Nicky Henderson, the 75-year-old trainer with nearly half a century in the sport, admits that the tale of Constitution Hill is unlike anything he has encountered. The horse, once considered one of the greatest hurdlers in history, lost his jumping ability in a puzzling crisis that forced a rethink of his career. Standing beside the 'beast' in his Lambourn stable, Henderson described the privilege and responsibility of training the horse for owner Michael Buckley.
Constitution Hill's early career was flawless, with 10 straight victories culminating in a dominant Champion Hurdle win at Cheltenham in 2023. His precise and lightning-fast jumping drew comparisons to the sport's all-time greats, and he seemed invincible. But then, inexplicably, the horse lost all confidence in his jumping, falling in three of his last four races over hurdles. Even when he stayed upright at Punchestown in May, he finished second last, with Timeform lamenting a 'disconcertingly tame display'.
Plans for a return to Cheltenham were abandoned, and Henderson made a bold switch to the Flat. The decision paid off, as Constitution Hill triumphed at Southwell and Kempton in February and March, drawing adoring crowds to low-key weeknight meetings. Henderson, flooded with invitations from racetracks worldwide, dismissed talk of exotic targets like the Melbourne Cup, instead setting his sights on Saturday's John Porter Stakes at Newbury, a significant step up in class.
'It's not everybody's idea of the most sensible race for him,' Henderson conceded, 'but we might have just another year of this. If he was four or five, you wouldn't think about doing this race next. But we just want to find out where we belong.' He reflected on the horse's public appeal, comparing him to the charismatic Sprinter Sacre, while noting Constitution Hill's more understated personality. 'He was the best jumper you'll ever see and he lost it,' Henderson said, explaining the no-brainer decision to avoid further risk over hurdles.
