Importance Score: 30 / 100 🔵
Lossiemouth Victorious in William Hill Aintree Hurdle as Constitution Hill Falls Again
In a dramatic turn of events at Aintree, Lossiemouth surged to victory in the prestigious William Hill Aintree Hurdle, leaving onlookers in disbelief as Constitution Hill suffered another unexpected fall.
Nicky Henderson’s esteemed runner, Constitution Hill, entered the race as the strong favourite, priced at even-money, aiming to decisively overcome his prior stumble at the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle. Initially, he seemed poised to achieve this, navigating the early stages with apparent ease.
However, jockey Nico de Boinville encountered congestion approaching the penultimate hurdle. This resulted in an unfortunate fall for both horse and rider. Concurrently, Lossiemouth, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, seized the opportunity, accelerating to the front to claim victory at 5-4, ahead of Wodhooh.
A magnanimous Mullins commented, “I was disappointed for Michael [Buckley, owner], Nicky, and Nico, as well as the connections of Constitution Hill – and for the sport of horse racing itself. We arrived here confident in our mare’s fitness and believed the extended trip of two and a half miles would suit her on this occasion, in contrast to the two-mile race at Kempton, although we were unfortunately unable to ascertain this.”
He further elaborated, “When Paul made his move, it ultimately proved decisive, although I initially questioned if it might have been premature. Nico has a notable tendency to appear under pressure, yet consistently finds an extra reserve in the final furlong. On several occasions, we’ve believed Nico was beatable, only for him to unveil an unexpected advantage. Consequently, I did wonder if Paul had played his hand too early, but the opportunity presented itself, and he capitalized.”
He added, “I anticipate our next target will be Punchestown, assuming she emerges from this race unscathed; that remains our provisional plan. I won’t speculate at this point about whether she will run in the Champion Hurdle or the Mares’ Hurdle! State Man is slated for the Champion Hurdle, so we will likely keep them separate for now.”
Henderson, meanwhile, experienced a profound sense of déjà vu as he processed the unforeseen events.
“It’s heartbreaking, and for this to happen twice is truly unbelievable,” remarked the Seven Barrows trainer. “He is without question the finest jumper you could ever witness. Yet, statistically, there’s perhaps only a one percent chance of what has occurred, but it has now happened twice, which is naturally a cause for concern. The question is, how can such incidents be prevented?”
“As Nico acknowledged, he had been faultless throughout the race. He shortened his stride slightly at a couple of hurdles, which is something we have been encouraging him to do. However, approaching three hurdles from the finish at that pace, such an approach is not advisable; commitment is essential. Nico felt he simply mistimed his jump.”
“Nico conveyed that he felt Constitution Hill was full of energy and indicated to me that he had Lossiemouth positioned exactly where he wanted her. He was content with her leading, rather than being behind.”
Regarding the possibility of Constitution Hill competing again this season, Henderson mentioned, “We initiated discussions about Punchestown just moments ago. Interestingly, following Cheltenham, I initially suggested to Nico that we should aim for Punchestown instead of Aintree, and he agreed, remarking that those hurdles would be more suitable for the horse.”
Mullins also commented on the track conditions: “The ground possessed sufficient liveliness and was becoming progressively drier compared to earlier races on the hurdles course. Lossiemouth managed it effectively. I saw Nico walking away and Constitution Hill appearing unharmed, so we can certainly celebrate the win.”
Friday’s Aintree Race Selections
Blue Lord Poised for Victory Over Competition
Willie Mullins enjoyed an exceptional start to this year’s Grand National meeting on Thursday, achieving a treble in the initial three races. The reigning champion trainer in jump racing, currently priced around 7-1 to retain his title, also holds the top three positions in the early betting for the Topham Handicap Chase over the iconic Grand National fences on Friday.
Last year, Mullins‘ representative, James Du Berlais, was narrowly defeated in this race, faltering close to the finish line and losing by just a length. He returns for another attempt at the £84k prize this year. However, Paul Townend, Mullins’s principal jockey, has chosen to ride the highly-regarded Blue Lord instead. Blue Lord’s career over fences has predominantly been in Grade One contests, and he will be making his handicap debut on Friday.
Blue Lord (4.05) boasts three Grade One victories from ten attempts. While he hasn’t recently threatened to add a fourth, his opening handicap mark of 152 appears generous. He demonstrated his continued competitiveness at the highest level with a third-place finish in the Ascot Chase in February.
Aintree Race Tips
Aintree 1.45
The return to three miles could unlock further potential in Handstands, who previously defeated Jango Baie, the subsequent Arkle winner, at Sandown in February. He has been kept fresh specifically for this event.
Aintree 2.20
Spring conditions and ground conditions typically showcase Tintintin at his best. Last year, he achieved a swift double in March and April. He appeared to be regaining form when finishing less than a length behind the winner of the Imperial Cup at Sandown.
Aintree 2.55
Romeo Coolio’s third-place finish in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham last month represents the strongest form in this field, although the current performance of the Gordon Elliott stable is a consideration.
Aintree 3.30
Despite another setback at Cheltenham, Jonbon generally exhibits consistent reliability and presents fewer uncertainties compared to his rival, El Fabiolo.
Aintree 4.40
The sole blemish on Mister Meggit’s record occurred in a bumper race at this meeting last year, where he encountered significant racing luck issues. His hurdling debut, at the November meeting here, was notably impressive. Greg Wood