National Hunt racing’s most famous horse was back in the headlines last week as Nicky Henderson announced the planned return of Constitution Hill. This was overshadowed on Tuesday evening when news broke that one of the greatest staying chasers of the modern era in Galopin Des Champs had passed away just days after trainer Willie Mullins had confirmed the retirement of the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero. The week’s big Flat highlight saw one of the stars of the 2025 juvenile season bounce right back to his best at Goodwood.
Dual Gold Cup Dies Five Days After Retirement
Tuesday brought the sad news that one of the most talented chasers of the current century had passed away, having only had his retirement announced last Thursday. Hailing from the all-conquering yard of Willie Mullins, Galopin Des Champs burst onto the scene with an impressive success in the 2021 edition of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Winners of that contest frequently go on to prove themselves outside of handicap company, but none have done so to such spectacular effect as Galopin Des Champs.
While talented over the smaller obstacles, the French-bred gelding was little short of sensational over fences. Winning 12 of 20 chase starts, he finished outside the first three only once – when falling with the race at his mercy in the 2022 edition of the Turners Novices’ Chase. Eleven of those chase victories came in Grade 1 company, taking his overall tally of top-tier wins to a round dozen.
With seven wins from nine chase outings, Leopardstown was a particularly happy hunting ground for the Audrey Turley-owned gelding. Highlights at the Foxrock venue included three successive Irish Gold Cup wins between 2023 and 2025.
Like most greats of the sport, Galopin Des Champs will be best remembered for his performances at the Cheltenham Festival. Following his win in the Martin Pipe and fall in the Turners Novices’ Chase, he slammed Bravemansgame by seven lengths in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Returning in 2024, he once again proved much too good for his rivals, with Gordon Elliott’s Gerri Colombe more than three lengths adrift in second. Appearing in the March showpiece for a final time in 2025, he couldn’t quite match his Irish Gold Cup hat-trick but went out on his shield with a gallant second to the younger legs of Inothewayurthinkin.
Galopin Des Champs’ final success came when routing the field to the tune of 22 lengths in the 2025 Punchestown Gold Cup. Reflecting on the retirement, Willie Mullins stated:
“He gave everyone who had anything to do with him a great time, and he’ll be hard to replace.”
The ten-year-old had been expected to pursue a second career in eventing with Isabelle (daughter of Ruby) Walsh set to look after him. However, he had been found to have suffered an injury in his field and could not be saved with Ruby Walsh announcing the devastating news.
“He was checked a few times throughout the morning, but late in the morning when I went to get him for exercise, I found him with a severe injury, high up on his near front leg. He was attended to by our vets immediately, but x-rays revealed extensive, unrepairable damage.
“He was a fabulous horse whose short time with us has left lots of broken hearts, but none more so than those of Greg, Audrey and Sarah Turley, and Adam Connolly, who looked after him for so long. He will be sadly missed.”
September Assignment for Constitution Hill
The final week in August began with anticipation building around Constitution Hill’s possible reappearance. On Monday morning, the Champion Hurdle winner was one of 19 remaining entries in the £60,000 Listed Weatherbys August Stakes at Windsor on Saturday 29th August. However, Henderson was keen to inform racegoers that the ground would need to be on the easy side of good for the superstar to take his chance.
Windsor’s hopes of a Constitution Hill-inspired attendance boost were dashed on Tuesday 25th August. Keen to avoid leaving a decision to the last minute, Henderson’s nagging concerns regarding the ground led to a change in plan. The going at Windsor was described as good to firm at the time of Henderson’s decision.
However, the British weather is nothing if not unpredictable, and a downpour later in the week duly changed the going to soft on the day of the race. Had Henderson delayed his decision, Constitution Hill may well have lined up. In his absence, the prize fell to the William Haggas-trained Tenability, who claimed the second Listed success of his career.
Happily, fans don’t need to wait much longer to see Constitution Hill in action. The much-loved nine-year-old is now set to tackle the Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton on Saturday. Having switched codes at the start of 2026, the Blue Bresil gelding is perfect two from two on the flat, including a win in a novice event over the September Stakes course and distance.
Impressive as his previous efforts have been, the step into Group 3 company represents his toughest flat test to date. Lying in wait among the potential opposition are Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller and Gethin, who lost out by just a neck to Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes. Will Constitution Hill be up to the task? No doubt fans will flock to the Sunbury-on-Thames venue to find out.
Zavateri Gives Johnson-Houghton Cause for Celebration
In the absence of a British or Irish Group 1, the classiest contest of the week was the Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood on Saturday afternoon. Won by star names Medicean and Raven’s Pass in the current century, and Brigadier Gerard further back in time, the 2026 market was headed by Zavateri.
Carrying the colours of Mick and Janice Mariscotti, Zavateri enjoyed an excellent juvenile campaign. Winning three of his four starts at two, his biggest victory came in the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh. Encouragingly, he had also shown a liking for Goodwood when winning the Group 2 Vintage Stakes.
Given that strong showing in 2025, hopes were high for the son of Without Parole in his Classic campaign. However, the year didn’t start as well as trainer Eve Johnson-Houghton may have hoped. Beaten in the Greenham Stakes on his comeback, he then missed the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas due to a setback. Returning for a summer campaign, he finished fifth in the Group 1 duo of the Sussex Stakes and City of York Stakes.
Despite arriving without a win in four outings or over the one-mile distance, the drop to Group 2 company saw Zavateri start as the 11/10 market leader. Travelling well towards the rear under a confident Charles Bishop, there was a brief moment of concern as Zavateri waited for room. However, when the gap opened, the response was emphatic. Surging into the lead, the powerful chestnut opened up to score by three and a half lengths.
This marked a first Group 2 win of the season for Eve Johnson-Houghton, coming 57 years after her father, Fulke Johnson-Houghton, won the 1969 Celebration Mile with Habitat. The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on British Champions Day is the obvious next target for Zavateri as he looks to add to his Group 1 tally.
