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I just wish we could draw a line under this saga now before it gets any more embarrassing.
Constitution Hill has been a great servant to his owners and Nicky Henderson.
His jumping is now badly flawed he’s no longer the horse he was and nobody wants to see him risk his life by returning to Cheltenham in March, so why is this ‘will he, won’t he’ farce playing out daily on racing websites and newspapers.Please please just retire this horse with the dignity he deserves he really has nothing more to prove to us not least running at a Southwell party night for folk who will put all their bets on the Tote before the first race and head for the bar; most won’t even take a moment to visit the parade ring to appreciate who he is or what great heights he has achieved before this.
The party’s over, forget Southwell and walk away with Constitution Hill and his reputation as one of the greats in tact and enjoy him in retirement for years to come.
JacThings turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...You’re right, Jac. The horse doesn’t deserve to be led round Southwell like a circus clown. For what he has achieved, for all his ability, a Flat debut at the age of nine makes no sense.
Who will really appreciate his appearance and will he like it at all to run under floodlight during a cold February evening?
We can but hope Ruby and HDLG.
As the event draws nearer perhaps someone will wake up and smell the coffee.
Constitution Hill deserves so much more. JacThings turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...You are correct Jac and I don’t see what it is going to achieve.
He wins, then what?
He loses, then what?The more I know the less I understand.
This race is just a means to keep him ticking over fitness wise (also not risking another fall) before Cheltenham whilst also ascertaining whether a flat campaign will be a viable option going forward if he were to either fall or run poorly at Cheltenham.
For those looking for him to be retired, I would imagine that if he gets properly turned over on Friday (which would rule a flat campaign out) and then blows out at Cheltenham (for whatever reason) then logic surely dictates that his racing days would be over, as he would literally have no other options left on that front.
A race that might suit Constitution Hill on the flat would be the Ormonde Stakes at Chester’s May meeting, a race in which that old rogue Mad Moose ran well in after losing interest over jumps. I accept it didn’t take too long before he wasn’t much interested on the flat either.
He won’t be comfortable being surrounded by 10-12 horses in a bigger Flat handicap. The same might apply in a lesser race at the A.W. venue coming Friday.
Is this one of the events to attract new people to the sport?
I’m sure the 4/6 on offer about the “best horse” since Arkle will go down well when all the newbies do their dosh, when he walks out the stalls.
I guess the speed dating will have to suffice to keep them interested in horse racing…
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Iam looking forward to seeing how he goes , he is low mileage so id like to see him having a bit of a go on flat .
Its not like asking Istabraq to go round after what he did , hes won a champion hurdle in style but spent a lot of time in his stable or in a field .
To run him over jumps again would be madness , if he is killed they not coming back from that , they must know that .HDLG – we simply don’t know that for certain at this time, would I be surprised if he didn’t run……..not really but then would I be surprised if he did run………..not really.
If he absolutely hosed up on Friday then the argument could be made to immediately scrap hurdling and go on the flat where there are potentially much more opportunities available to him and although he is 9, he has run just 14 times in his life so not many miles on those legs……..we have no idea how he will (or will not) cope with the challenges that flat racing brings (i.e. stalls with many more horses around him, racing out of season, big fields, faster pace and shortage of room etc).
If he gets in on Friday he will also have the unique feeling of only having 9st 6lbs on his back, which given he is used to lumping 11st 10lbs around on a semi regular basis over hurdles might be a breathe of fresh air to him.
I’ve often wondered how some top NH horses would get on running on the flat. To be fair to Henderson he’s run lots of his horses on the flat. It’ll be a great pity if Constitution Hill gets balloted out of the race.
Moehat, Wicklow Brave won a Group 1 (albeit the irish St Leger); given that Faugheen and A Power were vastly superior to WB over hurdles, I’d have loved to see them tested on the flat
If he was running at Cheltenham he’s have fun in the Kingwell , connections know they can’t risk him , I’ll keep going back to Punchestown , he went out like a light , he’s at Southwell because there desperate ….
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
According to the Post:
“There is currently a maximum field limit of 14 runners for the race, which would mean Constitution Hill needs two horses to come out to be guaranteed a run. However, stabling capacity limits at Southwell could see the maximum field drop to 12 runners, meaning he would require four to drop out.”
I would be confident about two horses above him not running. Four starts to get a bit more uncertain.
I wonder if Henderson and Buckley will be ringing around some of the other trainers?
Jac
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