Constitution Hill back to his best would be the perfect Christmas gift... it's time to show why he's so special
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The special ones are always treated a little differently. It doesn’t matter what walk of life, being a standout guarantees more perks, more scrutiny and, of course, more pressure. Be in no doubt, Constitution Hill is special. Nicky Henderson has more than 100 horses in his Seven Barrows yard but the 2023 Champion Hurdler is the only one who has had his stable modified, a summer revamp giving him extra space and greater comfort.
Henderson can see Constitution Hill at all times from his office and, if he wanted to charge admission to all the racing fans who request to see the athletic bay gelding, he’d probably have enough cash to build himself a new extension, too. There has been a desperation from the public to see Constitution Hill — perhaps the most popular horse in National Hunt training — on the track once again. It is almost 12 months to the day since he showed a change of gear between the last two flights of the Christmas Hurdle that wouldn’t have been out of place at Royal Ascot.
The last year, though, has been riddled with difficulties for Constitution Hill and trainer Henderson, and full of angst for the horse’s gregarious owner Michael Buckley. There has been a virus, a bout of colic, two underwhelming public gallops, in February (Kempton) and November (Newbury), and a growing sense that his flame has fizzled out.
. On Boxing Day, back at the venue where he extended his record over hurdles to eight wins from eight starts, we have the tantalising prospect of seeing Constitution Hill showing everyone why he was drawing comparisons with the late, great Istabraq not so long ago.
