In a dramatic turn of events at Newcastle's BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle, the racing world was left stunned as two leading contenders, Constitution Hill and The New Lion, suffered unexpected falls, paving the way for a remarkable 22-1 victory for Golden Ace.
Expert Analysis from a Racing Legend
Ruby Walsh, the celebrated twelve-time Irish champion jump jockey, provided his expert breakdown of the incidents on ITV Racing. The race, which was anticipated to be a showdown between the top two and Willie Mullins' Irish contender Anzadam, was completely upended. Instead, the reigning champion hurdler, Golden Ace, trained by Jeremy Scott, seized an extraordinary victory.
Constitution Hill, with jockey Nico de Boinville, failed to clear the second hurdle. Walsh scrutinised the footage, noting, "He shortens at it and jumps it well," regarding the first jump. "You're thinking, yeah he's OK, that was nice. Then he goes to the second hurdle and he changes his wind." Walsh pointed out the horse's near foreleg and questioned the sudden change of mind mid-air, pondering if something had caught the horse's eye.
The Unfolding Drama on the Course
With Constitution Hill out of the race, The New Lion, ridden by Harry Skelton, took the lead but nearly ran out at the fourth flight. His advantage dwindled as the race progressed, and he ultimately fell at the penultimate obstacle. Walsh observed a lack of power, commenting, "He was a bit flat at the hurdle before the home straight. You'd like a little bit more power than there was."
As the field quickened towards the second last hurdle, The New Lion repeated the error, failing to get the necessary height and leaving the path clear for the eventual winner. "Fortune favours the brave," Walsh remarked, using the moment to highlight the exceptional jumping ability of past champions like Hurricane Fly, a dual Champion Hurdle winner whom Walsh described as "bombproof."
Aftermath and Future Uncertainty
The shocking result has caused a significant shake-up in the Champion Hurdle market, with bookmakers pushing Constitution Hill out to 10-1 for the Cheltenham Festival race he dominated in 2023. The focus now shifts to trainer Nicky Henderson and the difficult decision about the horse's future.
Henderson expressed his profound concern, stating, "Can you keep on asking him to do it? I can't teach him any more. We have listened to every theory in the book. His work has been superb but he has got to jump eight hurdles and that is something he is not able to do." This leaves a major question mark over the career of owner Michael Buckley's star horse.
