THERE were major shockwaves sent through the Unibet Champion Hurdle market on Tuesday morning after news emerged that red-hot favourite Constitution Hill had scoped dirty after a disappointing pre-Cheltenham Festival workout at Kempton.

Nicky Henderson did not rule the unbeaten superstar out of his Cheltenham assignment but admitted it was a best-case scenario that the infection could clear up in a week ahead of attempting to defend his Champion Hurdle crown.

Ante-post markets saw major unease in the immediate aftermath, with State Man trading as short as nearly 1/2 on the Betfair Exchange, and Constitution Hill was trading close to 2/1 as of midday Tuesday. The reigning champion was priced up as 1/5 favourite with several firms before the Kempton appearance, and State Man was a general 5/2.

Henderson told the PA news agency: “Unfortunately, in a routine gallop this morning, Constitution Hill was very disappointing and it transpires, after the vet has scoped him, that there is evidence of mucus.

“We’re taking a sample of it to a laboratory to analyse it, which will tell us about the significance of it and we should know more after that.

“Last week, he worked brilliantly and he was scoped 10 days ago, but these things happen, just like it did with him earlier in the year [having to miss Cheltenham on Trials day in January]. Horses are like humans, look how many people had the awful cough around Christmas that took ages to get rid of.”

He added: “The vets still think it could clear up in a week and all his serious work has been done already, whether he makes it [to Cheltenham] will depend on the severity of it.

“He was disappointing this morning working with Sir Gino [Triumph Hurdle favourite], who he has worked with in the past. He would normally go easily with him, but this morning he couldn’t, so Nico [de Boinville] realised all was not well and wasn’t hard on him.

“Obviously, the mucus was affecting him. He’s not coughing, he’s just got a dirty picture, as we say. I’m not saying definitely either way [about Cheltenham] and I’ll keep hoping. As you can imagine, it has come as a bit of a shock.”