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According to the official ratings, Constitution Hill is a 1lb inferior horse to both Istabraq and Faugheen.
I don’t believe either of them would have got him off the bridle.
You might be 100% right, Cork. But I think it could be only because he has won just a single CH and never travelled to Ireland.
I am sure it is measured on what they’ve beaten and by how far – I very much doubt if it’s based on multiple victories or having a passport stamped.
I think Constitution Hill would have beaten Faugheen in a Champion Hurdle, probably Istabraq too, but I can see why he’s got the rating he has.
State Man is good, but not very good, and Constitution Hill’s not beaten him far enough to get his OR higher than that duo.
Plus fans of Faugheen might suggest Faugheen was equally effective at 2m4f.
Is Constitution Hill?
Aintree was comfortably his least impressive victory all season.
Which makes me wonder if he will ever be a Cheltenham Gold Cup horse.
The trainer said today it’s pointless going chasing unless he definitely stays 3m because emulating Dawn Run (only without the gender allowance) would be the mission.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is conducted over an extended 3m2f, actually.
Love the horse to bits but, unless he’s Arkle reincarnate, a horse with his cruising speed will be trying to last home in a Cheltenham Gold Cup as opposed to being every bit as good as he was over 2m over hurdles.
I think sending him chasing would be about as sensible as it would have been to have trained Frankel for the Triumph Hurdle after his 3yo Flat season ended.
Frankel won a sackful of races on the Flat at four – he was a great Flat racehorse – Constitution Hill can win a sackful of Champion Hurdles – he’s a great hurdler.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"He’s only six and horses generally stay better as they get older.
I’d send him chasing, with the Turners the target, this season and then aim for the Gold Cup when he’s eight and fully mature.
Faugheen only won one as well. Presumably he has been rated on the basis of defeating Hurricane Fly by over 6 lengths – but he was past his peak by then.
I know comparing generations is not an exact science. I sometimes wonder if it is even worth the bother. But I simply cannot have Istabraq as a superior hurdler to Constitution Hill. I realise Constitution Hill’s rating is not set in stone and could go higher but I believe he is a better horse than Istabraq even at this stage of his career.
We’re on the stellar trajectory towards seeing the ultimate hurdler of all time. Why wreck it?
As a fan I’d love to see him chasing
If I owned or trained him I’d be Champion Hurdle
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If it ain’t broke don’t fix it – going chasing doesn’t always have to be the be all end all. As slick a hurdler as CH is, it is no guarantee that it will be translated to fencing, Night Nurse was probably as slick a hurdler as you will ever see and yet he was well known to belt a fence or two (even fell at the last in a King George) although he did go chasing due to his hurdles decline.
Personally, I think Istabraq is one of the most overrated Champion Hurdlers there has been and sadly injury robbed us of finding out just exactly how good Faugheen really was, as he was never quite the same horse after returning from that injury.
His 2016 Irish Champion Hurdle stroll in beating Artic Fire 15L (who he beat just under 2L in the previous years Champion) was a monster run and I believe he would have won 3 Champion Hurdles as in 2016 Annie Power only ran as a super sub because he was out injured and I think he would have dealt with Buveur d’Air the year after too.
I’d only like to see CH sent chasing if he stays; the Champion Hurdle is more prestigious than the 2MCC. The Aintree hurdle might suggest he won’t stay. Agree with LD73 that Faugheen’s performance in the that Irish Campion Hurdle was awesome, don’t thin any hurdler this century has approached it. But CH has time, just like to see him run a bit more often
I’m still adamant he should have been in the Gold Cup on Thursday. Just look at how Vauban destroyed that field and he’s only a cart horse compared to the Hill.
I’ve taken the position that Constitution Hill will run in the Champion Hurdle. You can still get odds against him winning it in a few places. I’m battering them down and if he goes elsewhere I will have to take it on the chin.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
No one loves The Hill more than the OP on this thread, but Aintree over 2m4f was comfortably his least impressive victory last Jumps season and 2m4f on the Flat is a significantly greater stamina test.
I don’t think he’d even have been placed.
For sure, he’d be at least Listed class at the sort of trip Vauban won at today if the ground wasn’t too quick, but what would be the actual point with the horse who can win the next two Champion Hurdles?
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Yeah, I’m not sure 2m4f on the Flat would be for him – however, I think they should have tried him over 1m4f – 2m, as the Flat is the ultimate test of pure, raw ability.
In those terms, Istabraq was pretty average and one paced, whereas Royal Gait & Alderbrook were high class on the Flat, and transferred that ability over hurdles.
My issue with the sport is that being versatile under both codes isn’t celebrated enough….and isn’t even encouraged. Ascot & Cheltenham should be working together to try and get horses running/winning at both Festivals…..
Far too much insularity in both codes……
The world’s most beautiful fat b*****d: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0DiEZ4WCeA99rUG1qiTgmnURkMxNsrpSWpNegmY9zDJEvfQhpfLxWmNtmW9eeJz6Cl&id=100064852356024
“You can stick running me on the Flat where the Sun don’t shine – I’m eating my way to the next two Champion Hurdles!”
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Even more photos in the Racing Post piece https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/constitution-hill-picture-special-up-close-with-the-superstar-hurdler-during-the-last-week-of-his-summer-holidays-ao1200a9tcv7/
I love that him and Shishkin are buddies. I also love how every horse in their paddock are identical, dark bays with stars, wonder if their handlers ever get them confused lol
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