Constitution Hill: Michael Buckley hits back at doubters as former Champion Hurdle star heads to Kempton

Constitution Hill’s owner Michael Buckley has hit back at doubters of his former Champion Hurdle winner, but says he “won’t be sticking any fingers up” if they retain their Christmas Hurdle crown.

The Nicky Henderson-trained star has not been seen since lifting the Boxing Day prize last year after a series of setbacks kept him off the track, missing the Cheltenham Festival with an infection and then suffering a bout of colic.

His first start of this year was further delayed after he was found to be lame ahead of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, but the injury proved to be fairly innocuous and the team have been working towards a return to Kempton next week.

His most recent issue came after a disappointing public workout at Newbury, leading some pundits and many members of the public to question whether he would ever recapture his peak form, with some even calling for his retirement.

Speaking on episode 5 of Unbridled with Matt Chapman and Paddy Brennan, Buckley said: “I’ve kept quiet but it doesn’t seem to be the case for those who do the writing. They all seem to know a huge amount about what he’s up to or not up to.

“I read these various journalists of the Racing Post and some of the stuff I found hysterical. Some of them seem to leave any intelligence they have at the door.

“I’m not that rich so I’m not like JP [McManus] and I don’t have that many horses so I suppose I feel a bit extra protective over him. Unsurprisingly, he’s very dear to us.

“He didn’t do much wrong when he won the Christmas Hurdle the second time, at which point he had eight wins in a row and seven Grade Ones. Any way you chop it, he’s pretty damn special.

“Now I have to hear that he should be retired. Before that gallop at Kempton he was 1-4 for the Champion Hurdle and today he’s washed up. It’s extraordinary to read the sort of c*** that people write.

“If he performs abysmally in the Christmas Hurdle then everyone will say his career is on a downward curve and maybe it’s time to call it day. But, if he runs a big race, even if he bustles up Lossiemouth, you can hardly say his career is over, and if he beats Lossiemouth he’ll probably go odds-on for the Champion Hurdle again.

“What are they all going to say then? ‘We got all that wrong’. It’ll be what it’ll be.”

Henderson issued a positive bulletin on Constitution Hill’s chances of making Kempton last week and Buckley said: “As we stand at the moment everything is fine. If he had had a normal preparation I’d just say yes.

“He’ll do a bit of work at the weekend and then that’s it. As far as I’m aware, we are intending to run on Boxing Day.”

Asked if he’d take extra joy from silencing the doubters, Buckley said: “I won’t be sticking any fingers up, that’s not really my style.

“First of all, if he wins it’ll be a hell of a training feat to beat this miracle horse of Rich Ricci’s without having had a run all year.”