'I hope it's not a tactical affair' - Constitution Hill ready for Fighting Fifth

Saturday: 2.10 Newcastle
Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV3/Sky

Are we allowed to get excited this time? Last week ended in anti-climax when Constitution Hill failed to make the line-up at Ascot after being given the big build-up, but maybe last weekend’s loss will be this one’s gain as the superstar is now rerouted to the Fighting Fifth.

There’s not a lot more to be said about him that hasn’t been addressed already. He looks like a generational talent and is the most exciting hurdler to grace the scene since Istabraq 25 years ago. However, let’s not forget that Istabraq was a legend who ran 29 times.

Constitution Hill is unlikely to reach that number of starts given the cautious approach that trainer Nicky Henderson has taken with him, but can we blame Henderson for walking on eggshells? Surely nobody will be complaining if Constitution Hill can fulfil his potential.

And what enormous potential he has. Constitution Hill is already rated Honeysuckle’s equal when you include her 7lb mares' allowance and that is after just three runs over hurdles. Honeysuckle has had a lot more opportunities to showcase her talent but can only match him.

Honeysuckle has surely peaked already. She is three years older than Constitution Hill and will turn nine in 2023. Only two horses this century have won the Champion Hurdle at that age and Constitution Hill looks like the king in waiting. So can he get off to a perfect start?

He has a Champion Hurdle winner standing in his way and, not only that, it’s one from his own stable. Epatante was being heralded as the next star herself when she ran away with this race two years ago on the bridle, but she had back problems afterwards and took time to get over them.

She was still good enough to dead-heat in this race last year with Not So Sleepy, and wins in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and the Aintree Hurdle seemed to confirm she is right back on form.

The problem for Epatante is that, including her mares' allowance, she was rated 2lb lower than Constitution Hill on Racing Post Ratings after she won the Champion Hurdle in 2020. She is now rising nine and has probably peaked, so it’s unlikely she is capable of improving.

Not So Sleepy, Tommy’s Oscar and Voix Du Reve complete the line-up and have upwards of 6lb to find with Epatante on recent RPRs, let alone the 12lb they are behind Constitution Hill.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

'We've got the ground' – Henderson

It is a week later than planned but arguably the treat will be even sweeter as Constitution Hill, the Lambourn beacon who threatens to light up the 2022-23 jumps campaign, has his credentials as a top hurdler tested by stablemate Epatante.

This race was always part of the plan for Epatante and she won it in 2020 before dead-heating 12 months ago, but Constitution Hill has been rerouted after conditions at Ascot were deemed too quick last weekend.

He is favourite for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, which has been won in the last two seasons by Honeysuckle, who Epatante has tried and failed to crack.

Nicky Henderson, who trains the pair, said: "We've got the ground for Constitution Hill and it's been well documented what a chilled-out character he is, but then that big engine is there too. It won't have bothered him going to Ascot last week and then coming home.

"I just hope it doesn't finish up being a tactical affair with the small field, but he seems well at home.

"Epatante had a great campaign last season and showed she was near her best when second to Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle in March.

"I thought she might have been a bit more forward than this time last year, but she seemed to need her racecourse gallop at Newbury last week a bit more than I reckoned. That said, she seems in great form with herself and this race obviously suits."

What they say

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Not So Sleepy
He seems very happy with himself. We don't feel he's changed much since he dead-heated in this race and his last Flat run in the Cesarewitch suggests he hasn't gone backwards. It was his best run on the Flat all year and that's been a pretty good prep for his runs over hurdles before. He's a great credit to his owner-breeders [Lord and Lady Blyth], who have had such fun with him and Quickthorn, although for him to win I think we need Nicky Henderson's lorry to break down and the doors to be jammed shut!

Ian Hamilton, owner of Tommy's Oscar
We're going to run him as it's just down the road. He's really well after he came out of Cheltenham, so we thought why not? We don't think we're as good as Constitution Hill but we're as highly rated as Epatante, except she has the 7lb allowance. If everything went in his favour he might have a chance of being upsides her.

Iain Jardine, trainer of Voix Du Reve
He's off the back of a really good run at Aintree and the lads who own him are keen to have a go. He seems in good form, although he's obviously got a bit to find with Nicky Henderson's horses – it looks like you could put Constitution Hill alongside Champion Hurdle horses of the past. I wouldn't mind a few like him, but Voix Du Reve has done us proud and I'm sure he'll run with credit.
Reporting by James Burn

Saturday's race previews:

1.20 Newbury: 'He's the ideal horse for it' - can Kapcorse strike again for Paul Nicholls?

1.55 Newbury: can West Balboa keep Walking On Air grounded in this competitive handicap?

2.30 Newbury: is First Street the one? Nicky Henderson bids to enhance Gerry Feilden record

3.05 Newbury: 'He's come on a treat for the run' - key trainer quotes for 2022 Coral Gold Cup

3.25 Newcastle: L'Homme Presse the star turn in Rehearsal - analysis and key quotes

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