Constitution Hill will not defend his title in the Champion Hurdle this year after Nicky Henderson ruled the seven-year-old out of the race in a statement today.

The Michael Buckley-owned gelding worked poorly at Kempton last week and was found to have scoped dirty afterwards, with his trainer ensuing that it would be a race against time to have him fit and ready for Cheltenham.

Henderson, posting on his Seven Barrows account on X/Twitter, revealed that the results of a blood test taken today "were quite a way from being satisfactory."

The statement read: "Very sadly we are going to have to admit defeat in the battle to get Constitution Hill ready for the Champion Hurdle and therefore have to declare that he will not be running there this year. He has undoubtedly improved over the weekend and seems noticeably brighter than he was at the end of last week and I really did think he was much perkier when ridden this morning.

"Unfortunately the all-important blood test shows that although the figures have also improved they are quite a way from being satisfactory for a horse to commence serious training and to race in a week's time.

"There are three significant markers on the blood test all of which have come down since Thursday's sample but are still raised enough to indicate that he is not fully recovered from whatever was ailing him. The only way to continue improvement is not to stress him and he obviously can't run in these Olympic games if he's not trained sufficiently.

"This is very sad for all of us and particularly Michael but is is in everybody's best interests that we ensure we have a fit and healthy Constitution Hill to win back his crown next year. As no further bulletins will be required I would just like to say how much we have all appreciated everybody's support and messages over the last week.

"Thank you all sincerely."