‘Constitution Hill got away with it’ – infamous shadow almost caused disaster again years after £50MILLION fall
CHELTENHAM Festival-winning jockey Lizzie Kelly says racecourse bosses need to ‘remedy an issue’ that almost cost Constitution Hill victory.
The Champion Hurdle winner took off early jumping the last and Ruby Walsh said the horse was ‘whiskers from disaster’.
Walsh would know, after his infamous fall from Annie Power at the same hurdle in the same race in 2015 saved the bookies £50million.
Photos of Nicky Henderson’s stable star jumping the last show just how close he came to coming down.
Kelly, who won the Ultima on Coo Star Sivola in 2018, showed the similarities between Constitution Hill and Annie Power.
And she wrote: “Annie Power compared to Constitution Hill and the shadow on the last hurdle.
“We were very lucky that Constitution Hill got away with it – not sure what can be done to remedy this issue.”
Walsh said on ITV: “Every horse needs a bit of luck and he had it at the last.
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“You watch how close his feet get to that top white bar. If he clips that white bar, he’s going to land on his nose.
“Look where they are. They barely get through the top of the brush!
“He’s on the descent before he gets to the hurdle. That is whiskers from disaster.
“Oh my heart, I can’t imagine what Nico de Boinville’s was doing.”
De Boinville actually apologised to punters after the race – not for the final hurdle scare but for the winning margin of nine lengths.
A load of punters had backed Constitution Hill to win by ten lengths or more at odds ranging from 2-1 to 3-1.
Bearing in mind the horse had won every single of his five previous races by 12 lengths or more, it appeared a really good price.
And it looked like coming in as Constitution Hill powered round the home bend, switched on the turbo and left runner-up State Man trailing in his wake.
But like when he won the Supreme last year, De Boinville started celebrating yards before the post.
That meant the horse slowed down approaching the line – narrowing the distance he was in front.
De Boinville told Sun Racing’s Matt Chapman after victory: “He’s won hard held – and anyone who’s backed him for ten lengths or more – I apologise!”
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