Hurdlers - ‘The Champion’
Constitution Hill Age: 6 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Nicky Henderson Owner: Michael Buckley
I think this will be the shortest preview out of the full lot, because what can I say about this horse that hasn’t been said already?
I’m not bothered he’s sticking to hurdles for another season, he’s only six, so there’s no rush to put him over a fence when you can just quite simply stay put where you are and rack up another Champion Hurdle to your name.
Everything about this horse is just so impressive, the way he jumps and travels is just as close to perfection as you can get I think, and he’s now a perfect seven from seven.
You could see from his debut he was special, but to then go on and win six Grade 1’s in a row now like he has is still an unbelievable achievement.
That Champion Hurdle win was like poetry in motion, pulling clear of State Man in second to win by nine lengths, and when he stepped up in trip at Aintree a month later, you could then confirm that distance is also never going to be an issue.
CHAMPION: Constitution Hill storms clear to land the Champion Hurdle. Credit: ITV Racing
To already say he will win a Gold Cup is something that is far from set in stone, after all, he hasn’t gone chasing just yet, but once he’s got this year out of the way, all being well, he will soon have that target in his sight.
‘A true Warrior’
Gaelic Warrior Age: 5 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Willie Mullins Owner: Mrs S Ricci
One who could literally end up anywhere this season, just because I still don’t think people have worked him out yet as to where his best trip is, but I think we possibly did see it on his last start.
He was the handicap plot job it seemed at Cheltenham in 2022 when running in the Boodles off 129, but he failed to land the gamble, travelling smoothly before being seen off by a higher rated horse in Brazil, rated 137 at the time.
That was only a minor blip though in the book, he then went on to win his next three starts, ending it with Grade B success in February at Leopardstown off 143.
A return back to Cheltenham beckoned a month later to try and seal his revenge, this time in the Ballymore, but he was no match for his stable mate Impaire Et Passe, finishing second again.
Time for a step up in trip then, his Boodles run over two mile, and his Ballymore effort over 2m 5f quite possibly was never enough for him, and when moving up to three mile in April he sauntered clear at Punchestown to land the Grade 1 Novice Hurdle by 10 lengths.
STRONG STAYER: Gaelic Warrior steps up to three mile with no issues. Credit: Racing TV YouTube
The fact he’s only young is also a real plus, and it’s exciting now that this horse could finally end his Cheltenham run of seconds with a win in the Stayers Hurdle.
‘All you need is Love’
Love Envoi Age: 7 Sex: Mare Trainer: Harry Fry Owners: Noel Fehily Racing
When it comes to this mare I like to use the word consistent, because that’s exactly what she is for her owners and trainer.
She managed to win her first five starts over hurdles, landing the Ryanair Mares Grade 1 Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2022, but she lost that record a month later at Fairyhouse to the smart Brandy Love.
They stepped her back down in trip to two mile again for her reappearance run at Sandown, which was a winning one, before she won again when moved back up to 2m 4f.
Building on that she then finished second in the Mares’ at Cheltenham behind Honeysuckle, battling hard before eventually going down by 1 ½ lengths, and her last run over in Punchestown you can forget about because it’s nothing like her best, and all being well this year she can have a good crack at the Mares’ again hopefully.
QUEEN BEE: Honeysuckle edges out Love Envoi in the Mares. Credit: ITV Racing
‘The not so happy Camper’
Camprond Age: 7 Sex: Gelding Trainer: Philip Hobbs and Johnson White Owner: JP McManus
Your first handicapper to follow this season over hurdles, even though he failed to get his head in front last campaign, is Camprond.
That win though did come back in a big handicap hurdle at Punchestown in 2022 off a mark of 137, beating this year’s Punchestown Gold Cup winner Fastorslow who was last seen dethroning the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs.
I think his current mark is really fair, running as well as he did in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham in March off 138, where turning in I thought he was going to be the winner, he just tied up close to home unfortunately and clambered his way over the last which also didn’t help, meaning he did get caught by Langer Dan, rated 141 when winning, and An Epic Song, rated 137, to finish third in the end.
CLOSE CALL: Camprond is headed later on in the Coral Cup. Credit: ITV Racing
He didn’t follow that up at Aintree, but I do fully believe this horse quite easily has another big handicap win in him, and if that mark does get dropped even a little he’s very dangerous when on song.
‘Punching above her weight’
West Balboa Age: 7 Sex: Filly Trainer: Dan Skelton Owners: Bullen-Smith and Faulks
One more handicapper for you, who could potentially find herself in better quality races come the end of the season I feel.
Despite only being lightly raced, she managed to plunder two useful pots for her canny trainer last season, picking up the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton in January off 130, before last seen at Aintree when being upped in trip to 3m 1f and cruising clear of the field to win by five lengths off 135.
STOP THE COUNT: West Balboa lands the knockout blow at Aintree. Credit: ITV Racing
Her form even before this season was very useful, finishing second behind this season’s Cheltenham Festival Turners Chase winner Stage Star in the 2021 running of the Challow Hurdle around Newbury.
They looked after her for the rest of the season then, and she wasn’t seen again until December 2022 where she ended up second in a class three handicap around Sandown, travelling well but not doing enough to go past the winner who had already ran twice in Coquelicot.
The plan looks as though they might just try her out in a handicap to see if she has quite reached her limit, before taking a look at some graded races possibly at some point during the season as well, either way, she has plenty of potential, especially with only running five times so far as well.