The former Champion Hurdle winner is one of five nominated for Saturday’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle in which he will meet young pretender The New Lion
14:34, 24 Nov 2025
Nicky Henderson says he’s under ‘no pressure’ ahead of Saturday’s highly anticipated clash between Constitution Hill and young pretender The New Lion. Until last season Constitution Hill was one of the superstars of jumping who went undefeated in ten starts under rules.
But in March he fell when going off the 1-2 favourite for the Champion Hurdle and came down again at the second last flight at Aintree the following month. He suffered another defeat when fifth of seven in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.
At the start of this season Henderson revealed he had sent Constitution Hill to the equine equivalent of Specsavers as part of a rigorous MOT on the eight year old.
He is 5-1 third favourite with William Hill in next year’s Champion Hurdle betting behind Willie Mullins mare Lossiemouth and The New Lion, who is set to be his main opponent for the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle this weekend.
The 2023 Champion Hurdle hero advertised his well-being in his traditional early-season Newbury gallop, but will face an acid test against The New Lion, winner of the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Also among the five entries is Willie Mullins’ Anzadam and the reigning Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace.
Coral cannot split the pair, betting 11-8 Constitution Hill and The New Lion, 3-1 Anzadam, 20-1 Golden Ace, 33-1 Nemean Lion.
Henderson said: “I don’t think there’s any pressure and here we are, it was always the plan and it will be a big test. We’re in a better place than last year, that’s for sure – when I couldn’t even get him to Newcastle.
“He did his last piece of work this morning and it all went well and Nico (de Boinville) was smiling which is always a good sign.
“That’s all the main bits done and now he will have a doodle up there (to Newcastle) on Friday and we’ll try to send something up with him to keep him company.”
He added: “There was only the four of them before Nemean Lion was supplemented and I toyed with the idea and rang Nico at 11.55am to ask if he wanted a pacemaker and was told no.
“I said to him Aidan O’Brien would have run five, but then three I was thinking about weren’t even qualified because you have to be rated over 130.
“I will be at Newbury as we have Hyland in the Coral Gold Cup and a few others, but Michael (Buckley, owner) will be going up there.”