Drama! Final-flight mishap can't stop CONSTITUTION HILL | Racing TV

[@SHAYNESHAZADCOSGROVE]

Thanks constitution hill you have made my 17th birthday the best despite my cancer

[@suemaher5282]

Happy birthday Shayne

[@MoRafiq-l9l]

Happy Birthday Shayne

[@colauty2598]

late ! But happy birthday young fella, hope you enjoyed your day !!

[@Rebeljustforkicks]

Happy Birthday Shayne.Glad you enjoyed watching this wonderful horse and you will be cheering him on when he wins The Champion Hurdle again.

[@thomaskelly4360]

Happy birthday shayne hope you had a brilliant day all the best

[@MattyMurtagh]

Like all the great hurdlers , the faster he goes the better he jumps.

[@kerrybogdanski1027]

The second ran a belter! CH is such a star, all the best jumpers throw a heartstopper at the last now and again! He looked sooooo happy galloping around there! His little happy face 🥰🥰🥰

[@DenAlKutay]

My friends asked me which football team do you support. I tell them I support constitution hill😅 I love this horse. He will win the champion hurdle easier than this race. ❤

[@colauty2598]

Just love this horse😊.. the last 😮. it looked quite a shock, but when I saw it again from the side angle, it seemed so weird, he looked like he gone to jump ( early ) realised the motion of what he'd done and appeared to power himself out of trouble, he had did have some power within himself, my guess is a lesser, not as bright horse would have gone.. just beautiful !

[@leehoward8570]

@@colauty2598 quite well put.

[@TheChrishoughton]

Amazing horse. How he corrected himself over the last was amazing.

[@Alybert-e3w]

Was like a easy gallop. Nothing beats him in thr champion hurdle. Absolute monster

[@John-ed2wj]

We'll see

[@seanscanlon9067]

@ We will and we will see this prediction is right.

[@patcallinan3992]

He'll win the Champion Hurdle if he meets this lot again !!

[@alandavies3727]

This horse is so clever. He knew that he was in the wrong stride and rectified it. Amazing!

[@bascol123]

Wonderful horse, allowed the odd mistake but recovered well. Looks a cert for Cheltenham.

[@liamquigley891]

To be fair there was nothing in that race to threaten CH but what an absolute legend that horse is

[@kennethtierney7835]

He was 1/12 so we didn't learn anything here, other than he's sound and on good terms with himself.

[@globaloffice3214]

Which is all we need to know at this stage of the season. The showdown will come in the Champion Hurdle.

[@JohnMc1722]

Shame to see those plastic hurdles at Cheltenham

[@stephenholmes1036]

Yes they are bl**dy awful

[@globaloffice3214]

Better plastic hurdles than broken bones

[@stephenholmes1036]

It's done to save money

[@stephenholmes1036]

The horse was basically cantering , Its the first time I've seen him live we had a reciprocal with Cheltenham. . He was against a reasonable field and won easily in all honesty. Lhomme press ran a good race and Stage star ran well over a longer distance. Two other good performances Sixmilebridge in the last and Imperial saint who I both had each way. My only bets of the day.

[@seanscanlon9067]

It looked like Nico asked Constitution Hill to go long and moved himself forward in the saddle to take the jump but the horse took another stride and so they were not in unison again until landing and being gathered up.

[@evannierenberg1007]

Exactly.

[@globaloffice3214]

Its is the jockey's job to a see a correct stride and present a horse accordingly.

[@seanscanlon9067]

@ The jockey does not jump the obstacles though, the horse does.

[@globaloffice3214]

@@seanscanlon9067 Nico graciously held his hands up and publicly chastised himself for getting the last hurdle wrong. No one is doubting his ability. Nico is a fantastic jockey. He said he was angry at himself. If he, and all the other jockeys at the course who commented on the ride agreed with Nico who are you to call Nico a liar.

[@praaa152]

Nico must remain switched on the whole race.He's in charge he must stay focused the whole time

[@seanscanlon9067]

He asked Constitution Hill to pick up his feet and go long but the horse just took an extra stride while Nico got himself into the jumping position. No blame attached to Nico, focus wise or otherwise.

[@chimpzilla]

⁠@@seanscanlon9067you can’t canter a horse up the hill completely switched off like that and then ask him to go long coming into it never going to end well.

[@seanscanlon9067]

@ Constitution Hill's cantering was as fast if not faster than the second's out all gallop going into the last flight so he was not exactly switched off though. It is just that Nico had not asked him for everything, being that he was a class above everything else and so did not need to. And the uphill finish tends to be after the last flight anyway and to sum up, if the horse took off when asked they would have been fine as he has stood off further than that quite a few times and got over. Nico had just gone forward into the jump position but the horse took an extra stride and so both horse and jockey were unbalanced.

[@globaloffice3214]

@@seanscanlon9067 Nico did initially blame himself (and apologised to Michael Buckley for doing so) as did all the jocks presenting on ITV Racing.

[@globaloffice3214]

@@seanscanlon9067 Perhaps it would have been better if Nico had presented CH at the hurdle on a perfect stride i.e. not long and not short. Perhaps then CH would have jumped it perfectly. I speak from experience as a rider who is lousy at jumping horses. I was (in my youth) always meeting the fences on the wrong stride. Consequently the horses who normally were excellent show jumpers always clattered into them with me going head over heals over the fallen poles. It's that simple - just present a horse at a hurdle/fence at the distance at which it can cleanly jump over it. It's the rider's job.

[@JAMESMcGeown-v7k]

He's allowed a floppy one 10 out of 10 speaks for itself

[@russellstanton7583]

Wasn't even a race. £75k for a schooling session . Nico needs to stop being too nonchalant. ANY horse can fall....

[@ashlytollis1441]

Wasn’t nico’s fault, CH stepped at it, nothing jockey can do

[@russellstanton7583]

@ashlytollis1441 ...what I mean is he's looking around instead of forwards and he said himself he should have spurred him on to give him more focus .

[@leehoward8570]

What it was, was, a horrible bit of luck in the stride he was meeting the fence at.. nobody would be talking had he met it nicely like majority of races. Easy win thankyou god for keeping him safe.

[@leehoward8570]

@@russellstanton7583 just looking at how easy he was going to win by.. just happened to meet the fence on a horrid stride could of attacked the fence from further back i suppose giving him less chance of mistake.

[@russellstanton7583]

@leehoward8570 ... end of the day he is an absolute freak. I had him in a treble at 4/1 so I'm happy as Larry atm....🙂

[@joannetyrrell364]

Hardly broke a sweat.

[@mrdangiles90]

Anybody else nearly have a heart attack at the final hurdle?🙂 all sins forgiven Conny!

[@Funeeman]

I did, rather like watching Arkle first time round in the 66 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

[@istanbul0562]

Jockeys fault

[@michaelbyrne4371]

Nobody puts that jockey up. He's available most days. Michael Stout and Dear Nikki can't be done by the authorities. Who do they train for QEII. Untouchable by the authorities. Walk in the park are good not greats. Horse of a lifetime with a little extra

[@michaelbyrne4371]

He's not a jockey. Nobody puts him up

[@michaelbyrne4371]

No. There was no good horses in the race

[@davidfoster2006]

Martin Lewis the clown thinks constitution hill has no chance in the champion hurdle lol.

[@musicmike1972]

Martin Lewis gets tailed off in the human race 🤷‍♂

[@paulconey252]

​@@musicmike1972martin lewis is a thug

[@lg_95]

Who’s gonna beat him next lol Mullins horses all no chance wonder what wagon he’ll get on next 😂

[@paulconey252]

@lg_95 I heard he has jumped onto the Henderson bandwagon just in last hour this news broke

[@patcallinan3992]

​@@lg_95 Biggest danger is not in Mullins yard. Brighterdaysahead beat Stage Man by 28L last day. CH could only beat Stage Man by 8L last time....

[@darrengriffin9842]

If he does that in the Champion Hurdle he WONT win. They were donkeys behind him

[@TankTank900]

This showed us nothing could have won by 20 lengths easily hard held all the way around not taking any chances just another little blow out before Cheltenham. Looking forward to seeing andazam run today.

[@stevebrown661]

Would have been a better prep if he'd been asked just a little to stretch out from two out. The mistake at the last was because he wasn't racing at all, but it does show how clever CH is keeping his feet under him.

[@daviddillingham7388]

if he hadnt been cantering at the last he'd never have survived that mistake

[@user-wm7mp2fl1p]

CH had the race sewn up with four fences from home the slight error at the last did not deter him from winning pulling up end of story

[@Martin.Lewis.Racing.Channel]

Hurdles mate not ‘fences’ But good try. Sums all the typical Hendo fan your comment does.

[@seanscanlon9067]

@@Martin.Lewis.Racing.Channel Yes they are hurdles but who said they were a Henderson fan?

[@stephenholmes1036]

Hurdles

[@michaelbyrne4371]

Sir Michael Stoute and Nicky get away with stuff that trainers who do not train for royalty

[@Alybert-e3w]

@@Martin.Lewis.Racing.Channel why is it so many bellends love to crab great horses ? 🐎

[@marksouthward]

Are you watching Martin 😅

[@Maestro-e4d]

What exactly did we watch here? It beat trees and nearly took the last hurdle back to the stable with him 😂

[@marksouthward]

@Maestro-e4d show some respect Martin

[@enderby4121]

@@Maestro-e4d You make so much more sense with your mouth shut.

[@Maestro-e4d]

@enderby4121 Actually tickled me that 😂😂😂

[@lorraineknight4326]

Good job Ruby Walsh wasn't riding it yesterday, he'd have definitely fallen off it, (Ruby must have made a fortune on back handers from bookies!)

[@jb2914]

I wouldn't let Nico ride him again, that could have been a career ending mistake for constitution hill. Nico was so desperate to not let the horse run how he wanted to run, he could easily have ended the horses career with that mistake. Let the horse have a blow over the last few furlongs, nico massive error on a par with greville starkey on dancing brave.

[@johnoflaherty9105]

1. He needs to get there in one piece. 2. He may not get away with another mistake like that a third time - put his jumping under pressure. 3. King of Kingsfield and Brighterdaysahead may get into an unassailable lead (if she goes).

[@kerrybogdanski1027]

@@johnoflaherty9105 I thought she (BDA) was a risk. However, on further analysis, I see she’s not hit the top racing speeds of CH.

[@GordonBow-p7r]

Not a fan of the jockey as any mistakes. CH has made always come at the 2nd last or last. The jockey feels the pressure and this filters through to the horse. Only the brilliance of the horse has saved the day!

[@edwardoconnor3960]

Everyone entitled to opinions but why when in horse racing we have a great horse the critics try and put him down !

[@Folk_var]

He is still the one to beat in March.

[@michaelc3051]

Cantered round, Nico was holding him back.

[@MoRafiq-l9l]

Before people start making something up about the last hurdle it only happened because CH was going so slow and wasn't used to such a slow canter. Nicky and Nico weren't looking to do anything special today, they just wanted to keep CH ticking over. Onto the festival for the champ.

[@seanscanlon9067]

Constitution Hill was not particularly going slowly, he was just going at the speed much easier than the second was, who was not doing it as easy and so visually it looks as if Constitution Hill was going slowly. Nico asked the horse to jump but he just took an extra stride.

[@JohnGreenwood-ex9ui]

That’s his first mistake in 10 races he was going so well who is going to beat him

[@jennycampbell8539]

If it had of been the wood hurdles, he was down, better race you'd see a better performance

[@jeffchandler9606]

Every horse makes mistakes

[@leehoward8570]

@@jeffchandler9606 Exactly.

[@suemaher5282]

They certainly do. We all loved Kauto but he definitely made u hold your breath at the last.

[@globaloffice3214]

Every horse will make a mistake at a hurdle/fence if presented wrongly at it.

[@leehoward8570]

@@globaloffice3214 just like how a human can knock down a hurdle in a 100m hurdle race.

[@globaloffice3214]

@@leehoward8570 the difference being that a horse has a jockey to help him meet the hurdle on the correct stride

[@trevormeeks4084]

It was just an exercise gallop he didn't beat a bunch of no hopers that far but he didn't need to he will win by half the track in the champion hurdle

[@smallsmalls3889]

What do you think Martin😂

[@musicmike1972]

He doesn't 🤷‍♂️

[@DenAlKutay]

What a horse. There is no horse will beat him. Nicky Henderson should have put a pace maker in the race. He’s a smooth traveler likes to go with strong pace and he’s jumping gets better and gains 2 Length on every each hurdle he jumps . He has never taken the lead apart from second last to the fishing line.. Will be a strong pace at Champion hurdle in March and will suit CH.. He’s a monster… best two miler ever. ❤

[@crazyhorse562]

The writing is on the wall

[@trevormeeks4084]

Unfortunately the grade one races at Cheltenham are as today usually won by the favs if it wasn't for the handicaps and all age races Cheltenham would not be worth watching or betting on for the £2ew punter

[@pauljohnson8285]

Not withstanding the blunder at the last, Constitution Hill, was never out of 3rd gear. If I had to Puck holes in his performance. I thought he ballooned at least half of the hurdles, wasting unnecessary time in the air. In an uncompetitive race, It wasn't an issue, but ideally, in the Champion Hurdle, you would want to see him get from one side of his hurdles to the other, a lot more efficiently.

[@globaloffice3214]

Ch will jump lower when the pace picks up. He was popping over them because of the slowish pace

[@janetmarshall7171]

NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL HILL, HE IS STILL THE BEST AT WHAT HE DOES!! MR. HENDERSON HAD A BIT OF A SCARE, BUT WAS RELIEVED WHEN HIS HORSE DID IT AGAIN!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

[@Porkchopexpress12345]

STOP USING CAPS.....

[@unknown-us4nq]

Wow just wow black and white monster had 12p on me

[@decpitkin2106]

He’s that good he’s half a sleep 😂

[@stevens9996]

Two strange things about this performance. The mistake at the last under no pressure at all. If you can do that once then you can do it again. Why were they at pains to win by no more than a closing three lengths? Nobody was expecting a thirty length win, but surely most would have predicted a little more than this against very much second raters? Makes you wonder if they are not entirely sure what will happen when he is let down.

[@MoRafiq-l9l]

From interviews over the last week I believe the plan was just to get round at a canter and not have to get out of gear 1 - it was just to keep him fresh for March. The error at the last only happened because they were going so slow

[@tiannaw9766]

Very good point has I thought he laboured at Aintree a while back, but he is some horse.

[@DogeLifeArchie]

Because he was 8/11 to win by over 4.5 lengths so everyone would have backed that

[@BradacusCoD]

why does he wear golf gloves?

[@Ironsmiler]

What in gods name was posh lad playing at between the last 2? Taking a pull and looking around like The Excorcist girl. If CH had decked and been seriously hurt, that would been entirely jockey error. Bet he got a right bollocking.

[@colauty2598]

Could you imagine a younger AP riding this horse .. what a combination !!

[@globaloffice3214]

@@colauty2598 Not sure what AP could add. Constitution Hill does it all

[@Doghouse_Riley26]

The softest of soft races. Not entirely convinced that King Con 👑 is back to his best. Lossiemouth would DEFINITELY have given him a race

[@Paul-k6h]

He is not going to come close to his peak rating again, question is has he still got enough ability to win CH again.

[@mrdangiles90]

I was disappointed nobody attempted to even give him a race. He was that bored out in front by himself that he nearly fell

[@petercarolan9416]

in fairness he went at a calmer pace because there was no need to to go faster. it looked like he was just out to stretch his legs

[@ashlytollis1441]

There was nothing in the race that could go quick enough to give him a race! He’s a beast, dare say he hasn’t lost any ability

[@leehoward8570]

King Constitution Hill.

[@ajvindiesel8517]

Lossiemouth is going to put him under so much pressure hes gonna make more than 1 mistake at Cheltenham and it'll cost him! If Lossie could get within 5l before when she ran a stinker.... can you imagine what she'll do when she runs a decent race!

[@davidfoster2006]

Deluded like Kempton she is not quick enough.

[@ajvindiesel8517]

​@@davidfoster2006that's why she's lost every race at the distance isn't it 🤣🤣 deluded! CH fanboy 😂

[@istanbul0562]

😂

[@garethtaylor1470]

Just Imagine what Constitution Hill will be like when he’s back to full fitness in a few months time!😮🤯

[@Alybert-e3w]

Lol. Mullins knows she can't beat him so she go in mares hurdle

[@calvinaitkin-sf9up]

Made his mistake,,he will rout the others in champion.

[@greg-v1g6y]

This horse been the best for years but the gimps on channel 4 always talking out their hoop saying it would struggle to win on his last race.People have got to stop listening to these idiots on channel 4 because they get paid to con you out your money as the bookies pay their wages.Louthmouth it was said might beat him but lost as ground was wrong that day.Ay cheltenham Constriction Hill will be a big favourite with millions on this with double & trebles,but i would give Louthmouth another chance because this horse will lose where the bookies will clean up when it loses or falls.

[@andrew4127]

What a pointless farce.

[@Thomas-vg8ov]

It's a trial.

[@Folk_var]

If he is going to bounce, bounce here rather than in March. This was a good idea, and a nice prep run too.

[@andrew4127]

@ As said, as this was no more than a training gallop for Constitution Hill, as a race it was a pointless farce.

[@Martin.Lewis.Racing.Channel]

I think the Pink & Green Queen will rest easy tonight 😂😂😂 Hype Hill made extremely hard work of that!! #nothingspecialyetagain

[@SaddlersF.C]

Relax😂

[@russellstanton7583]

@@Martin.Lewis.Racing.Channel ....the Pink and Green Queen has no chance. I'm more worried about Brighterdaysahead.

[@mrdangiles90]

He only made hard work of it cause he was lonely and bored out in front for so long😂 pink and green queen will go to the mares

[@marksouthward]

@@Martin.Lewis.Racing.Channel never out of 3rd gear you 🤡

[@leehoward8570]

Woof woof woooff

[@JimmiHidalgo-Lopez]

So the little stant of falling at the last did not come trough today. Sir Dodgy Mccoy could not stop laughing at Rubywalsh talking about how its usually done but failed. ITV giving an extra 50 grant if that horse won the race says it all. Just admit. Pls. "The bit of oil spilt on the grass befor the hurdle just wasn't enough, was it??

[@chris-pk1hp]

The canter didn't do him any good.

[@mattsmith1173]

So what's going to beat him??

[@chris-pk1hp]

@mattsmith1173 nothing. I'm saying that riding at a canter didn't do him any favours at the last??

[@alanread4763]

I'll keep saying it until Hendo listens. Get yourself a proper jockey. Nico's a joke. !!!!!

[@rodneymckee8431]

Any bookmaker that cut the price of Con Hill for the Champion hurdle you should be ashamed of yourself we learnt nothing from his 1st run of the season

[@shiftylad9938]

So many excuses. He wasn’t great 🤷‍♂️

[@andijw79]

It was a canter you absolute moron 😂

[@gregm9506]

Has to be one of the most corrupt rides I've ever seen and to do it on an all time great. Shame on Nico de Boinville. I've watched the race back a few times now and am 100% convinced Nico has slowed the horse right down to lower the winning distance thus providing bookmakers with a large windfall from the race. The horse was extremely short odds so almost all bookmakers were headlining winning distance specials for Constitution Hill instead. Having gone 10+ length at one point while still doing a half canter, Nico then weirdly kept checking behind and also looking at the screen for confirmation. He slowed the horse down so much that he completely ruined It's rhythm going to the last hurdle, narrowly avoiding a catastrophe. He was clearly trying to maintain a lower winning distance beforehand. The horse could've won by 20+L without even exerting himself as he was so much superior of the field. To be 10L clear at the top of the hill but then let far inferior horses close to within 3L at the last made no sense whatsoever. I believe rides like these should be scrutinized more by the BHA.

[@Mike20216]

😂

[@johngrady9045]

Ridiculous statement

[@paulcollins3278]

Shit 💩🤡 cause you bet the second

[@joejoejoe4577]

This is a horse to be looked after all it went through last year, not one to be flogged.

[@Elliot-T]

I think Nico sped him up on the back straight so he could come home at a canter, rather than being extended. I don't think he fixed it for the bookies, but I do think he manipulated the ride for optics.

[@Martin.Lewis.Racing.Channel]

Look at all the Saturday armchair punters getting all giddy 😂😂😂😂 Not a prayer Hype Hill wins in March

[@SaddlersF.C]

Relax😂

[@Martin.Lewis.Racing.Channel]

😂👆👆 here’s one!!

[@paradisehotel5005]

Is that right? I don't normally gamble whilst wintering here in Portugal, but I've put a four figure bet at 4/7. Your dismissive opinion of CH Martin means he will surely win.

[@enderby4121]

It seems that senility has been a smooth transition for you!

[@leehoward8570]

Woof wooof wof wooof?

[@bazaarjt2296]

For a real class horse he makes some real clangers, he was lucky again to get away with that one. I wouldn’t trust this jockey if he were mine, he’s done this more than once with him on board 😬

[@JackBurton-w7x]

Not that dramatic and probably caused by lack of speed as he was coasting but should have been. Race revealed nothing