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“I don’t quite agree with the lacks tactical speed theory”.
The same thing happened today, LD. State Man upped the tempo heading towards the second last hurdle. Jerry Hannon correctly noted in commentary that Constitution Hill was being “pushed along”. He then made his mistake and it was race over for him.
Constitution Hill in his prime would not have come off the bridle against this field. His speed has gone, as has his slick jumping. His jump at the first was an early warning sign.
But rather than going on about a once great horse on page 115, perhaps we should give some praise to State Man instead. He has won the same number of Champion Hurdles as Constitution Hill and is unlucky not to have won another. Unlike Constitution Hill, he has not been wrapped up in cotton wool. He has had three seasons at the top, keeps coming back for more and looks to be at least as good as ever.
State Man has been well served by his connections. I don’t think the same can be said for Constitution Hill.
I am sorry for James Bowen. He was in a difficult situation today. But I don’t feel sorry for Henderson or Buckley.
“Are you saying today’s performance is as good as Constitution Hill has ever put up?”
Of course not. But the 17L beating of an 11-year old mare at Kempton in 2022 or the 10L beating of Rubaud and First Street in 2023 are no special feats.
This is latest news about the Hill:
A visibly distraught Nicky Henderson tried to find the words to explain what he had seen from Constitution Hill, who was examined by an IHRB vet post-race and found to have grazes to his right hind cannonbone and to be sore.
“It’s disappointing but it’s a tough game,” the crestfallen trainer said. “It was sad he had to be beaten that way because you could live with going down in a battle. He was beaten two out and James looked after him. Something has obviously gone wrong because that’s not him and our job is to try to unravel the mystery.
“He’s got such a great mind, nothing worries him, but you can’t look inside his head. He’s very uncomplicated, unflustered and his work was good. He was travelling well turning in but then it was like flicking a switch.”
It seems you can just flick a switch with State Man. When you turn him on, he is extremely hard to beat.
“Constitution Hill, who was examined by an IHRB vet post-race and found to have grazes to his right hind cannonbone and to be sore.”
Oh well, Henderson has his excuse then.
“He’s got such a great mind, nothing worries him…He’s very uncomplicated, unflustered”.
But Henderson chose the wrap him in cotton wool in his early career.
As GM said upthread, Henderson’s training of Constitution Hill this season has been shocking.
Personally I’m not criticising Nicky Henderson or the horse for much. The horse won the Supreme Novices Hurdle and Champion Hurdle nicely so job done. The horse then ‘went wrong’ after that and hasn’t come back with the same aura. These things can happen.
Disappointing today, but horse aren’t machines. Just wish he had run more often when he was top of his form
“Of course not. But the 17L beating of an 11-year old mare at Kempton in 2022 or the 10L beating of Rubaud and First Street in 2023 are no special feats”.
————–Eh?
The Hill beat the then 8 year old ex-Champion Hurdle winner Epatante that day, giving her 7 lbs. Although I do agree he did not need to show his best to win the race (the third keeps the form down). No horse runs to its best every time even when winning. Even normally consistent ones. Because they don’t need to. Words in the write ups like “won very easily” give the game away.In November 2023 State Man beat Echo’s In Rain by only 5 lengths… And only beat Daddy Long Legs 6 1/2 lengths this year. Neither of those were anywhere near his best either.
Value Is Everything”Of course not. But the 17L beating of an 11-year old mare at Kempton in 2022 or the 10L beating of Rubaud and First Street in 2023 are no special feats.”
Jesus Ruby, The mare was a former Champion Hurdle winner and only 8yo, not some veteran like you suggest. His 10L beating of Rubaud could as easily have been 40L. Nico never released the horse from a canter that day.
Serious question. Do you hate this horse?
“But Henderson chose the wrap him in cotton wool in his early career.”
What he did and where he went was discussed with Michael Buckley. Michael Buckley could’ve told him to go for more races if he wanted to. It’s his horse :o)
It’s interesting to see Henrietta Knight’s name brought up. Her campaigning of Best Mate was every bit as cautious as Henderson’s campaigning of Constitution Hill, but she doesn’t get the same criticism as luck was on her side and she won three Gold Cups.
I wish Henderson had made more hay while the sun was shining with Constitution Hill, but we can’t turn back time now. I don’t believe the horse has been the same since his health issue, but this in no way diminishes his best performances.
I am not so sure about that. I recall quite a few people voicing their dissatisfaction at Best Mate not running very often and comparing him unfavourably to previous Gold Cup winners.
Even now it is quite common to hear his achievement of winning three Gold Cups qualified by the criticism that he did not beat much and did not run very often.
Wasn’t there some sort of health issue with him before he was bought? Or am I getting him mixed up with another horse. Anyways, it’s not the horses fault, or his trainers, that the racing media put him up as the second coming only to knock him down when it turned out that he wasn’t.
“Michael Buckley could’ve told him to go for more races if he wanted to.”
Buckley was full of the talk after the Supreme win. He was going to emulate Dawn Run etc. Then he acquiesced in campaigning the horse negatively.
“I am not so sure about that. I recall quite a few people voicing their dissatisfaction at Best Mate not running very often and comparing him unfavourably to previous Gold Cup winners.”
I am one of the people likely to have voiced such comments. But I think the criticism Henderson is receiving is on another level entirely.
“Buckley was full of the talk after the Supreme win. He was going to emulate Dawn Run etc. Then he acquiesced in campaigning the horse negatively.”
Do you know for sure that Buckley was talked into something he didn’t want to do? We’ve seen owners take horses away from yards over such differences of opinions. The horse didn’t look that good over the 2 and a half miles at Aintree anyway so the Dawn Run dream was just that, a dream.
The 12/1 about him only winning one Champion Hurdle keeps on getting better and better.
My mistake about the age and I don’t hate the horse. But the hype around him and I quite frankly dislike his connections. Too many excuses surrounding Hendo’s horses.
State Man, just like GDC and all other Mullins horses always shows up and there is far less hype about them. None of them has reached the 116 level on any known forum.
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