*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Antepost rules
Constitution Hill and Honeysuckle were two of the most talked about horses after their Cheltenham Festival wins. The Nicky Henderson-trained Constitution Hill bolted up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, beating his stablemate Jonbon in the festival opener by a staggering 22l.
A couple of hours later, Honeysuckle – with Rachael Blackmore on board – won her second consecutive Champion Hurdle, making it 15 out of 15 for the eight-year-old.
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While both horses were celebrated immediately after their successes, attention quickly turned to whether we could see Constitution Hill and Honeysuckle face off.
A battle in next year’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham seems inevitable, however, Constitution Hill owner Michael Buckley and Honeysuckle trainer Henry de Bromhead have both talked up the idea of a face off at Punchestown in April.
Buckley says Constitution Hill could be given two entries at the Punchestown Festival for the Champion Novice Hurdle and the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle.
However, when speaking on the latest edition of the From The Horses’ Mouth podcast, which reviews the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, Ruby Walsh says the Constitution Hill camp should hold off from facing Honeysuckle at Punchestown and instead wait for next year’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
You can listen to the show in full BELOW.
Ruby Walsh:
“I think there’s very little reward for Constitution Hill taking on Honeysuckle right now. Other than the spectacle, there isn’t much for the Constitution Hill camp to gain. The obvious benefit is the £125,000 prize pot, which is a good sum of money, but I doubt Michael Buckley needs that cash right now.
“The risk v reward doesn’t make sense to me. When Punchestown is over, Constitution Hill can never run in a Novice Hurdle again. He can run in the Novice Chase but not the Novice Hurdle.
“It makes more sense to send him to Punchestown, win, make it four wins from four. He can then mature and grow throughout the summer and maybe come back a better horse when he comes back next year to take on Honeysuckle.
“That would be my preference. It’s probably the way I’ve been taught. It could be an old school way of thinking but that’s what I’d be doing. I’d definitely go to Punchestown for the Grade 1 Novice and I’d have my eyes set on a clash with Honeysuckle at next year’s Champion Hurdle.
“Constitution Hill can run in a Christmas hurdle later this year and he won’t have Honeysuckle there. He then meets her at Cheltenham in March. That’s when I think we’ll all get to see that match.”
*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Antepost rules
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