Constitution Hill boss Michael Buckley has hit back at doubters about his former Champion Hurdle champions but said he “wouldn’t lift a finger” if they retain their Christmas Hurdle title.

The Nicky Henderson-trained star has not been seen since winning the Boxing Day Award last year after a series of setbacks derailed him, missing the Cheltenham Festival with an infection and then Colic pain developed.

His first start of the year was further delayed after he was discovered to be limping before the fifth hurdle of Newcastle’s clash, but the injury proved to be fairly harmless and the team have been working towards a return to Kempton next week.

His latest issues followed a disappointing open trial at Newbury, which led some pundits and much of the public to question whether he could ever regain his peak form, with some even calling for him to retire.

Speaking on the fifth episode of Unbridled with Matt Chapman and Paddy Brennan, Buckley said: “I’ve been silent but that doesn’t seem to be the case with the writers. They all seem to be very understanding. His identity.” To achieve or not to achieve.

“I read articles from various journalists in the Racing Post and some of the stuff I found hysterical. Some of them seemed to be leaving all the intelligence they had at the door.

“I’m not that rich, so I’m not like JP (McManus), and I don’t have that many horses, so I guess I have a little extra protection over him. Not surprisingly, he’s very dear to us.

“He didn’t do much wrong when he won the Christmas Hurdle for the second time, having won eight in a row and seven Grade Ones. No matter how you look at it, he was very special.

“Now I have to hear that he should retire. He was 1-4 in the Champion Hurdle before the Kempton Gallop and today he was a complete failure. It’s such a shame to read the kind of rubbish people are writing Awesome.

“If he does badly in the Christmas Hurdle then everyone will say his career is on the decline and maybe it’s time to call it a day. But if he gets a big race, even if he’s busy at Lossiemouth, you It’s also hard to say his career is over and if he beats Lossiemouth he might win the Champion Hurdle again.

“So what are they going to say? ‘We were all wrong.’ That’s the thing.”

Henderson made a positive announcement last week about Kempton’s chances at Constitution Hill, with Buckley saying: “As far as we’re concerned, it’s all good. If he had a normal preparation, I would say yes. “

“He’ll do some work over the weekend and then that’s it. As far as I know we’re planning on running on Boxing Day.”

Asked if he took extra pleasure in silencing the doubters, Barkley said: “I’m not going to lift any fingers, that’s not my style.

“First of all, if he wins, it will be a huge training feat to beat Richie Rich’s wonder horse without running all year.”