Not so long ago, Constitution Hill was regularly hitting the headlines for all the right reasons. A breathtaking sequence of performances between December 2021 and December 2023 led to comparisons with some of the greatest 2m hurdlers of all time.
In more recent times, the tale of Constitution Hill has been one of disappointment. All appeared well following a success in the 2025 International Hurdle, which took his winning sequence to 10. Since then, he has fallen in three of his four appearances and produced a woeful performance at the Punchestown Festival. The latest head-scratching chapter unfolded at Newcastle on Saturday.
Golden Ace Picks Up the Pieces as Hill Falls Early
On the back of a full MOT, pleasing homework, and a promising racecourse gallop, Constitution Hill made his much-anticipated return in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle. A 12-length winner of the 2022 edition and clear of the field on ratings, he started as the 6/4f. The New Lion and Anzadam were the dangerous new stars on the scene, while the 25/1 Champion Hurdle winner, Golden Ace, started as a 22/1 shot.
Fighting Fifth Hurdle 2025 Full Result (29/11/25)
| Pos. | Horse (SP) | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden Ace (22/1) | Jeremy Scott | Lorcan Williams |
| 2 | Anzadam (11/4) | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 3 | Nemean Lion (40/1) | Kerry Lee | Conor O’Farrell |
| Fell | Constitution Hill (6/4) | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| Fell | The New Lion (15/8) | Dan Skelton | Harry Skelton |
Any hopes that this race would see Constitution Hill regain the winning thread ended early. Sent into the lead by Nico de Boinville, he jumped the first well enough but barely lifted a leg when taking a crashing fall at the second. Thankfully, horse and rider emerged unscathed, leaving The New Lion to make his bid from the front.
Back in March, Constitution Hill’s fall looked to leave the race at the mercy of State Man, only for the Willie Mullins star to fall at the last, leaving Golden Ace to grab the glory. This time, The New Lion was the fancied runner who failed to take advantage. Leading into the straight, the Dan Skelton star veered left and came unstuck at the second last – the same hurdle Constitution Hill had fallen at on the first circuit.
Waiting in the wings, just as she had been in March, was the Jeremy Scott mare Golden Ace. Jumping smoothly throughout, she comfortably held off the challenges of Nemean Lion and the previously unbeaten Anzadam. Now a dual Grade 1 winner, the admirable mare may lack the natural brilliance of a Constitution Hill or a State Man, but she has yet to fall in 11 hurdle outings.
What Next for Constitution Hill?
Any horse can be forgiven one fall. However, three in the space of four outings have created doubts as to whether Constitution Hill has lost the ability or the desire to compete over hurdles. With those doubts in mind, it is no surprise that the horse’s future as a racehorse was in question following this latest mishap.
Reflecting on the latest setback for his eight-time Grade 1 winning star, Nicky Henderson stated:
“It’s really sad. Can we go on asking him to do it? It doesn’t seem fair on anybody.”
With the dust having settled, quotes from the Seven Barrows handler suggested that Constitution Hill’s time at the track is not yet done:
“There’s no point giving up. You’ve got an eight-year-old who is in his prime, and there are other things we can do.”
So, what are those “other things” Henderson referred to? He ruled out any attempt to turn Constitution Hill into a chaser, which only leaves the flat. Constitution Hill for the Ascot Gold Cup? That may be some way off. However, Henderson suggested we shouldn’t be surprised if his next appearance comes on the level:
“I wouldn’t be jesting if I said if there was a two-mile maiden on the flat, we could run there. Seriously, why not?”
Sir Gino to Step into the Champion Hurdle Breach?
With State Man out for the season and Constitution Hill and The New Lion fluffing their lines, the Champion Hurdle looks wide open. Lossiemouth currently heads the betting for the Willie Mullins team, but there is now a new name behind her in the market.
Constitution Hill’s stablemate has endured a torrid time since claiming the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase in December 2024. Happily, he is now on the way back. Originally expected to follow a chase campaign, Sir Gino may now fill the gap in Henderson’s championship-level two-mile hurdling team.
Unbeaten in five starts over the smaller obstacles, his most recent hurdle appearance saw him turn the 2024 Fighting Fifth Hurdle into an eight-length procession. A best price of 16/1 before Constitution Hill’s latest misfortune, he is now as short as 5/1 for the Champion Hurdle.
