Constitution Hill's decline continued at Newcastle on Saturday as the former champion hurdler fell for the third time in his last four starts in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle. Golden Ace, a 22-1 shot, capitalised on the misfortune to win, just as she did in the Champion Hurdle in March after Constitution Hill's first career fall.
The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner looked hesitant at the second flight and soon crashed out, leaving his trainer Nicky Henderson in despair. 'It's getting to something. You can't keep asking him to do it, it doesn't seem fair on anybody,' Henderson told ITV Racing.
Henderson added that Constitution Hill's work at home had been 'superb' but he could not explain the repeated jumping errors. 'Everybody has got their own ideas and we've listened to every theory in the book,' he said.
The New Lion, unbeaten in five starts, also fell in the closing stages, leaving Golden Ace to coast home. Trainer Dan Skelton said: 'It's not ideal to be on the floor. We'll dust ourselves down and get him jumping.'
Skelton later had better fortune as Panic Attack became the fourth horse in 60 years to complete the Paddy Power Gold Cup-Coral Gold Cup double, winning at Newbury. The victory extended Skelton's lead in the UK Trainers' Championship, with Paddy Power cutting him to 1-5 to win the title for the first time.
