Constitution Hill fell for the third time in his past four starts during the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday, leaving Golden Ace to secure a surprise victory at odds of 22-1. The much-anticipated race took a dramatic turn when the former champion hurdler, once regarded as one of the finest ever over jumps, crashed out at the second flight.
Golden Ace, who had also capitalised on Constitution Hill's first career fall in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, delivered another shock win. The New Lion, unbeaten in five starts, also fell in the closing stages, allowing Golden Ace to pick up the pieces. Her odds for a successful defence of her Champion Hurdle crown were trimmed to 16-1, reflecting her lower standing compared to Constitution Hill at his peak.
Nicky Henderson, Constitution Hill's trainer, expressed despair at the horse's decline. 'First and foremost he's fine, which is all that matters,' Henderson told ITV Racing. 'I loved the way he went and jumped the first and then, I just can't believe it. It's getting to something. Let's all think about it and let's not be rash, but it's sad, it's really sad. You can't keep asking him to do it, it doesn't seem fair on anybody.'
In other action, Panic Attack won the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, becoming the fourth horse in 60 years to complete the Paddy Power Gold Cup-Coral Gold Cup double in the same year. The victory extended Dan Skelton's lead in the UK Trainers' Championship, with Paddy Power cutting him to 1-5 to win the title for the first time.
