Constitution Hill is a fan favourite among many with plenty of punters referring to him as the G.O.A.T (greatest of all-time).
His recent form has been poor, but many fans hope he returns to winning ways.
The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner has been disappointing – falling in three of his last four. Fans are calling for his retirement, a new jockey or even for him to start racing on the flat.
Constitution Hill’s career over hurdles
Constitution Hill’s Grade 1 career started in 2022 with four wins, the Tolworth Novice Hurdle at Sandown and beating stablemate JonBon in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. At the end of 2022, Constitution Hill did the double over another stablemate in Epatante, by winning the Fighting Fifth and then the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.
In the 2023 Champion Hurdle he lined up against Willie Mullins’ State Man and went on to win by nine lengths. He carried on his amazing form by winning the Aintree Hurdle and then defended his crown at Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle.
Constitution Hill had a year out of racing for various reasons in 2024: some being suspected colic, going lame during a gallop at Newbury Racecourse as well as blood tests showing levels far from satisfactory. But he did return at what seems to be one of his favourite races the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton – winning the race to make it a three-peat. This sadly would be his last Grade 1 victory to date.
The 2025 Cheltenham Festival had arrived with Constitution Hill seeking a second Champion Hurdle. However, with five hurdles to go he fell when his front leg went down attempting to scramble his way over the hurdle.
At his next race in the 2025 Aintree Hurdle he made a different mistake at the second last, jumping too early and then clearing the hurdle out with his rear legs: leading to a second consecutive fall.
A seemingly lost Constitution Hill went to Punchestown in search of the Boodles Champion Hurdle crown but he came a staggering 27 lengths behind State Man.
And this gets us to his most recent race the BetMGM Fighting Fifth at Newcastle. A race he had won before, punters dreamed of a winning return but a similar mistake to the Cheltenham Hurdle would hinder this plan. That front leg dropped down early making it seem like he was again trying to crawl over the hurdle. Trainer Nicky Henderson stated after the fall: ‘I loved the way he went and jumped the first and then, I just can’t believe it.’
What’s Next for Constitution Hill?
Punters are speculating online on what the next step for Constitution Hill should be. Some consider retirement, change of jockey or even flat racing. Henderson has said ‘A two-mile maiden on the flat? Seriously, why not!’
The only definite word coming from the Seven Burrows Stable is that retirement is not an option. However, people have also been speculating as to why he falls – some blaming the padded hurdles and even trainer Henderson has agreed.
However, the British Horseracing Authority has defended the use of the padded hurdles, these hurdles have been gradually introduced with all courses required to have them by October 2026. They changed from the birch filled hurdles to reduce falls, and both horse and jockey injuries, however Henderson has ruled them as the common denominator for Constitution Hill’s problems.
