Having drifted in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle market, his trainer Nicky Henderson has confirmed that Constitution Hill is an ‘unlikely runner’ in the Newcastle Saturday 30th November – due to a fresh injury concern that’s surfaced since his recent Newbury racecourse gallop.
Constitution Hill Suffers ‘FRESH’ Injury and Expected To MISS Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle
The signs were there on Friday, as eagle-eyed horse racing fans noticed that Constitution Hill was drifting in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle market – the race he was expected to make his comeback in.
These rumours quickly turned to reality when his trainer Nicky Henderson took to X (Twitter) to give a statement that confirmed a new Constitution Hill injury has surfaced since his Newbury gallop on Tuesday.
Henderson, who was at Ascot racecourse at the time, went onto say. “The horse (Constitution Hill) was found to be sore after the gallop. It’s a tragic problem and issue but is under investigation as the reason for this is not apparent.”
He added “This is not a retirement call, and the horse was bright and breezy after the gallop – but is unlikely to make the Newcastle race (Fighting Fifth Hurdle) next weekend (30th Nov).”
You can see the full Constitution Hill statement here.
Constitution Hill Didn’t Impress Some In Recent Newbury Gallop
Having bolted up in the 2023 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton last December, the wheels came off Constitution Hill’s Champion Hurdle defence as the Nicky Henderson star was forced to miss the big Cheltenham Festival race through injury.
However, with a summer to recover the signs at Seven Barrows were positive that he’ll be back for the 2024/25 jumps season and, if back to his best, would certainly be the one to beat in the 2025 Champion Hurdle.
His intended return run remains the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle – a race he won easily in 2022 – and to help prepare Constitution Hill for that Grade One, the Henderson team sent him to Newbury for a racecourse gallop on Tuesday 19th November.
He worked with Sir Gino (watch below), but after travelling well for much of the gallop his jockey Nico de Boinville reported that he ‘blew a bit’ in the last few furlongs. Ending the workout behind his stablemate.
De Boinville and Henderson went onto say after the gallop that the horse was fine and that he’ll improve for the work – “that’s what these gallops are all about”.
Despite this, Constitution Hill was still dislodged as favourite for the 2025 Champion Hurdle – with Lossiemouth, who is in action in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday, leapfrogging him with most of the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.
