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Constitution Hill On The Flat

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Viewing 17 posts - 86 through 102 (of 159 total)
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  • #1763712
    Astralcharmer
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    • Total Posts 368

    The last 3 runnings of the Ormonde Stakes have had only 6 runners in each renewal. I don’t think the tight nature of the track should bother him especially in a small field.

    If they want to run him this Spring on turf they are running out of options.

    #1763713
    Avatar photoEx RubyLight
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    • Total Posts 5856

    Tight track, won’t suit him, sight of the Roman Wall might upset him etc.
    :good:

    He’ll have to face the crowd twice which might not be to his liking…..

    #1763714
    Avatar photoGladiateur
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    • Total Posts 6627

    The way some of you are carrying on, it’s like you’ve never seen horse withdrawn because of the ground before.

    #1763718
    LD73
    Participant
    • Total Posts 4130

    I can somewhat understand if it was over hurdles but it is an actual flat race and they have no evidence that he won’t act on good or slightly quicker ground – he has a fluent action i.e. not a high knee action that quick ground could cause him to be jarred up and I think this is more Nicky’s own fears where he has talked himself into thinking the ground is an issue.

    I would be more shocked to see him at Chester as that track is far too sharp for him and even if the ground did get soft he might run into notably soft ground lover and year older Hamish (although his only future entry on the RP is for the Yorkshire Cup).

    What do you think the odds are that when the rain does come to soften up the ground we will then hear the reason of ‘too soft, so we will wait for better ground”.

    #1763722
    greenasgrass
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    • Total Posts 9140

    It’s a pity they didn’t make a contingency entry for the Alleged stakes this weekend as there’s plenty of juice in the ground here and more rain forecast. The Vintage Crop stakes is next weekend and the Saval Beg next month. No Kyprios this year either; no doubt AOB will have something in them but life has to get real sometime. If they go to France they’ll run into the older Arc horses having their spring campaigns before the summer break.
    Germany maybe?

    #1763726
    Avatar photoyeats
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    • Total Posts 3696

    It’s pathetic, Good ground at Newbury (watered) with a going stick reading of only 4.9. A nine year old and they don’t want to run him on that ground.

    #1763727
    Avatar photoNathan Hughes
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    • Total Posts 34679

    Maybe they are saving him for the racing league… 🙊

    Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026

    #1763729
    BurroughHillLad
    Participant
    • Total Posts 100

    No surprise given Nicky’s aversion to risking his horses on ground he doesn’t like But if he doesn’t like good to firm in April his options will be very limited. Northumberland Plate maybe then wait for some Autumn rain. Unless we have an an unusually wet summer CH’s second career might turn out to be a damp squib .

    #1763730
    Avatar photoCork All Star
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    • Total Posts 11813

    “A nine year old and they don’t want to run him on that ground.”

    I was just about to post the same thing! Given his age, can they really afford to be picky and to wait for everything to be just right?

    He is unlikely to win anything good now. He will have even less chance as a 10 year old, so don’t they have to strike while the iron is (sort of) hot?

    What was Henderson expecting the ground at Newbury to be like in the spring? Maybe it is not absolutely pitch perfect but I doubt it is like a road.

    It looks to me like Henderson is looking for an excuse to not run the horse and the ground is being used as the reason.

    #1763732
    Astralcharmer
    Participant
    • Total Posts 368

    Not sure why some believe CH wouldn’t act at a course such as Chester especially at a trip over an extended 13 furlongs?

    Watching the reruns of Hamish winning the Ormonde Stakes shows you don’t even need to race prominently.

    CH is very well balanced horse and not at all fazed in a tight field of runners and well capable of manoeuvring his way out of trouble.

    Hamish won the Ormonde on good to soft and then soft so the chances are softer ground is more likely in the North West in May than anywhere down South.

    #1763734
    moehat
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    • Total Posts 10187

    Why is the all weather surface safer than good’ish ground?

    #1763737
    Avatar photoHe Didnt Like Ground
    Participant
    • Total Posts 9083

    Jesus Nicky just run the f#cker , it’s getting really pathetic now

    Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026

    #1763738
    Avatar photopatriot1
    Participant
    • Total Posts 993

    It’s currently soft, good to soft in places at Ayr.

    Why don’t they supplement him for the Scottish Champions Hurdle :good:

    #1763739
    Avatar photoHe Didnt Like Ground
    Participant
    • Total Posts 9083

    ….. I’d blockade the racecourse entrance …. does anyone else boo when Nicky comes on the tv now …

    Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026

    #1763740
    Avatar photoNathan Hughes
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    • Total Posts 34679

    A shame he didn’t go over fences after his run at Aintree.
    He put in a big performance at Cheltenham that year and it maybe partly the reason why he was a little flat that day.
    He would have made a decent enough runner up to Gaelic Warrior in this years Gold Cup

    Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026

    #1763742
    Avatar photoGhost of Rob V
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    • Total Posts 1636

    I think Henderson is suffering from a bout of Gosdenitis … oohing and ahhing about the ground. Just let the horse take his chance for God’s sake.

    Constitution Hill won’t be short on stamina. I think a brisk pace will suit him. Still has low mileage for his age. Actually, there have been many older horses over the last few months putting some of the younger ones to the sword.

    I’m pretty sure that Constitution Hill will take most of his rivals out of their comfort zone.

    #1763767
    GM23
    Participant
    • Total Posts 1332

    Nicky needs to retire.

    Not running this horse on Saturday is absolute bollocks. He’s already wasted him over hurdles and now, at 9yo and with time running out to do anything more of note he does this.

    To make matters worse, he said CH needs a break soon so there may be no run now until September or later. He’ll be closer to 10yo then.

    Does Nicky forget this horse holds the Cheltenham track record set on Good ground.
    He also beat Lossiemouth at Kempton on Good ground.

    Guys a joke.

Viewing 17 posts - 86 through 102 (of 159 total)
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