royal Ascot after being scratched from the race.
The superstar hurdler was given the surprise option of switching codes, but that is now off the table following his disappointing climax to the jumps season.
The Michael Buckley-owned eight-year-old was a shadow of his former self at Punchestown this month when trailing home in fifth, after which trainer Nicky Henderson said he would be given a “physical and mental break”.
Prior to that, the 2023 Champion Hurdle winner failed to complete at either Cheltenham or Aintree after suffering falls at the big spring festivals.
His mishap in the Champion Hurdle ended his unbeaten run of ten races and then his deflating performance in finishing 27 lengths behind State Man in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle was his first defeat in completed starts.
In a post-race veterinary check at Punchestown, he was found to have grazes to his right hind cannonbone and to be sore, with Henderson reporting the following day that he was sore but fine.
Serious doubts were cast over the possibility of Constitution Hill running in the Gold Cup on June 19, for which he had been priced at 20-1, and the confirmation came with his official scratching on Friday morning.
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Published on inBritain
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