NICKY Henderson thinks his crop of novice hurdlers this season could be among the best he’s ever had through Seven Barrows and that hunch will be put to the test today when Constitution Hill takes on the Grade 1 Unibet Tolworth Novice Hurdle (2.25) at Sandown.

The Michael Buckley-owned five-year-old is having only his second run over hurdles but is odds-on to give his trainer a record-extending sixth win in the race. With that said, Henderson, who is self-isolating after contracting Covid-19 this week, has yet to win this race with a real top-notcher and none of his previous five winners (two of which were owned by Buckley) went on to win at Cheltenham that season.

Constitution Hill is already in at second favourite behind Jonbon for the Supreme Novice Hurdle and may well usurp his stablemate today with an impressive performance. Jonbon, the £570,000 purchase, has yet to live up to that heft evaluation despite winning both his starts this season, but in muddling-pace affairs.

Constitution Hill really warmed the clock over the Tolworth course and distance when scooting away from an average field - he ran the last furlong nearly a second and a half faster than any other horse on the same card.

He takes on five rivals today, three of which have won their last two starts, though it may be the Gary Moore-trained Shallwehaveonemore that gives him most to do. He was second at Ascot on his sole start this season but ran with plenty of promise given he ran freely.

In truth, even with Constitution Hill’s potential, you could say that if Nicky Henderson had to self-isolate on one weekend of the jumps season proper, this one would be up there, with quality contests sparse after a hectic Christmas period.

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However the final of the Veterans Handicap Chase Series (3.00) will be popular and a much more attractive betting heat, which is headed by the Venetia Williams-trained Aso.

There are 65 wins between the 13 runners and although there are no Grade 1 winners in there, time and mileage is perhaps the most pertinent test of any National Hunt horse and each owner(s) of each horse involved has most likely had their money’s worth over the last six or seven years.

Aso came close to winning a Grade 1, having finished second to Frodon in 2019 Ryanair Chase, and he looks attractively handicapped. His nine wins is the joint best total on offer in the race, alongside the Fergal O’Brien-trained 13-year-old Final Nudge, who recorded his latest win with a game effort at Warwick in November.

Earlier on the card two Irish mares, Skyace and Gauloise, meet again in a mares’ listed contest (12.40). The pair were first and second in the Grade 1 Mares’ Novice Hurdle Championship Final at Fairyhouse last Easter. Gauloise, trained by Willie Mullins, is favourite for what will be her seasonal debut, just ahead of Lucy Wadham’s Martello Sky, who has been in great form this season and was a game winner at Cheltenham last time.

DUNVEGAN seems to be a very popular horse among the racing social media betting fraternity and he will likely have plenty of support tomorrow when he bids to finally land a deserved big pot in the €100,000 Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase (2.20) at Fairyhouse.

Pat Fahy’s nine-year-old made it three wins from three runs at Fairyhouse with a course-and-distance win at the end of November but the Carlow trainer feels a change in tactics more than the course proved key to that run.

In any case, the Fairyhouse factor is no negative for Dunvegan and Fahy also feels that softer ground tomorrow will also aid the cause.

“I think everyone seemed to be saying it was the right thing to come back to this race so we decided to skip Christmas,” Fahy told The Irish Field yesterday. “The ground was quick when he won there the last day and I don’t think it took a lot of getting, a lot of horses could staying going in it, so for him to fend them all off I think bodes well.

“He should be much better with a bit of ease in it. I don’t know what it is about Fairyhouse, he was impressive in his maiden hurdle there but elsewhere he’s just been an unlucky horse. He’s been brought down, he’s been crowded out of his fences at vital stages and he’s had horses jump into him.

“We went out in front with him the last day and I think that’s the secret to him - out in front and don’t be getting in his way, he’s a big lepper, so let him fly at his fences.”

Bryan Cooper rode Dunvegan for that previous course win and he’s on board today, while Fahy has booked Davy Russell for his other runner, Castlegrace Paddy.

A triple Grade 2 winner, Castlegrace Paddy pulled up on his seasonal debut in the PWC Chase at Gowran but was reported to have had blood in his nostrils.

“Castlegrace Paddy looks to be back right again,” Fahy said. “We won’t be sure until we run him but on his homework I’m extremely happy with him. He’s come through everything and we’ve treated him for his bleeding issue last time in Gowran and he’s in great form.”