Nicky Henderson may find himself without Constitution Hill for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, yet plans to remain competitive with two entries, following the decision to add Iberico Lord to the lineup for the prestigious Cheltenham Festival event.

After Constitution Hill was withdrawn on Monday due to a respiratory infection, Henderson, along with owner JP McManus, reevaluated their strategy for Iberico Lord at the Cotswolds.

Initially a top contender for Friday’s County Hurdle, the six-year-old’s campaign has been redirected in light of Constitution Hill’s absence and the prospect of challenging conditions on the first day of the festival.

McManus has opted to pay a €20,000 supplementary charge to enter Iberico Lord in the Champion Hurdle, where he will accompany Luccia, who captured the Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot in her most recent outing.

Henderson conveyed through a statement on X: “This morning, we’ve made the call to enter Iberico Lord in the Unibet Champion Hurdle. He’s a remarkably advancing young hurdler who has demonstrated continuous improvement, clinching victories in both the Greatwood and Betfair handicaps.

He has a preference for soft terrain, which is expected on Tuesday, potentially offering more favorable conditions than his originally scheduled race on Friday in the County.

“With Constitution Hill no longer competing, the dynamics of the race have shifted, prompting us to include him alongside Luccia in the event.”

Cover photo from RTE Racing.