No Shishkin at Sandown but another Nicky Henderson superstar was unearthed

Clashes between races at Sandown and Navan on Saturday made for a tricky afternoon for Racing TV, who also showed us the action from Aintree and Wetherby during a jam-packed few hours.

As they completed division two of a maiden hurdle at Navan, the mic was passed to Ruby Walsh to comment on the finish to the opening 2m novice hurdle at Sandown. One horse was storming up the run-in to an awesome debut success and Walsh had little to no time to gather his thoughts. His mind was already made up on the winner’s performance though.

Walsh said: “That was very impressive. He jumped and travelled well – and I thought Might I was a fair horse when he won at Newton Abbot. You love a horse that hits the line at Sandown as strongly as he’s just done. It was a really good performance.”

The horse in question was Constitution Hill and boy did he look good. The market signalled as such on Friday afternoon, with the Tipperary point-to-point second soon backed into second favouritism once bet365’s betting opened.

In taking on Might I, one of the more impressive British novice hurdle winners this season at Newton Abbot, he faced a fairly stiff task on his rules debut, but that did not deter his early supporters and their faith was very well placed.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Constitution Hill, a £120,000 purchase from Warren Ewing at the Goffs UK Spring sale in May, travelled beautifully, jumped economically and quickened up the Sandown hill in a manner that is rarely seen for a 14-length rout.

Ante-post quotes swiftly rolled in with Constitution Hill, described as “an extraordinary creature” by his trainer, generally cut to 10-1 (from 33) for the Supreme in the immediate aftermath. The 10-1 did not last long either and he is now 4-1 second favourite for the festival opener on the third Tuesday in March.

Constitution Hill (right): jumps the last before quickening clear of Might I (left)Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Constitution Hill’s winning time compared favourably with the other two-mile hurdle contests staged at Sandown over the two days, including those of Finale Juvenile Hurdle-bound Forever Blessed and Listed handicap winner Samarrive, but it was the visual impression that was most striking.

Equally impressed were our Racing Post Ratings team, who awarded Constitution Hill a figure of 148, 2lb higher than 2019 winner Fiddlerontheroof. He went on to win the Grade 1 Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle on his next start over course and distance and Constitution Hill may well bid to follow suit, a feat achieved by owner Michael Buckley and Henderson with New York Rainbow in 1992.

The Racing Post website has a results database going back to 1988 and no winner of the 2m novice hurdle has bettered Constitution Hill’s RPR. Some rather illustrious names, for context rather than direct comparison, include Morley Street (118), Call Equiname (131) and Best Mate (137).

In terms of this season, Constitution Hill posted the highest RPR of any novice hurdler in Britain and Ireland, 7lb clear of My Mate Mozzie, who recorded the best figure in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse when a short-head second last month.

Henderson did not saddle a single runner in the novice hurdles at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, but it is likely to be a different story this time around with Jonbon (137), somehow the early 3-1 favourite for the Supreme rather than Constitution Hill, and Balco Coastal (123) among other successful hurdling debutants so far.

Last weekend’s racing had everything and although we sadly did not see Shishkin at Sandown, we witnessed another superstar from Seven Barrows. It is a tad premature to label him Altior 2.0, but there is little doubt Constitution Hill is a terrific top-level prospect.

Sonigino can step up to land first British win

Sonigino
12.55 Doncaster
2pts win

Sonigino is capable of leaving his British debut behind him this weekend and warrants a wager when he lines up at Doncaster on Saturday.

The Paul Nicholls-trained four-year-old finished third in a Listed novice hurdle at Haydock last month, a race dictated from the front by Barrichello under an excellent ride by Brian Hughes. A more galloping track and step up in trip will better suit Sonigino and he rates a strong fancy.

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