‘Not in a million years’: Constitution Hill ruled out of Melbourne Cup

One of the early favourites for the Melbourne Cup, jumps sensation Constitution Hill, is not coming.

The 9-year-old was talked about as a Cup hopeful after forgoing a jumps career and his owner Michael Buckley then raising the idea of a trip to Melbourne. Punters could get the 9-year-old at around $18 at one stage to pick up the 3200m race.

“We need to make a plan, which we can always change along the way, but I think that the horse should be running at the end of August or beginning of September, in either the Ebor, a race at Goodwood or in the Irish St Leger, with the view of going to Melbourne,” Buckley said after Constitution Hill made a winning flat debut in February,’’ he said.

But trainer Nicky Henderson has officially killed off any hope.

“He won’t go to Melbourne in a million years,’’ he told TalkSport.

“But let’s just see how we progress.”

“I hope everyone comes to see him at Kempton – the great thing about these jumpers is that they are around for that length of time, people absolutely love them.”

“The letters we get for him – most of them saying please don’t ever jump an obstacle with him again.”