In a season starved of superstars, the electrifying return of jump racing’s most dazzling performer is set to light up Kempton Park on Boxing Day. Constitution Hill, the undefeated champion hurdler, makes his long-awaited comeback in a star-studded renewal of the Christmas Hurdle that could go down as the clash of the century.
Sidelined since his breathtaking 1-12 demolition job in this race last year, the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding has endured a tumultuous 12 months. A lung infection ruled him out of the Cheltenham Festival, followed by a bout of colic and a wind operation. Beaten by a galloping companion on his sole public appearance since, Constitution Hill has become jump racing’s invisible megastar.
A Rival Emerges
But out of sight has not meant out of mind. As Constitution Hill battled his setbacks, a dangerous new rival has emerged in the brilliant Lossiemouth. The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old brings a near-perfect nine-from-10 record to Kempton, including back-to-back Cheltenham Festival triumphs. Still on a steep upward curve, she is no mere hype horse.
In Lossiemouth, Constitution Hill finally has a credible opponent, a Sea Pigeon to his Monksfield, to push him to even greater heights. This is the head-to-head jump racing has been craving, a fascinating contrast of the proven champion against the coming force. As Constitution Hill’s rider Nico de Boinville declared with a mix of defiance and relief:
You’re all doom and gloom, but you don’t know what’s been going on, so I hope that on Boxing Day we can prove you all wrong and shut you all up.
– Nico de Boinville
Doubters Dismissed
De Boinville’s bullish words were echoed by Constitution Hill’s owner Michael Buckley, clearly irked by any questioning of his star’s wellbeing:
I listened to Ed Chamberlin, Tom Scudamore and Luke Harvey [on ITV Racing] in the dark at the end of racing yesterday, talking about ‘whether this horse can come back from injury’. Wake up guys, he’s never been injured. He had a lung infection. It’s like saying an athlete can’t come back from the flu. It’s absolutely ridiculous.
– Michael Buckley
Evidently a siege mentality is building around the Constitution Hill camp ahead of his date with destiny. Some might call it an overreaction, but in the era of hot takes and instant opinions, perhaps it’s simply a pre-emptive strike. The time for talking is nearly over.
Festive Feast
Of course, the Christmas Hurdle is just one of three Grade One contests on Kempton’s Boxing Day card. The King George VI Chase promises to be as wide open and competitive as its undercard is laser-focused. An 11-runner renewal rich in plotlines sees:
- Spillane’s Tower and Corbetts Cross bidding to give legendary owner JP McManus a first win in the race
- The exciting Grey Dawning evoking memories of the mighty Desert Orchid
- Globetrotting raider Il Est Francais trying to become the first French-trained winner this century.
After a fallow year for jumps superstars, this Kempton Christmas cracker has all the ingredients to go down as the best festive feast in decades. Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth can serve up a classic to stand the test of time, the King George is there for the taking, and seldom has a supporting cast had so many potential scene-stealers.
Boxing Day can’t come soon enough. Constitution Hill, jump racing’s box office sensation, is back and set to unleash fireworks. This is what the sport is all about – the best taking on the best with everything on the line. Let the Christmas Hurdle drama begin.
