Trainer Nicky Henderson told the Unbridled podcast Constitution Hill is a much-happier horse as he steps up his preparation to win back his Champion Hurdle crown at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Despite stumbling at the last in Saturday’s Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham, Britain’s best two-mile hurdler claimed an easy Grade Two triumph on Cheltenham Trials Day and now turns his attention to Champion Hurdle back at Prestbury Park in March.
Speaking to Matt Chapman and Paddy Brennan on Unbridled, the Seven Barrows man said: He suddenly realised he is quite important, he really believes that now. Kempton was amazing and the crowd actually gets him going. He’s such a placid laid-back horse, everything he does is unexciting but it’s as if he’s suddenly got himself into a new frame of mind. He’s a much happier horse than he ever was before and he likes the new house we built him. I just think he’s enjoying life an awful lot. He’s well, that’s the key thing.
When asked if his superstar could ever get back to the heights of his 2022-23 campaign when he won the Fighting Fifth, Christmas Hurdle, Champion Hurdle, and Aintree Hurdle, Henderson remained unconvinced. He said: It would be hard to be better than what he was. In the Supreme and Champion Hurdle you couldn’t imagine a horse could possibly decimate those he did without coming off the bridle, but he can do that. Of course he was the same on Saturday but, with due difference to the opposition, he was doing one thing and they were minding their own business. He’s in command and enjoying himself – that’s the most amazing thing, but I do think he’s moving very well. He’s got that swagger about him and the crowd was just brilliant on Saturday – pre-race and afterwards.
Constitution Hill’s exploits have seen many onlookers compare him to the great Sprinter Sacre, who struck Grade One gold nine times for Henderson during his heyday years of 2012 to 2016. Comparing the two, Henderson observed: He’s a long, long way in stature and presence from what Sprinter Sacre was but Sprinter knew he was the best-looking horse in England, as well as the best horse. Constitution Hill is not the best looking horse in England but he’s getting that sort of idea about it that people do quite like him, it’s like ‘oh, look at me!’
A rare day when Constitution Hill did not look at his sparkling best was during a public gallop alongside Sir Gino last autumn, which drew comparisons to a similarly poor piece of work at Kempton in the run-up to the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. Looking back, Henderson said: I might give up public gallops and I’m trying to be good when he’s not racing to show he’s alive and well. I’m very glad we did do that in public last year because it was such a catastrophe I’m not sure anyone would have believed me anyway. At least everyone could see where we were – in a bad place – and appreciate that. To be fair, the Newbury gallop wasn’t that bad because I was trying to show everyone look out, [Sir] Gino is a very smart horse. That’s what Constitution Hill was taking on at Newbury, there wasn’t anything wrong with him – the other horse was just a bit more forward than him but he’s very very good.
After success on Trials Day, Henderson is set to give his Champion Hurdle hope a short break before the preparation for the Champion Hurdle truly begins – against the wishes of jockey Nico de Boinville. Nico got off him last week and said ‘this horse is too fresh, keep working him, don’t give him any time off!’ He’s having this week off, I can assure you, whether you’re Nico or Paddy [Brennan].
Despite starting his season over hurdles in the Fighting Fifth, Sir Gino has enjoyed a stellar campaign over fences for Seven Barrows thus far. When asked if the upcoming Game Spirit Chase could be a potential next test, Henderson replied: I think that’s the plan, I’d like to go to Newbury and he’s in good form. Another of Henderson’s charges showing promise is Jango Baie, who sparkled on seasonal appearance at Cheltenham’s December meeting, beating the likes of Springwell Bay and Caldwell Potter. Looking ahead, Henderson commented: [The Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase] has been his target all the way along and hopefully we’ll be there [at Sandown] on Saturday.
James Owen’s East India Dock emerged as the main challenger to Henderson’s Lulamba for the JCB Triumph Hurdle with an eye-catching success in a Trial at Ascot recently, which caught the attention of the six-time champion trainer. I was impressed with him [East India Dock]. We’ve got to do our thing, they’re going to do theirs. He sets a good pace and if he’s going to do that come March then he’s going to give them a nice lead and I hope we’re somewhere on his tail to have a look and see what’s happening. When asked if he had any others in the yard he couldn’t wait to run, the 74-year-old replied: The other one that comes out is Lucky Place for the Stayers’. That form is very good! When he won on New Year’s Day, he beat Nigel Twiston-Davies’ horse [Gowel Road] giving it 6lbs and that came out and won Saturday.
Creo que esa forma es bastante sólida. Estamos asumiendo que aguantará tres millas por confianza, así que no corrió el sábado, pero creo que entra en la ecuación.
¿Cuál es la última noticia sobre Palladium?
Todos los ojos estaban puestos en Huntingdon el 23 de enero cuando la compra de 1,4 millones de euros, Palladium, ondeó la bandera por primera vez para Henderson, luciendo los colores de Lady Bamford. A pesar de una buena cantidad de detractores en las redes sociales después de la victoria, su entrenador estaba satisfecho con lo que vio.
Dijo: Estábamos encantados con él. Es una de esas situaciones tontas debido al precio. Si recuerdas, años atrás cada vez que Jonbon corría tenían que mencionar lo que costó. Ahora notarás que nunca mencionan lo que costó, porque fue barato.
Palladium necesita correr de nuevo. Es un potro grande y requieren mucho más trabajo, es bastante tosco. Incluso estuve hablando con los entrenadores anteriores que dijeron que no era bueno en casa, solo se lucía en la pista. Va a tener una campaña de verano en la pista plana. Vamos a ganar el Hardwicke y luego se convertirá en semental después de ir a la Melbourne Cup.
Antes de colgar el teléfono, Matt Chapman hizo una última pregunta sobre la posibilidad de algún día enviar a Constitution Hill a correr en la pista plana.
De manera jovial, Henderson respondió: Hablamos de eso hace un par de años y le dije a John Gosden, ‘¡cuidado, podríamos ir por la Gold Cup!’ Él pensó que hablaba de Cheltenham, ¡pero yo estaba hablando de Ascot! Siempre se me ha pasado por la mente. Lo que asustaría sería el terreno, mantenerlo en forma por tanto tiempo para descubrir que está demasiado firme para correr.
Mira Unbridled con Matt Chapman y Paddy Brennan completo en el canal de YouTube de At The Races.