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The Official Constitution Hill Thread 2025/26

mellows45 said:
It was great to see him win last night but realistically his only chance of (notable) success on the flat is in the Ebor. I'd wonder if he'd get the trip for the Ascot Gold Cup, and even if he did I really don't think he'd be good enough to challenge the likes of Trawlerman.

He would still be more competitive over hurdles
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Not if he can’t jump them, he wouldn’t. And nor does he need to.
 
Len Madeiros said:
He always “schools” well over hurdles at home. But he keeps clouting them on a racecourse.

Great performance last night - why would his owner even think of endangering the horse, by sending him back over hurdles? There’s more money to be earned on the flat, and there’s a still a great redemptive story to be told!
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Someone literally just said that to me there. That does make it riskier to run.
 
Ian_Davies said:
Neither would I.

It's probably a million to fall and die, but if it did, having fallen three of its last four runs over hurdles, and having helped me trouser 900 large over the years, it wouldn't just be the animal rights lot voting me **** Of The Year.
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Exactly this.
 
On the balance of probability based on his last 4 runs he will fall at Cheltenham, why take the risk when he has just proved he can be at least competitive at a decent level on the flat.
 
Slim said:
What price do you think the horse is to fall?
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I think the likely scenario is that he runs, scares off a few horses from Ireland, and loses. Because Nico will still be riding him, he’s odds on to fall, too. And then we wait to see if he gets up.

I just don’t get any of this. I’m not an elite trainer/ coach/ athlete - I cannot begin to fathom the mentality. Does having a crack at Champion Hurdle immortality override every other consideration?

I suppose even if he scrambles home by a length, he’s still won two CHs three years apart. Is that “immortality” enough? Is that the glory?

I still think “Great Champion Hurdler transforms into handicap champion on the Flat” is just a good a story. And doesn’t come with the risk of hitting the top of a hurdle at 35mph.
 
Len Madeiros said:
I think the likely scenario is that he runs, scares off a few horses from Ireland, and loses. Because Nico will still be riding him, he’s odds on to fall, too. And then we wait to see if he gets up.

I just don’t get any of this. I’m not an elite trainer/ coach/ athlete - I cannot begin to fathom the mentality. Does having a crack at Champion Hurdle immortality override every other consideration?

I suppose even if he scrambles home by a length, he’s still won two CHs three years apart. Is that “immortality” enough? Is that the glory?

I still think “Great Champion Hurdler transforms into handicap champion on the Flat” is just a good a story. And doesn’t come with the risk of hitting the top of a hurdle at 35mph.
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I coined the phrase 'Nico De Stonehands'. Not even he can get this beat if he jumps 10 hurdles.
 
Len Madeiros said:
He always “schools” well over hurdles at home. But he keeps clouting them on a racecourse.

Great performance last night - why would his owner even think of endangering the horse, by sending him back over hurdles? There’s more money to be earned on the flat, and there’s a still a great redemptive story to be told!
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Respectfully.

If you think the decision that multi-multi (and ageing) millionaire Michael Buckley makes for his horse will be based largely on prizemoney you may be a tad misguided.
 
an capall said:
Respectfully.

If you think the decision that multi-multi (and ageing) millionaire Michael Buckley makes for his horse will be based largely on prizemoney you may be a tad misguided.
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Then I’m still not getting it.

Is it genuinely about Buckley and Henderson’s ‘place in history’?
 

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