Constitution Hill – Another roll of the dice?
Anyone watching Nicky Henderson’s interview after Constitution Hill’s latest fall at Newcastle couldn’t fail to be moved by the raw emotions of a man who clearly loves his horses deeply, especially this one. The fact that he was able to compose himself, talk eloquently, and offer some early thoughts on what might come next is to his credit. We’re lucky to have him.
The heat of the moment is never the right time to make important decisions. Taking time to gather your thoughts, reflect, and seek counsel will always be the wiser option. Conversations will already have taken place, and more will follow. Owner Michael Buckley and his trainer find themselves in an unenviable position. Should they stick or twist? While deciding the future of a horse that has fallen so regularly is by no means unique, it’s the first time it’s happened with such a high-profile horse. To add fuel to the fire, Constitution Hill isn’t simply a high-profile horse; he’s commanded more column inches than any horse since the Kauto Star and Denman era, if not earlier. My wife has even heard of him, and I think she’d be in lengthy pause and Red Rum territory if asked to name another.
I supported the decision to bring him back for another try this season. Like everyone else, I hoped that a thorough MoT, some schooling, and above all, a chance to clear his head would have the desired effect. Sadly, those hopes evaporated at the second hurdle at the weekend. It was the same, all-too-familiar fall. When meeting a hurdle on the wrong stride, he still favours taking off early rather than getting in tight, but he seems to have lost confidence and doesn’t commit as fully as he once did - a recipe for disaster. He very nearly did the same at the last hurdle, when winning what will surely, and somewhat shockingly, be his only Champion Hurdle crown.
Henderson spoke for us all in the immediate aftermath, when musing on whether it would be fair to put horse and jockey through it again. The overriding factor in such a decision should always be the welfare of the horse and, by association, its jockey. The fact that we’re dealing with Constitution Hill should make the decision easier, not harder. Racing has every justification in highlighting how well horses are cared for when challenged by those who would see our sport confined to the history books. If we want to continue to stake our claim to the moral high ground, then we need to be very careful with this one. Not just with the decision itself, but how it’s perceived.
If racing over hurdles again, there’s a very real possibility of a similar fall, if not in his next race, then the one after that, and God forbid the horse or jockey might not be so quick to their feet next time. The reaction within racing, let alone the wider community, would be heated, and that’s putting it mildly.
We’re told that everything has already been tried at Seven Barrows. No stone left unturned. And that, for me, is the crux of the matter. What’s left to try, other than collective finger crossing? Decisions turn on risk and reward. The risk is undeniable, but what about the reward? What could that look like? Well, a second Champion Hurdle in March is the obvious starting point. Everyone loves a good redemption story, and Sprinter Sacre’s second Queen Mother Champion Chase was rightly hailed as a brilliant training achievement. It would be a similar story with Constitution Hill, but with one crucial difference.
Imagine if someone offered you a chance to win fifty grand; all you’ve got to do is roll six dice. The money is yours, provided you don’t roll six sixes, but if you do, you lose your legs. Would you take the bet? It would almost certainly be the easiest fifty grand you’ll ever make. I know I’d be tempted. But if I arrived home with pockets full of green, not only would the missus relieve me of my booty for her latest home improvement project, she’d tell me how stupid and selfish I’d been. What if I’d lost, she’d ask. I’d need a lot of help getting about for the rest of my days, and the grandkids would miss
our games of footy in the garden. The success would be tainted by the feeling that I’d been reckless with something that wasn’t entirely mine to give. If Constitution Hill resumes his hurdling career and wins another Champion Hurdle, are we left with Sprinter Sacre-style joy or the feeling that we, as a sport, got away with it this time?
The chances of Constitution Hill taking another fall are significantly higher than a roll of the dice. I can offer no insight into how the horse should be ridden or by whom, but as a lifelong fan of jump racing, I’m hoping that if we ever see this wonderful horse on a racecourse again, it’s at somewhere like Goodwood or York and not Cheltenham. I stopped watching TV through my fingers from behind the sofa when the Daleks last invaded, and I don’t want to start again now.