ENGLISH TEXTS
background specialising in bloodstock, her writing can been read in a number of publications globally, including International Thoroughbred, Racing & Sports. Vicki also represents Trackside – an on-course paddock analysis service used by Weatherbys and various other customers – and is responsible for the publication of L ' informateur.
UK
CONSTITUTION HILL RETIRES
BY KATHERINE FORD
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It is now decided: the 2026 Champion Hurdle will take place without the horse who would have been its main attraction, Constitution Hill. The one who had seemed invincible just a few years ago, stringing together 10 consecutive victories including a Champion Hurdle in 2023, will no longer race over obstacles. For the few who may not have followed his eventful story, here is a brief summary: Constitution Hill won his first 10 hurdle races, including eight Grade 1s, by a cumulative margin of 104 lengths! An exceptional jumper combining speed and precision, the crack drew comparisons with See You Then and Istabraq, both three-time winners of the Champion Hurdle. Constitution Hill was meant to be the next heir to the title of“ Greatest Hurdler of All Time.” Except that … A health issue kept him off the track for 12 months between Boxing Day 2023 and 2024, and then, when he lined up as the hot favourite for the 2025 Champion Hurdle, he made a mistake and fell four hurdles from home. A mistake can happen, but the problem is that Constitution Hill then continued to make errors, falling three times in total in his last four hurdle starts. The highs and lows of his career have always been covered extensively in the press for his many fans, largely thanks to the openness of his trainer, Nicky Henderson, often moved to tears after either the triumphs or the setbacks of his champion. Following another fall in November, at just the second hurdle, the question of his future was seriously raised.“ It’ s sad. We can’ t keep asking him; it seems unfair on everyone,” Nicky Henderson said at the time. It was therefore decided to run him on the Flat, and the programme was adjusted to create a tailor-made opportunity for Constitution Hill on Southwell’ s all-weather track in February. The race coincided with a“ Friday Night Live!” fixture( similar to the Jeuxdi meetings), and packed stands of young partygoers and jump racing fans witnessed a demonstration from the son of Blue Bresil, showing a flash of class reminiscent of his finest hurdle victories. Once again overwhelmed with emotion, Nicky Henderson reacted:“ It’ s great for the horse, because he hasn’ t enjoyed himself much on the track in recent months. I had hoped this race would tell us the right direction for his future, but in reality it opens up even more possibilities.” Bookmakers confirmed the buzz surrounding Constitution Hill: turnover on this conditions race reached the level of a flagship Saturday afternoon feature, and in the Racing Post the following day there were almost a dozen articles analysing the performance, the atmosphere at Southwell and the pros and cons of a Festival bid. With his usual transparency, Nicky Henderson announced his decision after a final schooling session with NH guru Yogi Breisner. Although Constitution Hill was flawless in his jumping,“ the risk is too high, and the consequences are unimaginable.” Given the horse’ s fame beyond the racing world, if anything were to happen to him at Cheltenham it would be terrible for the image of the sport. Nicky Henderson, the standard-bearer of British jump racing, has ruled out the Champion Hurdle to avoid putting the sport at risk. It is not an admission of the dangers of jumping, but rather an acknowledgment that, given Constitution Hill’ s recent performances, it was not reasonable to take that risk. So, at nine years of age but with only 15 runs to his name, a new future opens up for Constitution Hill. His owner Michael Buckley has announced that he dreams of the Melbourne Cup, but
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