Whether to run Constitution Hill in the Unibet Champion Hurdle is proving to be "the biggest headache" of Nicky Henderson's life, but a decision will be made at the weekend, following a schooling session over timber on Wednesday.
The former champion put his jumping woes behind him with a devastating display in his first run on the Flat at Southwell on Friday – but now Henderson and owner Michael Buckley have to decide whether the reward outweighs the risk for a horse who has fallen three times in his last four runs over hurdles.
"It’s been staggering, that was one of the most extraordinary nights we will experience," said Henderson of the publicity the outing at Southwell generated.
"We went home thinking we’d just been through something that was surreal, and it was followed up the next day by the press and on the television.
"It’s been unbelievable, I think it’s been wonderful. We’re in this game because we love it and that’s what it comes down to, you love horses. It’s fantastic game and if that’s what racing can do for people then we are very lucky.
"I’m just in the privileged position of having this guy that is causing the biggest headache of my life! But it also created what was one of the greatest days of my whole term in this office. It was extraordinary."
Henderson will make a decision on Cheltenham following the midweek schooling session.
"We’re going to do something tomorrow and then Michael and I have got to sit down, it is as simple as that. I appreciate the interest and that’s why we’ve got to make a decision," said the Seven Barrows handler, speaking at Kempton Park on Tuesday.
"Absolutely everybody has an opinion. I’ve got two great piles of paper, and then all the ones from people telling me how to school him over the years! The postbox is rammed full.
"It’s 50:50, I promise you. Every day I change my mind, but we’ve got to make a decision.
"The one thing he did do the other night was that he must have opened himself up to some sort of Flat career. Why didn’t the idiotic trainer realise this five years ago? Then it would be simple, wouldn’t it?"
Asked about Royal Ascot and even the Melbourne Cup, Henderson said: "The Ascot Gold Cup is a different ball game, there are two things against that. One is getting the ground we would run him on, he’s a very big, heavy horse. Secondly, I don’t think he’d stay two and a half miles.
"He’d get two miles, obviously, but I don’t think he’d want any further.
"The ground would be a concern in Melbourne, you’d be thinking about a spring and autumn campaign where you’d take June and July and probably try to get a break in there."
