Anyone with even a passing interest in National Hunt racing must surely be aware of the exploits of the superstar hurdler Constitution Hill, who is, unquestionably, the most exciting name in the sport. Owned by Michael Buckley and trained by Nicky Henderson, the six-year-old Blue Bresil gelding has, so far, won all seven starts under Rules, including the last six at Grade 1 level, by an aggregate of 89 lengths, without ever being seriously challenged.
Indeed, an impressive, 9-length victory over State Man – who has otherwise yet to be beaten in seven completed starts for Willie Mullins – in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2023 introduced the tantalising possibility of Constitution Hill attempting to become just the second horse in history, afer Dawn Run, to win both the Champion Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Nevertheless, according to Henderson, Constitution Hill will remain over hurdles for the time being and will make his seasonal debut in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in early December.
It is worth noting that Constitution Hill is already the co-sixth highest-rated hurdler since the mid-sixties, according to Timeform, just 5lb behind Night Nurse, who won back-to-back renewals of the Champion Hurdle in 1976 and 1977. In 2023, the so-called ‘Triple Crown of Hurdling’ – that is, the aforementioned Fighting Fifth Hurdle, the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, on Boxing Day, and the Champion Hurdle – proved little more than a formality and Constitution Hill also added the Aintree Hurdle, over two and a half miles, to make it 4-4 for the season. His combined odds for winning all four races were a shade under 5/4.
Henderson has stated that the same four races plus, possibly, the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham in late January, are on the agenda for 2023/24. At the time of writing, Constitution Hill can be backed at around the even money mark to remain unbeaten in 2023/24, subject to a minimum of three starts.