Constitution Hill unperturbed after shock fall and out for Aintree redemption

Constitution Hill arguably has a point to prove when he lines up for the William Hill Aintree Hurdle on Thursday.

National Hunt racing’s poster boy met with defeat for the first time at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, when attempting to regain the Champion Hurdle crown he had relinquished last season when on the sidelines.

Back in action this term, he looked to have retained all of his brilliance when defying a 366-day absence in the Christmas Hurdle, with Lossiemouth two and a half lengths behind him.

Having originally said he would more than likely go straight to the Champion Hurdle after Kempton, Nicky Henderson elected instead to go first for the Unibet Hurdle in January, where he almost came down at the last before winning with his head in his chest.

Constitution Hill did not heed that warning, however, and came crashing down in a Champion Hurdle that had to be seen to be believed.

“We’re very happy, any day you get to run him is exciting, the fall hasn’t worried him, nothing does really,” said Henderson, who is also hoping to take Constitution Hill to Punchestown next month.

“All has gone well with him since Cheltenham so here we go, but obviously it’s different coming in off the back of him falling.

“We’ve done plenty of jumping, but not schooling, more over poles and such. It’s a case of getting him to pay more attention.

“There’s no Brighterdaysahead, but there’s still a very good mare in there in the shape of Lossiemouth, and plenty of others.”

Lossiemouth was rerouted from the Champion to the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham as Willie Mullins could not see her beating her stablemate State Man, and he may well have been right as the reigning champion added to the drama when falling at the last with the race at his mercy.

Lossiemouth could hardly have been more impressive in successfully defending her crown in the Mares’ Hurdle, however, and belatedly gets the chance to take on the boys on Merseyside.

Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: “All is good with her. Obviously it is a big step up from the Mares’ Hurdle to trying to beat Constitution Hill.

“We’re hoping the extra half-mile can close the gap from Kempton, but then Constitution Hill hadn’t run in a year when he ran in Kempton and has a couple of runs under his belt now.

“I think it’s going to be difficult for her. I think if Constitution Hill is unperturbed from his fall it’s going to be very hard for Lossiemouth, but it will be very interesting to see.”

Mullins was on board runner-up Sharjah when Constitution Hill won the 2023 Aintree Hurdle by three lengths, giving some hope to the Closutton yard in taking him on over this longer trip.

“Lossiemouth and Sharjah are the two horses that have got closest to him and one of those times was in the Aintree Hurdle. We’re going to roll the dice and see, but we’re going in hope rather than expectation,” Mullins added.

Having decided against saddling his star mare Brighterdaysahead, Gordon Elliott instead relies on Wodhooh, who stretched her unbeaten record to seven in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle at Cheltenham but is rated some 23lb inferior to Constitution Hill before her 7lb allowance.

Take No Chances (Dan Skelton), Tellherthename (Jonjo and AJ O’Neill) and Break My Soul (Ian Donoghue) all have a mountain to climb on official figures, too.