If there were still any lingering doubts surrounding who would win the clash of the titans between Honeysuckle and Constitution Hill in next year’s Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, they’re arguably no more — as the former put in another admirable performance to win his seasonal reappearance at Newcastle in freakish fashion.
Heavily backed at 1/4 with those who bet on horse racing to win the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle in the northeast, Constitution Hill delivered in spades and more to beat his Seven Burrows stablemate Epatante by some 12 lengths. It was the perfect performance as the exciting five-year-old made all, gliding over the hurdles, before quickening three out and stretching well clear of the rest of the field in the two-mile contest.
Even with such expectation to get the win at Newcastle, pundits and punters alike were still blown away by Constitution Hill’s performance — and, after that stunning win in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in record time as well, there’s already plenty of talk that he could go on and become one of the greatest hurdlers of all time.
It wasn’t just the joyous bettors and the stunned pundits who were impressed by Constitution Hill’s fine win in the Fighting Fifth though, as even his trainer Nicky Henderson was in awe of his new prized asset — claiming he was blown away by the sudden turn of foot in the closing embers of the race, in which he reached highs of 36mph and earnt a new Timeform rating of 177 (making him the sixth highest-rated hurdler of all time already).
“I honestly believe the secret to this horse is his head. He’s just got such an amazing mindset, his real weapon is that nothing bothers him. You could run him in a steeplechase tomorrow, he wouldn’t mind it,” Henderson said.
“Even from the front, to go and do that and change gear – even I have got to admit that sudden surge was impressive.
“He has got frighteningly good at home, he is probably a better horse at home than we was last year and this time last year I didn’t think he was a good horse anyway.”
The next outing for Constitution Hill looks likely to be the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day. But you can’t help but already look ahead to the Festival, where the five-year-old looks set to go head-to-head with the Queen of Knockeen Honeysuckle.
The potential meeting in the Champion Chase is all jumps racing fans have talked about since the latter stages of last season, and everyone will be chomping at the bit come March if that blockbuster truly does materialise.
Some seem skeptical already, however, as many believe Honeysuckle might be rerouted or even retired to avoid losing her unbeaten run — which currently stands at 16 from 16 races and will likely be extended before Cheltenham.
It’s looking increasingly likely that the racing results from Paddy Power are going to declare Constitution Hill the winner of the Champion Chase come mid-March. But let’s hope we get the see the battle we all so grave and it lives up to its billing.
