CONSTITUTION HILL’S runaway Tolworth Hurdle win provided self-isolating Nicky Henderson with the perfect tonic.
The six-time champion trainer was forced to watch on from home after testing positive for Covid-19 this week.
But having seen his exciting young hurdler destroy a Grade 1 field, he joked: “That is the best medicine you can get – it will kill anything.”
It was certainly a pick-me-up performance from Constitution Hill, who is now 2-2 over hurdles and the new 2-1 favourite (from 7-2) for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Coral.
On a rainy, foul day at Sandown, where the runners were finishing legless throughout the afternoon, he tanked through the heavy ground without breaking sweat.
He moved into a share of the lead at the second last – with ears pricked and under a strong hold – and within a few strides the race was over.
Nico de Boinville eased the 2-5 jolly clear up the hill to win by 12 lengths, with Jetoile (14-1) a creditable but distant second for rookie trainer Ryan Potter.
Constitution Hill’s owner Michael Buckley, whose famous black and white colours have been carried by several jumping stars, jetted in from Florida especially to watch the race.
And just hours after stepping off one aeroplane at Heathrow, he was watching his latest aeroplane take-off up the boggy Sandown straight.
He said: “That was something quite extraordinary. He is a horse who we have always thought a lot of.
“If I had woken up in America this morning and seen him win like that and I’d not come, I would have kicked myself.
“I am a very emotional person and you can’t help but get attached to horses like him. He looks quite special.”
Henderson has an embarrassment of riches in the novice hurdling department this year.
He also has the 5-2 second favourite for the Supreme in the shape of Jonbon, but he said the pair of them were polar opposites.
He said: “Constitution Hill is the most laid back horse I have ever had, I’ve never seen anything like it.
“He is so chilled out – Barry Geraghty had this horse in his younger days and his nine-year-old daughter would ride him, he is that relaxed.
“Jonbon is a much more busy type and always wants to be on the go. They’re very different but both very talented.
“If they meet at Cheltenham then so be it, they will have to do so. We’re just very lucky to have two horses like them.
“Constitution Hill was spectacular today, he is a push-button ride. I was blown away by that.”
There was an upset in the £100,000 Veterans Handicap Chase as mud-lover Prime Venture (18-1) stayed on best to win a gruelling race.
Fighting back the tears, trainer Evan Williams said: “I’m getting old and soft these days – but this horse really deserved to win a big one.
“His owners have been amazing and allowed me to hatch a plan, and it feels good that it has paid off.”
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