Constitution Hill is a monster!
Wow! Constitution Hill’s performance in the Fighting Fifth was all you could wish for – everything about it was just so easy. Tactically, to go on with him was the right thing to do.
There was a lack of pace and if Not So Sleepy was in front, he’s not the one you’d want to follow as we’ve seen before.
For Constitution Hill to go out and do that with so little experience, and like an old pro, was a great sign. He’s got so much potential – the sky really is the limit with him.
Constitution Hill is FABULOUS in the Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle at @NewcastleRaces! pic.twitter.com/6GlpVJxAJn
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 26, 2022
I’ve had a chat with all the connections since and they were all understandably thrilled. He quickened away from Epatante who we know is such a good mare and has all the form lines from the Champion Hurdle.
She won it in 2020, was nine and a half lengths behind Honeysuckle in third in 2021 and then a three and a half length second this year. To beat her by 12 lengths was a brilliant performance and you couldn’t find any faults in what he did.
Last Weekend Review
I thought it was a really good display by Le Milos in the Coral Gold Cup for the Skelton team who are on a fantastic run. I thought he was holding Remastered the whole way to the line, despite the loose horse.
Remastered got to within half a length but he couldn’t get any closer. Le Milos could be one for the Welsh National as he likes soft ground and ultimately, Aintree could definitely be on the cards.
What a battle it was between two old warriors in the Long Distance Hurdle on Friday. Champ set a nice pace and Jonjo gave him a lovely ride.
He just managed to cling on and it was a great performance, but I thought Paisley Park ran an absolute cracker on his first start back.
He sometimes needs a run and they have may have had him well tuned for this, but if he was to improve again, you can’t rule him out in all the big staying races.
It will be interesting to see if they take each other on in Ascot in a couple of weeks. The staying hurdle division looks very strong and competitive this year, though.
Nicky [Henderson] had a great time of it and I thought both Jet Powered and Luccia were very good in Newbury. They travelled with a lot of class, quickened nicely and went to the line like quality horses.
They will both improve for the experience and they are ones to watch over the next few months.
Monty’s Pass – What A Legend
It was really sad to hear that Monty’s Pass died last week just a few weeks away from his 30th birthday.
We’d only been down to see him in September to film a piece which we were going to release in April ahead of the 20-year anniversary of his Grand National win, but it is now a tribute and can be seen below.
He had a wonderful retirement and was so well looked after by all the Mangan family. He gave me one of my most memorable moments in the saddle in 2003.
I was only 23 and every Jump jockey’s dream is to win the Grand National. He just did it so easily that day. I never rode a cleverer horse over fences – he was dynamite around there and that’s what set him apart.
Like Red Rum and Tiger Roll, you just have to be a brilliant jumper, and he was.
Sandown, Saturday
The Tingle Creek Chase (2:55) is a brilliant race. Like the Champion Chase, it’s the ultimate test of the two-mile chaser.
The fences come to you at speed, there’s no time to adjust, and you need to have the pace to be able to travel and jump, but also the stamina to get up the hill.
The second of Moscow Flyer’s wins in 2004 was one of the best races I was ever involved in, and definitely the best match-up.
Azertyuiop and Well Chief, like Moscow, were brilliant horses and it was just an unbelievable race. There was no let-up in the pace and nowhere to hide. Moscow was brilliant that day and it’s a race I will never forget.
There has been plenty of speculation this week about who will run, but the later you get into the winter the better the chance of the moisture being retained in the ground. I’d be very hopeful that they will all stand their ground.
SHISHKIN is the standout for me. Greaneteen is a very good horse but considering all he’s achieved he’s still 5lbs lower. He was beaten 10 lengths by him in Kempton last Christmas and Shishkin then went on to beat Energumene in Ascot.
He’s picked up the mantle from Altior who picked it up from Sprinter Sacre. Look, he’s 11 from 13 and Greaneteen is 10 from 20, that’s a big difference.
The vibes have been good at Seven Barrows and for me, the only way Shishkin doesn’t win is if he stays at home.
Gentleman De Mee could be the dark one in the field. He was disappointing in Naas on his reappearance where he unseated at the last when beaten. He was very impressive against Edwardstone in Aintree and could bounce back.
Edwardstone had a great novice season and you can forgive him the Aintree defeat. Shishkin is the standout, but I’d say it’s more competitive for the placings than the market suggests.
JONBON looked very good in Warwick and he should take all the beating in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (1:45). It’s a real jumping test there and he came through with flying colours. He was very good over the last two.
He’d want similar ground to Shishkin and won’t be risked on anything other than ground with some ease in it. Boothill is progressive and looks the best of the rest.
I would side with DEISE ABA in the London National (3:30). He was only just touched off by Le Milos here in February and he has plenty of good form at Sandown.
Aintree, Saturday
With 23 runners, this is a proper Becher Chase (2:05) where I think GESSKILLE has lots going for him. He was closing with every stride behind Al Dancer in the Grand Sefton last month, only to be beaten a nose.
He had some decent form in France, the step up in trip should suit and he has the course experience. I wouldn’t be worried about his age. He’s had plenty of runs for a six-year-old and Cyfor Malta won the Topham round here as a five-year-old.
Another interesting one is Captain Kangaroo. He won the Cork National the last day and although his form before that wouldn’t excite you, Willie [Mullins] looks to be bringing him here to get a taste of Aintree before potentially coming back for the big one in April.
You can’t really rule out any of the six in the Many Clouds Chase (1:30). You’d expect Ahoy Senor to improve from his Wetherby run, but he would need to. He is the obvious one, as he was very good over course and distance in April, but he’s skinny enough.
Chantry House has been a bit disappointing but the vibes at Seven Barrows seem pretty strong. Even though he won last season, he made heavy weather of it, but I would give him a chance.
Dashel Drasher won over hurdles here on his reappearance, beating Langer Dan and he’s not out of it, while Sam Brown was third in the Charlie Hall.
I was impressed with NOBLE YEATS in Wexford last time when he got back to winning ways. He’s the Grand National winner and has good recent form, so I’ll go with him for a bit of value.
I also gave a strong mention to WALKING ON AIR last week, but he was withdrawn at Newbury because of the ground. He takes his chance in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle that closes the card (3:15) and I think he’ll be hard to beat.
Fairyhouse, Saturday
There will be lots of eyes on Fairyhouse at 1:52 when FACILE VEGA makes his debut over hurdles.
Beautifully bred, he was hugely impressive last season and has by far and away the strongest form of any bumper horse coming into novice hurdles.
It will be interesting to see how he takes to them, but you’d have to say at this stage that he would hold the key to any of the two or two and a half mile hurdles this season.
Fairyhouse, Sunday
After Constitution Hill last weekend, it’s now over to HONEYSUCKLE in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle (2:30). She is looking to extend her unbeaten run of 16 from 16, which is just an incredible feat.
Very few horses go unbeaten for as long as her and she’s a brilliant mare. A bit like Moscow Flyer, she only does enough, but she’s won two Champions Hurdles and if she wins this, it will be a record fourth Hatton’s Grace.
She made hard work of winning it two years ago, beating Ronald Pump half a length, but she may have been a little undercooked that day.
There were no such issues last year when she romped home and with all the hype around Constitution Hill, I’m sure Henry [de Bromhead] will have her on her A-game.
I do think KLASSICAL DREAM represents the biggest challenge she’s had to date in this race. He’s a very good horse, he’s a former Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner and goes well fresh. He looks the each-way value with eight runners.
The Drinmore (1:55) looks competitive. Three Stripe Life was impressive in Naas on his first start over fences and Banbridge is definitely on the way up, but for me the value is MIGHTY POTTER.
He beat Three Stripe Life in a novice hurdle last season and he jumped really well in Down Royal. He’s a big, immature horse who is learning all the time and for me he’s the one with the most potential.
CHAMP KIELY will be very hard to beat in the Royal Bond (1:25). He bolted up in Galway in the summer and then came out and beat Brazil comfortably in Tipperary.
Brazil has since beaten Fil Dor, so that’s strong form. Irish Point impressed me in Cork last time in a maiden hurdle. It wasn’t what he beat but the way he beat them.
Huntingdon, Sunday
The Peterborough Chase (2:55) is a bit like the Many Clouds Chase in Aintree on Saturday – very competitive with not an awful lot between them.
There’s a good standard set by First Flow and Mister Fisher, the last two winners of the race, but if you’re looking for young potential, you’d have to side with PIC D’ORHY.
He won the Pendil last Christmas and reappeared with a comfortable win in Newton Abbott. He should still have some improvement to come.
