Constitution Hill is imperious in victory on day one of Grand National meeting

Someone threw the wrong blanket over Constitution Hill after he extended his record to seven-from-seven here on Thursday – something will have gone awry if he ever wins a handicap chase – but that was the only blip in another flawless afternoon’s work for Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten hurdler.

Whether he will attempt to translate his brilliance to steeplechasing next season remains to be seen. Over hurdles, though, there is little left for Constitution Hill to achieve, after this first start at two-and-a-half miles proved to be every bit as processional as his six at the minimum trip.

One bookie reported laying a £280,000 bet at 1-10 on Constitution Hill before Thursday’s race, and the backer’s money would have been little safer in the bank. Nico de Boinville made all the running on Constitution Hill and though his eventual three-length winning margin over Sharjah was the smallest of his career, it could have been much wider had the rider let out an inch of rein.

“That couldn’t have been more straightforward,” Henderson said. “Two-and-a-half miles out there on your own, your mind could wander, but he’s just had a doddle around and was in second gear the whole way.

“I’m sure he’d get three miles, but there’ll be no decisions made today about next year. I’m not saying we won’t school him over a fence, but we’re not leaning any way.

“As long as he keeps doing it like that, we’ve got a long summer to look back on it and enjoy it and talk about what will happen next.

“There’s only so many races he can run in next year. Fighting Fifth, Christmas Hurdle, I do think the International [Hurdle] will come into it on Trials day [in January] and then Champion Hurdle and come here. Some might say that’s boring, but we won’t find it