'He's just on another level' - Constitution Hill shrugs off late drama in successful Champion Hurdle prep

How do you make 20,000 people take a collective gasp of Cotswold air and go weak at the knees? Constitution Hill managed it quite simply with a single misstep that rattled the last flight and his adoring Cheltenham faithful.

Jump racing's poster boy looked to be having a jolly old time in the Unibet Hurdle before being caught between strides at the last and clattering his way across to the other side.

It offered a rare but timely reminder that he is indeed made of flesh and blood just like his rivals, despite having spent the majority of his career operating on an entirely different level.

Despite giving regular rider Nico de Boinville a "heart attack", Constitution Hill nevertheless cruised to a three-length success at 1-12, in the process taking his unbeaten record under rules to ten and setting him up for the Champion Hurdle back here in March.

"It's a pity because he's such a good jumper really and doesn't get it wrong very often," said a philosophical Nicky Henderson. "It's perhaps a sensible thing to do every now and then and to get it out of the way before the next time. 

"It's not going to teach him anything and, if you remember, he was very long at the last in the Champion Hurdle a couple of years ago and now he's decided to do it the other way. He just wasn't doing much at the time." 

The final-flight drama in pictures

Constitution Hill puts in an extra stride going into the last flightCredit: Edward Whitaker

The star hurdler hits the top of the flight under Nico de BoinvilleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Constitution Hill is at full stretch with his hind legs brushing through the hurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Constitution Hill engages his landing gear in time and survives the last-hurdle dramaCredit: Edward Whitaker

The sponsors left the winner unchanged as the 4-6 favourite for the Champion Hurdle after a race in which De Boinville was forced to go on down the back with his rivals unwilling to provide any assistance. 

Having raced alone from the fifth-last, Constitution Hill perhaps thought he was having one of his racecourse gallops rather than being in competition and connections were happy to put the blunder down to a lack of concentration.   

"If anything I suppose he was getting a bit dreamy at the last," said Henderson. "Nico said he's just so fresh and, compared to the rest of them, he hasn't actually done anything and that I need to work him tomorrow! But we know where we are now and, as much as Nico wants us to work him, he'll have a quieter week and then we'll start the engines up again and get ready for the invasion."

De Boinville added: "It wasn't ideal but in a better-run race we'll be a lot happier. The race took zero out of him. It's very easy for him and he's just on another level. Everything went to plan bar the last and he felt as good as ever."

Having spent a year on the sidelines due to respiratory issues and colic before returning at Kempton at Christmas, Constitution Hill's recent health has been delighting the team at Seven Barrows and there is a sense that something spectacular could be in the offing when the handbrake comes off in March. 

"He's rougher and tougher at the moment and really enjoying what he's doing," said Henderson. "He came out of Kempton that much better and quicker than we ever thought he would. He's just been brilliant all the way through – too straightforward to be honest."

Before getting completely carried away, Henderson then reminded himself of the misery of last year, where months of planning for the festival were undone just days before the meeting when his string fell ill.  

"That's the slightly scary thing about it," he added. "This time last year we were in a good place and it all went wrong and we've got to get them there in the form they're in now."

Constitution Hill is unbothered by his late error as he sticks his tongue out alongside his happy connectionsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Owner Michael Buckley said he was enjoying "every second" of the build-up to the festival and appeared to take the last-flight blunder better than anyone at Cheltenham.

"There's nothing not to love apart from that jump," said Buckley. "I wasn't really taking it in but that isn't the sort of race that's going to see him in the best light. I think the better the race the better he is." 

Asked if any of Constitution Hill's potential rivals in Ireland scared him, Buckley added: "No. Everybody is always worried about everything but you can drive yourself crazy worrying so I'm not worried. This is all preparation for the big day.

"It means a lot to me. People love him and I can't wait for March. I hope he gets there in the same sort of shape he's in now and he won't be making a mistake like that when he's going a bit faster. He was half asleep."

Unibet Champion Hurdle, March 11
Unibet: 4-6 Constitution Hill, 7-2 Lossiemouth, 4 Brighterdaysahead, 8 State Man, 10 Anzadam, 20 Sir Gino, 25 bar

Read more . . .

'He found a leg and got me out of trouble' - Nico de Boinville reflects on Constitution Hill's final-hurdle blunder 

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