Constitution Hill withdrawn from Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham
Constitution Hill’s jumping career is over after trainer Nicky Henderson made the heartbreaking call to pull the nine-year-old from next month’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, reports BritPanorama.
The decision stemmed from a simple truth: it was not fair to ask the horse to jump again. Henderson and owner Michael Buckley reached this conclusion following a schooling session at the Seven Barrows yard earlier today.
The renowned horse, affectionately known as “Conrad” at the stables, has fallen in three of his last four outings over hurdles. This troubling pattern proved too risky to ignore, even for a contender of such talent.
Henderson’s statement reflected the emotional toll of this decision, acknowledging the “magical occasion” at Southwell last Friday, where thousands expressed their admiration for the horse. “We are very aware of the public perception and the possible consequences of running over hurdles and feel it is not fair to ask him and Nico to do it again,” he said, referring to jockey Nico de Boinville.
“Michael Buckley and I have not surprisingly spent a lot of time soul searching and thinking over Constitution Hill’s future and have sadly concluded that he will not be running in the Unibet Champion Hurdle the week after next,” Henderson added.
Constitution Hill initially burst onto the racing scene as a dominant force, achieving ten consecutive victories and never tasting defeat over obstacles. His triumphant 2022 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle marked his arrival on the world stage, followed by a Champion Hurdle victory in 2023, where he outperformed future champion State Man.
However, everything changed last year when he fell as the 1-2 favourite, four flights from home at the Cheltenham Festival. Additional falls at Aintree in April and Newcastle last November left connections with a challenging dilemma about his future.
Despite the disheartening circumstances, there may be new horizons. Following his impressive nine-and-a-half-length win at Southwell last Friday, Henderson expressed optimism, noting that the performance indicated Constitution Hill could thrive in a new discipline. Owner Buckley is contemplating ambitious plans, including a possible entry for the Melbourne Cup in November.
Henderson remarked, “He showed on Friday night that he has another career in front of him that could possibly take us all to new playing fields.” For now, Cheltenham has invited Constitution Hill to parade on Champion Hurdle day, allowing fans a chance to bid farewell to a true racing icon.
The withdrawal has created a stir in the betting world, with bookmakers like BOYLE Sports announcing they will refund all bets placed on Constitution Hill for the Champion Hurdle. Spokesperson Brian O’Keeffe stated, “Constitution Hill is a horse who has given so much to National Hunt racing, and he’s had loyal supporters the whole way through.”
This unexpected twist marks a poignant chapter in the horse’s journey, underscoring the unpredictable nature of racing where even the finest can face setbacks.
