'He was always special' - Constitution Hill's buyer delighted with Supreme win

Warren Ewing’s part in Constitution Hill’s story has already been played but the County Antrim point-to-point trainer was being mobbed by well-wishers after the gelding’s mighty performance in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Now unbeaten in three starts under rules after travelling with absolute ease under Nico de Boinville, the British-bred son of Blue Bresil has revived an old trading partnership for Ewing with Nicky Henderson and Michael Buckley, which has been instigated by Henderson’s former rider Barry Geraghty.

They had all combined through Brain Power, who landed an International Hurdle and even the Grand National Hurdle at Far Hills in America in Buckley’s white and black silks. Now 11, Brain Power is back where he started with Ewing and even won an Irish point in late January.

Ewing and Geraghty bought Constitution Hill for €16,500 from his Worcestershire-based breeder Sally Noott as a foal at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale, and treated a horse who was so laid-back that Geraghty’s children could ride him with utmost care.

Result and video of Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Ready to run at four, he was actually to suffer the only defeat of his career under Ewing’s name when running in a point-to-point at Tipperary with a narrow defeat to Anyharminasking, a rival who has not exactly matched his exploits but has quietly been getting his act together with consecutive wins for Jonjo O’Neill.

It was not to dent his reputation, or indeed his classic looks, as he was to trade for £120,000 at last May’s Goffs UK Spring Sale when knocked down to Henderson.

Ewing, a softly-spoken presence, was introduced by an overjoyed Geraghty to the Buckley family at Cheltenham on Tuesday after he coasted 22 lengths clear and, after Constitution Hill was about to be led out of the winner’s enclosure, pressed into having a photo with the horse. He was clearly emotional about the whole affair.

"It’s great when you sell one that you know is good and goes on and it works out like that," he said. "He always showed a lot at home, he was always a special one.

"Nicky and Barry would be very close and Barry was trying to get him to buy him. We bought him together as a foal and he was four lengths clear jumping the last and made a bad mistake in his point-to-point, but it turns out the one who beat him wasn’t a bad one either. He’s the horse of a lifetime."

Constitution Hill and Nico de Boinville come home clear in the SupremeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Come Thursday evening’s Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale, it will be back to business for Ewing’s Bernice Stables as he is represented by two members of the now 26-strong catalogue.

Milan gelding Better Days Ahead looks to be one of the buzzier names at the auction. A sibling to three winners, he clocked a good time and made quite the visual impression in landing a maiden at Lisronagh on his debut late last month.

Ewing’s €47,000 store purchase is joined by Mersey Street. The Califet four-year-old, from the family of the prolific Double Symphony, has an identical profile to Constitution Hill having cost himself success on his start at Tyrella with a late error.

"Two nice horses," said Ewing. "Better Days Ahead is the real deal as well, and the other one is a lovely horse who’ll win plenty of races."

Asked if Better Days Ahead might be in the sort of grade to be following in the hoofprints of the horse he had just watched storm up the Cheltenham hill, he added quietly: "It wouldn’t surprise me, he’s very, very good."

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