Constitution Hill stretches unbeaten run to a magnificent seven with win in the Aintree Hurdle

Number seven has a special resonance on Merseyside — think King Kenny and Kevin Keegan — so it was appropriate that the venue for the imperious Constitution Hill to stretch his unbeaten record to a magnificent seven wins was the opening day of the Randox Grand National meeting at Aintree on Thursday.

But to call the William Hill Aintree Hurdle a race would be a bit of a stretch. Constitution Hill’s three-length win from Sharjah was about as competitive as it would have been if Kenny Dalglish in his prime had turned up to play against Knotty Ash Primary School.

Sent off the 2-15 favourite, Nico De Boinville’s mount was not much of a betting proposition either but what the Aintree crowd got to witness was still memorable. Class is class whether you are on the football field or the racecourse.

The win capped a fine day for trainer Nicky Henderson, who was also successful with the De Boinville-ridden Shishkin in the Alder Hey Aintree Bowl Chase.

Henderson has admitted the huge expectancy surrounding Constitution Hill has made his races torture to watch. So smooth was the win that his heart probably never skipped a beat.

Constitution Hill, ridden by Nico de Boinville, claimed a comfortable win in the Aintree Hurdle

But now deciding whether Constitution Hill stays over the smaller obstacles to defend his Champion Hurdle crown next season or switches to novice chasing will be one for Henderson and owner Michael Buckley to agonise over during the summer.

Henderson said: ‘He was just doodling along in his own time in second gear the whole way. His versatility is incredible. You can do anything with him.

‘We might well school him over a fence before we put him to bed just to get a clue and then we will know what we are talking about.

‘We’ve got a long summer to enjoy looking back on this and we’ve got all sorts of options. You could go Fighting Fifth Hurdle, Christmas Hurdle, Champion Hurdle and then come back here. That’s one way. Some might say that’s boring, but we wouldn’t find it boring!’

Where Shishkin goes next season is a much simpler decision for Henderson after he showed reserves of stamina to haul back Ahoy Senor to win by a length and a half in the three mile, one furlong chase.

Previously campaigned over shorter distances, the King George VI Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup will be firmly on Shiskin’s agenda next season.

Henderson, who will try to win his first Grand National tomorrow with Mister Coffey, said Shishkin had had a few ‘physical issues’ ironed out that had made him jump erratically when second in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The trainer had also removed the tongue tie Shishkin had worn in his previous two races because he felt the gelding didn’t like it.

Henderson added: ‘He has proved he stays three miles and that is where he is going to stay there is no question about that. The obvious thing is the King George and we take it from there.’

The first race over the Grand National fences, the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunter Chase for amateur jockeys, went to the Chris Barber-trained Famous Clermont in the hands on Will Biddick.

Somerset-based Barber operates close to champion trainer Paul Nicholls and uses his gallops. Barber was emulating his grandfather Richard who won the 2009 Foxhunters’ Chase with Trust Fund.

The 2-15 favourite led from start to finish and was never challenged by the five rivals

Famous Clermont had run out of stamina when sixth in the Festival Hunters’ Chase over three-and-a-quarter miles at Cheltenham last month. But in this five furlong shorter race, he was able to cruise to a four and three-quarter length win over Bennys King.

Seventeen of the 27 starters finished the race but there was one fatality. Envoye Special unseated his rider at the ninth fence but then fell while running loose.

An Aintree spokesperson said: ‘Envoye Special was immediately attended to by our expert veterinary professionals during the Fox- hunters’ Steeple Chase.

‘After assessment, sadly they concluded the necessary course of action for the horse’s welfare was to put him to sleep. Our sincere sympathies are with his connections.’