'I'm looking forward to a slap-up dinner from Paddy Brennan' - Michael Buckley and Nico de Boinville hit back at Constitution Hill knockers

Constitution Hill’s connections were quick to hit back at his pre-race critics after the superstar hurdler picked up from where he left off 12 months ago to win the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle, with former jockey Paddy Brennan catching both barrels.

In the lead up to the seven-year-old’s long-awaited return, questions were raised about whether or not Nicky Henderson’s stable star could return to his best. Gold Cup-winning rider Brennan was so confident in Lossiemouth's chances that he made a bet with his co-host Matt Chapman on their Unbridled podcast that should Constitution Hill win he would treat the broadcaster to a slap-up meal in London. 

While still on the horse's back and speaking to Chapman, in his ITV role, De Boinville said: "Paddy Brennan – you can shove that where the sun don't shine."

And Buckley added: "I'm absolutely thrilled to bits and couldn't be happier. I'm looking forward to a slap-up dinner from Paddy Brennan too!"

Nico de Boinville: "Paddy Brennan - you can shove that where the sun don't shine"Credit: Edward Whitaker

On the wider criticism he said: "I got fed up reading that he won’t come back. Someone wrote that he was on a downward curve in his career. He wasn’t, he just wasn’t racing because he’d been unwell.

"It wasn’t upwards or downwards, maybe he was on an upwards curve but how does anyone know? I suppose I feel protective about him and Nicky as well."

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It has been a challenging journey since Constitution Hill’s last outing in the Christmas Hurdle last year, but Buckley knows the hard work from everyone has shone through.

He said: "I think he is a champion; he’s an absolutely exceptional horse. He’s had a year off and he’s going to come on a lot for the race. They went a real gallop and it was a true-run race. I thought it was very impressive."

Buckley added: "So many people go racing and say good luck, but so many people stop me in the street and ask how he’s doing. He is hugely popular.

"He’ll go to Cheltenham next, but it’s whether Nicky wants to go to the International Hurdle on the way. But it’s very much roll on March."

Read these next:

'He’s back where he belongs' - Constitution Hill returns his old self as superstar hurdler downs Lossiemouth 

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