Constitution Hill fell for the third time in his last four starts during the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday, continuing a dramatic decline for the once-dominant hurdler. The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner, who had been sent off favourite, stumbled at the second flight, leaving Golden Ace to capitalise at long odds.
Golden Ace, a 22-1 shot, repeated her Champion Hurdle victory from March, where she also benefited from Constitution Hill's fall. Trainer Nicky Henderson expressed despair, saying, 'I just can't believe it. It's getting to something... You can't keep asking him to do it, it doesn't seem fair on anybody.'
The New Lion, unbeaten in five starts, also fell in the closing stages but emerged unscathed. Trainer Dan Skelton said, 'It's not ideal to be on the floor. We'll dust ourselves down and get him jumping.'
Skelton later enjoyed success as Panic Attack won the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, becoming the fourth horse in 60 years to complete the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Coral Gold Cup double in the same year. The victory extended Skelton's lead in the UK Trainers' Championship.
