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The Official Constitution Hill Thread 2025/26

WandererSkyLight said:
What I will say, if it all goes to plan on Michael's plan to do the Melbourne Cup and CH Wins, he would get an invitation to the G1 Japan Cup as a foreign representative, now hows that for an end of season belter.

CH vs Calandagan vs Japan's Best (Masquerade Ball, Danon Decile, Museum Mile id say at the moment, got to see the Japan Triple Crown to include the 3 year olds)
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I thought that the State of the Union address by the tangerine paedo would be the weirdest thing I'd read today.

A 9YO (almost 10) winner of a constructed maiden on a sand gaff in Nottinghamshire vs the worlds finest flat middle distance horse in Japan at the the end of November.

Beam me up, Scottie.
 
I realise that I'm treading on a few toes here because people do get attached to their equine heroes. However, I tend to judge horses on a body of work rather than individual races. Thus, Master Minded was a brilliant Champion Chaser in 2008 but he gets nowhere near my top 2 mile chasers.

Similarly, you cannot fault Constitution Hill's Supreme or Champion Hurdle victories but it doesn't qualify him for my pantheon (going back to Bula). I am pleased that they decided not to run him this time but it was, and should have been, always their choice rather than that of hysterical members and ex-members of the media or even well meaning forumites. The BHA may or may not have been involved in the background but I doubt that anyone can come up with another instance where they have banned a horse from running over hurdles for 3 falls in 4 races. Perilously close to restraint of trade and another step towards banning all jump racing to appease the anti-racing mob. We all feel the pain when we lose a hero. I was devastated when Ten Plus died when he was about to thrash Desert Orchid but I never gave a thought to giving up the game.

Last year, Constitution Hill was probably beaten when he fell at Cheltenham and certainly beaten when he came down at Aintree. Punchestown and Newcastle indicated that he'd gone mentally and while it was good to see him racing with enthusiasm at Southwell, it was really nowhere near Champion Hurdle standard.
 
I was just wondering, even though he ran so well at Southwell and obviously Nicky Henderson loves him & has his best interests at heart....would a new trainer, new stable & change of food maybe bring a new sense of enthusiasm to CH. Maybe at the back of his mind he still links the falls he had with where he is now ?
 
I know what Constitution Hill did at Southwell warmed the heart, but let’s not lose sight of what he actually achieved. He beat Gambino, a horse rated 83, by 10.75 lengths while receiving 7 lb. The horse in second, Square Necker, was rated 85. On the day, he was beaten 9.5 lengths while trying to give Constitution Hill 5 lb. You are talking about a mark in the mid-90s for a nine-year-old. He might well win a race or two on the Flat, but it is not a given. Who is to say he won’t sour on the Flat the way he did over hurdles? I think the percentage call was to run in the Champion Hurdle and retire him.
 
Slim said:
and retire him.
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Or send a wreath to his funeral.

Admittedly, that was circa 400/1 according to a probabilities source I trust, but it's a million now.

I reckon he'd get a mark of circa 100 if assessed on Southwell and add on what you like for ease of victory, but he looks Group 3 potential at best and no one should want to see him in a Group 1 unless they want to see him humiliated.
 
Basically when I said its not the worst idea my thoughts are he should be retired full stop as said earlier in the thread as I don't know how a 9yo NH horse would cope with summer ground. If they insist on going the flat route and the plan was Ebor then Melbourne cup when I say its not the worst idea I mean as regards it might be the only race with any real prestige that he could run in and stand a chance as it's a shit race that doesnt put too much emphasis on stamina and requires a good finishing kick.

Personally I'll be glad of the day when he doesn't take up 30 pages of discussion every season which i keep getting suckered into instead of doing something more productive with my time.
 
Ian_Davies said:
Or send a wreath to his funeral.

Admittedly, that was circa 400/1 according to a probabilities source I trust, but it's a million now.

I reckon he'd get a mark of circa 100 if assessed on Southwell and add on what you like for ease of victory, but he looks Group 3 potential at best and no one should want to see him in a Group 1 unless they want to see him humiliated.
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Potential as a 9yo is an equine stretch.
 
Which idea is more ridiculous: that he could jump ten hurdles in a fortnight, or that he would pass a vet for a Melbourne Cup run?
 
Slim said:
Who is to say he won’t sour on the Flat the way he did over hurdles? I think the percentage call was to run in the Champion Hurdle and retire him.
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I don't think he actually soured over hurdles. He just lost confidence in his jumping technique. There's definitely a difference.

But I do agree that they have gone over the top about the bare form from Southwell.
 
Slim said:
Which idea is more ridiculous: that he could jump ten hurdles in a fortnight, or that he would pass a vet for a Melbourne Cup run?
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Less risk to UK Jumps racing's image (which increasingly matters over here, politically) in failing the vet for a ludicrous attempt at a Melbourne Cup than tackling the eight, maybe nine (pretty sure it's not ten) hurdles in a Champion Hurdle.

He should be running next in the John Porter - I fully expect to see him get beat in the Henry II.
 
Ian_Davies said:
Less risk to UK Jumps racing's image (which increasingly matters over here, politically) in failing the vet for a ludicrous attempt at a Melbourne Cup than tackling the eight, maybe nine (pretty sure it's not ten) hurdles in a Champion Hurdle.

He should be running next in the John Porter - I fully expect to see him get beat in the Henry II.
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Melbourne racing is far more outraged about horse welfare than Britain. Constitution Hill wouldn't be left in to watch the Melbourne Cup.
 
I wouldn't dispute that.

The horse looked in fair nick at Southwell, but he'd have had to have beaten that shower by a furlong to replicate his peak hurdles form and some seem to forget his jumping hasn't been his only issue.

After that appalling AW gallop at Kempton Park he was quietly given a summer wind operation, lameness was blamed for an indifferent Newbury gallop and he ran an absolute shocker at Punchestown.

The beast is about as reliable as Walsworth's cooking.
 
Struggling to get this written, but I couldn’t give a toss about what Constitution Hill may or may not do on the flat. He’s a Champion hurdler, for God’s sake and the best I’ve ever seen until the wheels came off. It’s a bit like expecting to be enthused seeing Torvill & Dean in Strictly Come Dancing because they fell over once or twice on the ice after winning their Gold Medal. No way.
 
barjon said:
Struggling to get this written, but I couldn’t give a toss about what Constitution Hill may or may not do on the flat. He’s a Champion hurdler, for God’s sake and the best I’ve ever seen until the wheels came off. It’s a bit like expecting to be enthused seeing Torvill & Dean in Strictly Come Dancing because they fell over once or twice on the ice after winning their Gold Medal. No way.
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Did Sea Pigeon's two Chester Cup wins and amazing Ebor triumph do nothing for you, sir?

I know the American bred started life on the Flat, but he did end up a dual Champion Hurdler at the tail end of the "Golden Era."

My guess is this Flat campaign will be a short-lived swan song for Constitution Hill.

Group 3 is as good as he'll be and you don't win Ebors, or any big handicap, without contriving to be the best handicapped horse in the race.
 

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