"He leaves the jumping world sound" - Constitution Hill to remain on the flat
Nicky Henderson has announced that his renowned horse, Constitution Hill, will not be participating in the 2026 Cheltenham Festival due to concerns over performance on hurdles. This concludes a thrilling journey in jumps racing and opens a new chapter focusing on flat racing. Cheltenham has invited Constitution Hill for a farewell parade. The decision prioritizes safety, avoiding further risks associated with hurdle racing. The team looks towards international flat racing events like the Melbourne Cup, with Constitution Hill set to refine his legacy on the flat tracks.
- Nicky Henderson announces Constitution Hill won't run in 2026 Cheltenham
- Focus shifts from jumps racing to flat race events like the Melbourne Cup
- Cheltenham to host a parade honouring Constitution Hill on Champion Hurdle day
Nicky Henderson has confirmed today that Constitution Hill will not run at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
A bumper crowd at Southwell on Friday night was treated to a sensational performance from a National Hunt racing great. Constitution Hill blew apart the 1m4f maiden that was put on for him by the sponsors, thrashing a decent field under a jubilant Oisin Murphy.
This venture to Southwell was intended to be a tune-up race before a possible tilt at the Champion Hurdle. Constitution Hill was an outstanding winner of that Grade One in 2023, but heavy falls in three of his last four outings over hurdles ushered connections into running on the all-weather.
Henderson's star was installed as the favourite for the 2026 Champion Hurdle immediately after that Southwell success, but Consitution Hill has been steadily drifting on the exchanges since. In a statement issued via X, Nicky Henderson has confirmed today that Constitution Hill will not run over hurdles again.
"Michael Buckley and I have not surprisingly spent a lot of time soul searching and thinking over Constitution Hill's future and have sadly concluded that he will not be running in the Unibet Champion Hurdle the week after next." Henderson said.
"This is a sad day for a lot of us, particularly the National Hunt fraternity that would have liked to have seen Constitution Hill try to regain his crown and sad for all here especially Nico (De Boinville), who has spent so much time trying to iron out our jumping issues."
"However he leaves the jumping world sound and happy and ready for the next chapter. It has been a staggering journey so far and Michael has had to endure some dark days but of course enjoyed the enormous highs and thrills of an extraordinary horse."
"Cheltenham have kindly invited Constitution Hill to parade on Champion Hurdle day to give all his National Hunt supporters the opportunity to say goodbye."
Hardened racing fans will lament the decision, as Constitution Hill is bred for jumps racing and has produced two of the best performances ever seen at the Cheltenham Festival. However, the damage that could have been done to the entire sport if Constitution Hill had suffered another fall - perhaps a fatal one this time - on the biggest stage of them all doesn't bear thinking about.
Michael Buckley said over the weekend that the Melbourne Cup was at the forefront of his mind, and he was eyeing an outing in the Ebor or the Irish St Leger before potentially heading down under. Whether that plan comes to fruition or not, Constitution Hill's team have still made the sensible decision. Henderson's nine-year-old will now attempt to dominate the flat racing world, before departing the racecourse for good.
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