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 is enjoying himself of late, says Nicky Henderson
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].
All roads lead to the Game Spirit for Sir Gino, with Jango Baie primed for Sandown test
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.”
East India Dock to test Lulamba in Triumph
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. I think that form is pretty solid. We’re taking that he’ll stay three miles on trust so he didn’t run on Saturday, but I think he comes into the equation.”
What’s the latest on Palladium?
All eyes were on Huntingdon on January 23 when €1.4m purchase Palladium flew the flag for Henderson for the first time, donning the colours of Lady Bamford. Despite a fair amount of nay-sayers on social media after the victory, his trainer was pleased with what he saw.
He said: “We were thrilled with him. It’s one of those silly situations because of price tag. If you remember years ago every time Jonbon ran they had to mention what he cost. You’ll notice now they never mention what he cost, because he was cheap.”
“Palladium does need to run again. He’s a big colt and they take quite a lot more work – he’s quite stuffy. I was even talking to the previous trainers who said he wasn’t good at home, he only came on on the racecourse. He’s going to have a summer campaign on the Flat. We’re going to win the Hardwicke and then he’s going to become a stallion after going for the Melbourne Cup.
Before hanging up the phone, Matt Chapman squeezed in a final question about the possibility of one day sending Constitution Hill Flat racing.
Jovially, Henderson responded: “We talked about it a couple of years ago and I said to John Gosden, ‘look out we might go for the Gold Cup!’ He thought I was talking about Cheltenham, but I was talking about Ascot! It’s always crossed my mind. The ground would be the frightening thing to keep him up for that long to find out it’s too firm to run on.”
Watch Unbridled with Matt Chapman and Paddy Brennan in full on the At The Races YouTube channel.
+ There are no comments
Add yours