'He’s back where he belongs' - Constitution Hill back to his thrilling best as superstar hurdler downs Lossiemouth

Nicky Henderson has experienced every emotion with Constitution Hill in a turbulent year since his last run, but the trainer returned to the winner's enclosure with a sparkle in his eyes after seeing his stable star strike in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle. 

A lot of questions have been asked in the 12 months since he last raced, but this supreme talent overcame a long layoff to silence any doubters and prove he is still very much the shining star at Seven Barrows.

It has been a rollercoaster ride for Henderson, owner Michael Buckley and everyone associated with Constitution Hill. He was forced to miss the Fighting Fifth due to being lame, a problem that followed on from a respiratory infection and suspected colic last term.

However, Constitution Hill returned to doing what he does best as he powered two and a half lengths clear of Lossiemouth to extend his perfect record to nine from nine under Nico de Boinville, much to the delight of a raucous Kempton crowd.

Nico de Boinville salutes the crowd as Constitution Hill passes the postCredit: Edward Whitaker

Henderson said: “The great thing is that he’s back! He’s back where he belongs. He’s always been capable of being back and I do think he’s nearly as good as he was.

“It was great to see a crowd like this today and I think they appreciate good horses. Horses like him are special and they don’t come around a lot. Sprinter Sacre was one and he is another – he is seriously so talented."

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Following a below-par racecourse gallop at Newbury last month, questions had started to arise whether or not Constitution Hill would ever return to the track. However, a significant piece of work at his Lambourn home had connections ready for a fighting comeback.

Henderson said: “He’s been working on our own gallops and three weeks ago after a piece of work, Nico came in and said ‘we’re back!’ It was as simple as that.

“I was nervous today, you have to be. He had to put up a big performance. I was preparing myself for defeat and being able to accept it, with the hope we’d be able to beat Lossiemouth at Cheltenham with the normal improvement one could expect.”

Constitution Hill’s eighth Grade 1 victory forced Paddy Power to cut him to 8-11 favourite (from 7-4 favourite) for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March as he bids to regain the title he could not defend last season.

Nicky Henderson with Constitution Hill after the Christmas HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Henderson said: “I’d like to see how he takes this race. We’ve had to be quite hard on him the last three weeks so I want to see what effect it has on him. I’d love to run him again [before March], but if he says no then we’ll have to say no and go straight there.

“He will have to come on sufficiently, but we’ve got to have a clean run again, we all know that. 

"He’s never looked better than he does and the whole team at home have done their bit.

“Everyone has played their part in the jigsaw and it’s a big squad. It’s been entertaining getting him back, but we’ve done a lot of things differently. Some of it has gone well, some of it has been a struggle, but the last three weeks have been very good. I’ve never seen him look better.”

Willie Mullins was disappointed with the performance of Lossiemouth (right)Credit: Alan Crowhurst

Willie Mullins, who was watching on from Leopardstown, was surprised with the lack of speed Lossiemouth showed in the early parts of the race.

He said: “I was disappointed with how she tackled the first mile and a half and how she went down to the first hurdle. I was happy enough where she finished after watching her for the first mile; she finished well.

“Whether there is something amiss as I thought she'd have more speed than that. She just looked outpaced over the first mile and a half and I don't believe that's what she really is.

“Paul [Townend] thought the same as I did. He was surprised that she wasn't herself. She was a little behind herself for some reason.”

Champion Hurdle (Cheltenham, March 11)
Ladbrokes: 4-5 Constitution Hill, 4 Lossiemouth, State Man, 10 Sir Gino, 12 Anzadam, 16 Brighterdaysahead, 25 bar.

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