Constitution Hill will not line up in next month’s Unibet Champion Hurdle after trainer Nicky Henderson confirmed the former champion will not return to hurdles, bringing an end to hopes of a dramatic Cheltenham Festival comeback.

The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner had been at the centre of intense speculation throughout the week, with bookmakers reporting significant market movement on Wednesday lunchtime as uncertainty surrounded the outcome of a key schooling session at Henderson’s Lambourn yard.

Following careful deliberation, Henderson released a statement confirming the decision had been made alongside owner Michael Buckley.

"Michael Buckley and I have not surprisingly spent a lot of time soul searching and thinking over Constitution Hill's future and have sadly concluded that he will not be running in the Unibet Champion Hurdle the week after next.

"This is a sad day for a lot of us, particularly the National Hunt fraternity that would have liked to have seen Constitution Hill try to regain his crown and sad for all here, especially Nico [de Boinville], who has spent so much time trying to iron out our jumping issues.

"However, he leaves the jumping world sound, happy and ready for the next chapter. It has been a staggering journey so far and Michael has had to endure some dark days, but of course enjoyed the enormous highs and thrills of an extraordinary horse."

Henderson had admitted earlier in the week that he had been changing his mind “every day” regarding the gelding’s participation at Cheltenham, underlining just how finely balanced the decision had become ahead of the schooling test.

Despite recent jumping concerns — including falls in three of his last four hurdle starts, notably when attempting to regain his Champion Hurdle crown at last season’s Festival — Constitution Hill had remained a clear favourite with most bookmakers prior to Wednesday’s work.

Ultimately, connections felt a return to hurdles was no longer in the horse’s best interests, with Henderson suggesting it simply “isn’t fair” to ask him to jump again after the challenges encountered in recent outings.

Attention now turns to a new phase of the superstar’s career, with his future expected to lie solely on the Flat. While the National Hunt world loses one of its brightest talents, Constitution Hill departs the jumping scene sound and well, leaving behind memories of brilliance and the promise of an intriguing new chapter still to come.