The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill was in action in a racecourse gallop at Newbury on Tuesday – but was put in his place by stablemate Sir Gino – watch below. Which had led to him drifting in the Fighting Fifth market.
WATCH: Constitution Hill Newbury Gallop With Stablemate Sir Gino
Constitution Hill is expected to run in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday 30th November – however, that first run back since last December is now in the balance with some suggesting he was slightly below-par in a racecourse gallop at Newbury.
The 2023 Champion Hurdler missed the second half of last season due to injury and his long awaited returned has focused around a trip to Newbury on Tuesday 19th November in a gallop with stablemate Sir Gino.
You can watch the closing stages of the Constitution Hill gallop below – but having been put in his place by Sir Gino and also with jockey Nico De Boinville saying he felt fine until ‘he blew’ at the two furlong marker – this has led to some horse racing fans questioning this gallop.
Which has also led to a drift in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle market with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK he’s now around 13/8.
Constitution Hill, who is unbeaten from his eight career starts, won the 2022 Fighting Fifth Hurdle in 2022 and went onto land the Champion Hurdle later that season.
Despite Some Questioning The Newbury Gallop, Trainer Nicky Henderson Remains Bullish About Constitution Hill’s Return
“I hope we’re going to see the usual Constitution Hill [at Newcastle]. It was great and we got the work into him. He’s done a lot more today than he did with Jonbon a couple of weeks ago and he needed this gallop.
“He’s ready for action. That made him work and it’s why we’re here. People need to remember this horse has had bad luck. There’s nothing wrong with him, he hasn’t been injured. It’s all part and parcel of the game.
“He’s had a good blow. He’ll do a bit of work at the end of this week as he’s not had a school yet. He hasn’t jumped a hurdle, but I don’t think he needs to. It just keeps his eye in.”
Henderson Went Onto Say About Constitution Hill’s Absence
“Look, he hasn’t died. He hasn’t been anywhere or been injured – just missed a race. He hasn’t got anything to prove and has got to prove that he is still the best. Henderson told the Racing Post.
“You have got to get it out of your head that he has been missing or ‘will he come back?’ He hasn’t been anywhere! Sprinter Sacre had been ill for a year and a half. That was a comeback. This horse isn’t coming back. He ran at Christmas. Everybody goes on about it.
“But he hasn’t been damaged, he hasn’t been hurt, he hasn’t been wounded. I’ve been saying this for six months and nobody seems to understand. Yes, it’s great that people are talking about him and that’s why we are doing something like today.”
“If he gets beaten, he gets beaten. He’ll get beaten one day, that’s as sure as eggs are eggs. I hope it never happens. We got Altior to 19. It’s possible [he’ll get that many]. I don’t see any reason why he would be any different to where he left off at Christmas last year. I really don’t.”
Constitution Hill Career In Numbers
- Runs: 8
- Wins: 8
- Grade One Wins: 7
- Career Winnings: £731,642
Nico De Boinville Reacts To The Constitution Hill Gallop at Newbury
Listen to jockey Nico De Boinville after the Constitution Hill Newbury gallop on Tuesday.
He said ” he felt great until about the two (furlong), where he had a blow – he just needed it a bit, but this is the reason we have these racecourse gallops”, but went onto say the ground was soft and that he’ll come on for the run.
With one more bit of work before the Fighting Fifth Hurdle on the 30th, which remains the target – despite the drift in the market with the best betting sites in the UK.
The Willie Mullins-trained Mystical Power, who was runner-up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last season, also holds an entry in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle – as does the Gordon Elliott-trained Brighterdaysahead.
Final runners will be declared for the race on Thursday 28th November 2024.
"He felt great until about the two-furlong pole where he's had a really good blow… all the ability is there, it's just getting him up to full fitness"@NdeBoinville reacts to Constitution Hill's gallop at @NewburyRacing… pic.twitter.com/UZqm7ddOTl
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 19, 2024
Could Sir Gino Head To The Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle?
The news that came out of the Nicky Henderson Seven Barrows yard last week was that Sir Gino, who galloped with Constitution Hill at Newbury, will be going chasing this season.
Nico De Boinville has said he’s schooled well and it’s been decided that will be the longer-term plan this season.
However, it’s also been rumoured that if Constitution Hill DOESN’T make the Fighting Fifth Hurdle on the 30th November, then Sir Gino could have his first run of the season in that Newcastle race – to ready him for his career over fences.
That said, Sir Gino for the Fighting Fifth is purely a back-up plan in case Con Hill doesn’t make it. With the main plan for Sir Gino to run over fences for the first time at Kempton on Monday 25th November.
Henderson added that one of the reasons Sir Gino is going chasing this season is that he’s owned by Joe Donnelly – who also has State Man – and doesn’t need to have two horses line-up in the Champion Hurdle come March.
🗣 “We're gonna go chasing, he's still in the Fighting Fifth, unless anything goes wrong with Constitution Hill, he won't be declared on Monday.”
A pleasure to speak to Nicky Henderson on his two stable stars, Constitution Hill and Sir Gino this morning @NewburyRacing 🌟 https://t.co/i9Z6XlSRkK
— Stephen R Power (@racingblogger) November 19, 2024
