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I think the 2023 Aintree Hurdle left it’s mark on him. He struggled a bit inside the final three furlongs that day or let’s say he wasn’t really himself when stepped up beyond 2 miles.
Last year’s Christmas Hurdle surely was one of the worst renewals in the history of the race.
The runner-up that day was beaten out of sight on his next three starts. The rest were rated three stones below CH, somehow he had to beat them by that 10-12 length margin.
Don’t tell me that wasn’t poor form….Whats that saying:
The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long.
Maybe those two seasons where we got that Tolworth/Supreme/Fighting Fifth/Christmas Hurdle/Champion Hurdle consecutive run of performances was CH burning at his very brighest and now with all these continuing one after another issues, maybe we are now just in that fading of that bright light period
You could be 100% right, LD. A flame that bright surely won’t last forever. I think Michael Buckley knows exactly what to do and he’ll do the right thing once that day arrives.
I think you are right, LD. It is difficult to envisage the horse ever getting back to the level of that incredible victory in the Supreme.
Thinking about Ascot tomorrow, it has sort of been forgotten that Henderson intended to run Constitution Hill in the Ascot Hurdle in 2022. He was withdrawn on account of the ground allegedly being too fast. That is how he ended up running in the Fighting Fifth a week later.
I think Constitution Hill will retain his racing prowess but the obvious lack of race fitness has put a dent in it and allowed the rust to build. I’m hoping that the dent will be knocked out but Henderson has made the horse’s constitution ill.
According to RP the ailment is first time vet has seen such a thing in 40 years . Probably out Christmas Hurdle so the week later Fighting Fifth Henderson mentioned definately wont be a goer , so i assume its the Unibet Trial Hurdle 25th Jan.
Buy tickets , iam 100 pc sure he could be possibly ,maybe , might run there ,“i assume its the Unibet Trial Hurdle 25th Jan.
Buy tickets , iam 100 pc sure he could be possibly ,maybe , might run there”I think Lossiemouth will go there, if she has won wherever she goes before that. Henderson won’t want CH to face any G1 horses before March so I think there will be a bit more lamenting about the cruel demise of the Contenders hurdle , then an entry in the Kingwell hurdle, if underfoot conditions are perfect and only 3 trees are entered, but then I expect a last minute wobble about how it’s too close to Cheltenham, a gallop at Newbury- preferably behind closed doors if he has any sense- then straight to the champion hurdle.
The writing has been on the wall for a long time unfortunately. In the last 9 months he’s had two terrible racecourse gallops, dirty scopes, colic, wind surgery and lameness. That is quite a list to rack up for any horse.
Personally the alarm bells really started ringing when it was announced he’d had wind surgery over the summer, where did that suddenly come from? He was obviously struggling at home for them to do that because he’d never shown any evidence of breathing issues on the track.
The whole situation has been handled unbelievably badly by probably the most experienced trainer in the game.
So he may be ready for Kempton at Christmas whilst they run Sir Gino in the Fighting Fifth to see if the latter is a contender for the Champion Hurdle. So what if Sir Gino is up for the Champion and the Hill astounds at Kempton do they both head for the Champion or do they go back to plan A, novice chasing for Sir Gino?
The more I know the less I understand.
In that scenario, Sir Gino would only be starting out over fences in January. I can’t see Nicky “Play It Safe” Henderson wanting to go down that route, unless the owners tell him.
Perhaps it also depends on what State Man does over Christmas?
At the end of the day regarding Sir Gino it is down to the owners, of course Henderson will advise if this or that etc
Vf x
Why does Henderson turn everything into a huge drama? It really is time for him to retire IMO.Constitution Hill would be better off with another less nervous trainer.
I wonder if Nicky would consider retirement once CH shouldn’t be able to make it back to the track. He still has Jonbon, Iberico Lord and Sir Gino as standout horses, but it wouldn’t be a problem to relocate them.
Look at the records of most of these horses back in the early 80s. They have run 4, 5, 6 + times in a season. This keeps the horses sharp and fit. Never done them any harm in general. In the first race, you’ll even see a horse named Constitution Hill
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Some good old ones there , Brunton Park rattled round in staying chases for years after this .
Looking through those fields jumps racing was better then , its not rose coloured glasses , it was better .
As for CH , he wont be at Kempton . Something will come up . So hes lame but dont look lame by sounds of it . Hes like that old Spurs player they called Sicknote . Good but never there so useless really .
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