Last Updated on August 15, 2026
Bought as a foal for €16,500, Constitution Hill’s early price gave little sign of the champion he would become.
Bred by Sally Noott in Worcestershire, he stood out for his balance, athletic build, and calm temperament — qualities that caught attention early on.
After finishing a close second in his only point-to-point, he was purchased by Nicky Henderson on behalf of owner Michael Buckley for £120,000 in 2021.
He immediately impressed with his fluent action and natural stride, marking himself as something out of the ordinary long before his racecourse debut.
Training and early races
Sent to Seven Barrows, Henderson’s yard that has produced champions such as See You Then and Buveur D’Air, Constitution Hill settled quickly into his new routine.
His ability was obvious from the outset, and Henderson didn’t wait long to test him under rules.
He made his debut at Sandown in December 2021 and won by 14 lengths, travelling smoothly through the race and finishing full of running. It was a performance that instantly marked him out as something special.
A month later came the Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle, where he demolished his rivals by a dozen lengths. It was the manner of the win, cruising motionless through deep ground, that left seasoned observers nodding quietly that this was something different.
Major racing wins and highlights
The 2022 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham turned that quiet nod into something louder.
Constitution Hill destroyed a high-class field by 22 lengths in a time more fitting of a Champion Hurdle than a novice event. His stablemate Jonbon was left toiling as Nico de Boinville barely moved a muscle.
From there, the wins stacked up: the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, two Christmas Hurdles, the 2023 Champion Hurdle, and the Aintree Hurdle over 2m4f.
By the end of the 2022–23 campaign, he had eight Grade 1 victories and a Timeform rating of 177, placing him among the highest-rated hurdlers ever. He possessed pace to travel, stamina to finish, and an almost machine-like fluency over his obstacles.
The image of de Boinville glancing over his shoulder, easing down while everyone else was rowing furiously, remains the defining moment of his brilliance.
In an era that often craved a true star jumper, Constitution Hill filled the gap perfectly.
Issues and challenges in 2024–25
Constitution Hill’s 2024–25 season started brightly. After wind surgery, he returned on Boxing Day at Kempton and looked sharp, winning the Christmas Hurdle with ease.
He followed up at Cheltenham in January, landing the International Hurdle and confirming he was still a major force.
At the Cheltenham Festival, he lined up as the 1/2 favourite for the Unibet Champion Hurdle but fell mid-race, bringing gasps from the crowd and wiping out millions in bets. It was the first real setback of his hurdling career.
At Aintree, he looked back to his best, travelling powerfully and moving into contention before falling two out when just over a length behind the leader. Punters who backed him again could hardly believe their luck as another huge gamble slipped away.
He made one final start at Punchestown in the Boodles Champion Hurdle, sent off the 8/11 favourite. He overjumped at the first and began to fade from two out, finishing sore after the race.
It wasn’t the season fans had imagined, and for the first time, punters began to question whether the dominance of old would ever return.
Looking ahead to 2026 and Cheltenham
As the 2026 season approaches, Constitution Hill remains in full training at Seven Barrows, with Nicky Henderson targeting another crack at the Champion Hurdle.
The comeback narrative now surrounds him, and while he still holds star status, the mood among punters has shifted.
Where once he was the banker of the Festival, he’s now a talking point, a horse that divides opinion. Some still see him as the class act of the division, believing a clean run of preparation will restore the old fluency.
Others think the sparkle has dulled, pointing to two heavy falls and the lingering question of whether he retains the same confidence over his hurdles.
In the ante-post markets, his price reflects that uncertainty. Once odds-on for everything, he now trades around 6/1 for the Champion Hurdle, still respected, but no longer untouchable.
Lossiemouth, The New Lion and other younger challengers have closed the gap, giving the race a fresher look than in years past.
Inside Henderson’s yard, the mood is steady rather than bullish. The plan, as ever, will be to return through familiar territory: the Fighting Fifth, the Christmas Hurdle, and then Cheltenham in March.
The trainer has made clear that patience remains the key and that the horse’s well-being comes before reputation.
For fans, the story has changed from domination to redemption. Constitution Hill doesn’t need to prove he was great, he already has, but 2026 offers a chance to show that greatness can last.
Whether he wins or not, the racing world will watch, hopeful that one of the modern era’s finest hurdlers still has one big performance left in him.
