Nicky Henderson has put an end to speculation by making a decision regarding Constitution Hill’s participation in the upcoming Cheltenham Festival. There has been much debate surrounding the future path of this highly skilled hurdler.
Initially unbeatable, Constitution Hill faced his first defeat during the 2025 Champion Hurdle when he fell, leading to a series of disappointing performances with three falls in his last four hurdles. To assess the situation, Henderson took Constitution Hill to Southwell for his inaugural Flat race, covering 1m4f on the all-weather track.
In a remarkable turnout of over 3,000 spectators on ITV’s Friday Night Live event, Constitution Hill triumphed by a significant margin of nine and a half lengths, showcasing potential as a competitive Flat racer.
Henderson acknowledged the dilemma he faced following the Southwell victory, expressing that all the positive attention could quickly turn negative if Constitution Hill were to suffer a fall at Cheltenham. Despite the success, Henderson considered the decision a tough ’50-50′ choice, promising to consult with owner Michael Buckley before finalizing plans by the week’s end.
A crucial factor in the decision-making process was Constitution Hill’s performance in a scheduled training session in Lambourn. The odds began to shift against him in the Champion Hurdle betting, leading to his displacement as the favorite and a shortened 1-14 probability of not running. Subsequently, Henderson confirmed that Constitution Hill would not compete at Cheltenham, signaling a likely shift from jumping to focusing on Flat racing.
In an announcement, Henderson and Buckley expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support and admiration received for Constitution Hill, ultimately concluding that it was not fair to push him back into hurdling given his potential in Flat racing. While a bittersweet decision for many, Henderson highlighted the horse’s departure from jumping as a positive step towards new opportunities.
Constitution Hill’s impressive track record included ten consecutive hurdle race victories, starting with his notable wins in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Champion Hurdle in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Despite setbacks in recent years, Henderson remains optimistic about the horse’s future prospects in the racing world.