'MASS confusion' over superstar horse Constitution Hill sparked a market meltdown ahead of his planned big return.

The best jumps horse in training was yesterday a shock drifter in the sportsbooks and on the Betfair Exchange for Saturday's rearranged Fighting Fifth.

There were fears he would be pulled from the Sandown Grade 1 with more rain and heavier ground forecast.

Some punters were able to snaffle much bigger prices of around 3-1 about the unbeaten superstar before he was cut back in again to 4-9 and shorter.

But for a moment it looked like he would be withdrawn, leaving stablemate Shishkin trainer Nicky Henderson's sole representative in the race.

As confusion took hold, Hendo told the Racing Post he still planned to run the reigning champion hurdler.

He said: "In all probability he's going to run, but there's nothing to add or subtract from what I said Monday – he's in great form.

"I'm just keeping an eye on the weather and hoping that it doesn't go shocking on us. He's getting more and more likely to run."

While Sun Racing's Matt Chapman said owner Michael Buckley told him: "Constitution Hill is an intended runner on Saturday but things need to go right.

"We don't want the ground too heavy."

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Constitution Hill's rivals, most notably Love Envoi and You Wear It Well, were smashed in as his price drifted.

But the market now looks to have corrected itself ahead of declarations tomorrow morning.

Punters with the fastest fingers were the ones left laughing.

They can sit back and in all likelihood see Constitution Hill make a mockery of rivals at a hugely inflated price… so long as he runs.

Fighting Fifth odds

3-10 Constitution Hill
3 Love Envoi
7-2 You Wear It Well
7-1 Irish Point
8-1 Shishkin
14-1 Goshen
25-1 Not So Sleepy
100-1 Benson

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