The opening day of the Aintree Grand National meeting gave us one of the season’s biggest talking points, featuring Constitution Hill.

What next for him?

It’s a fascinating question, and I think the intrigue and opinions are all a little stronger with this horse than what they would be compared to others. It’s fair to say the horse splits opinions. While everyone agrees he’s a good one, some would argue we don’t respect him enough. He’s one of the greats, and others would say he’s incredibly overrated and under-raced.

I think regardless of where you sit with the horse, you can’t be anything other than intrigued at the prospect of what comes next, particularly if Team Henderson thinks outside of the box a little.

Summer Off, then Decide the Most Logical Option

There’s still talk of Constitution Hill going to Punchestown to race at their May festival. But after falling in the Champion Hurdle and then falling again at Aintree, I just don’t see how that’s a viable option for him.

Going over the Punchestown was a different step initially when it was mentioned. To still make that different step after back-to-back falls would be extremely surprising.

Let’s not forget that Nicky Henderson always goes on the side of caution. This move would be a risk. In my opinion, I just don’t see him taking it.

Of course, I’d love nothing more than to be proved wrong and give us another angle into a fascinating race over in Ireland next month, but I think common sense will prevail, and the horse will be given a summer break.

Hurdling or Chance Chasing?

To add a real layer of fascination to all of this, there’s been some talk on social media which I can definitely get behind, and that is around whether Constitution Hill should stay hurdling or go chasing.

He’s an excellent jumper when at his best, big enough to get over fences, and I (as many others do) think his errors have come from laziness and not respecting the obstacles enough.

If he’s all of a sudden got some chase fences in front of him, then to be brutally honest, he has no option but to respect them and to make sure he gets from one side to the other in the right way.

One of many favourites who failed to fire at Cheltenham, his unbeaten record and quest for multiple Champion Hurdle titles is not really a reason to keep the horse over hurdles anymore.

Whether we find out about it or not, I would not be surprised at all if Nicky Henderson schooled Constitution Hill over fences this summer when he came back in after being out on the grass.

Do I think it will happen? I’ll say no at this stage. I think hurdles will be where we’ll see him next, but I would love to see a switch-up.

My best guess, which all goes back to what we’ve said earlier about Nicky Henderson being cautious, is that the horse will remain over hurdles be given plenty of time and plenty of schooling at home before reappearing in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

It’s a race that Henderson has targeted time and time again. It’s also a race that’ll likely give Constitution Hill one of the easier opportunities of the season to win at Grade One level.

We probably won’t learn much if he goes there and stands up.

Regardless of what race we see him in next, the horse, rider and trainer will be under the most scrutiny and pressure they’ve ever been under.