CONSTITUTION HILL fell AGAIN as he suffered a repeat of his Cheltenham horror show at Aintree.
Jockey Nico de Boinville was boxed in on the evens money favourite and looked to jump long when two from home in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle.
https://twitter.com/itvracing/status/1907804933585248699
Racegoers react after Constitution Hill’s agonising spill[/caption]
That opened the door to Lossiemouth who stormed home to see off Martin Pipe winner Wodhooh and land a fourth straight win on the day for Willie Mullins – a 101-1 four-fold.
Constitution Hill got up after his fall and was perfectly OK – as was broken-hearted jockey De Boinville.
But it’s another gutting afternoon for trainer Nicky Henderson.
His stable star fell in last month’s unforgettable Champion Hurdle when seemingly cruising.
He said he had schooled him over and over again at home – something unthinkable a couple of seasons ago for a horse who glided over them effortlessly.
But two gut-wrenching falls in a row means the previously unbeaten superstar who destroyed all before him now faces massive question marks over his future.
He beat Lossiemouth in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton but his form figures since then read FF.
A devastated Henderson looked totally shellshocked after the Grade 1 contest.
The legendary Seven Barrows boss said: “It’s heartbreaking – to do it twice you can’t believe it. He is genuinely the best jumper you’ll ever seen.
“You’d say it’s a 1 per cent chance doing what he’s done and he’s done it twice.
“He was short at a couple but he was good, we’ve been trying to get him to do that.. but you can’t afford to do that three out.
“Nico said he was full of running. His words to me were, ‘I’ve got Lossiemouth where I want her’.
“His least impressive win was here over 2m4f and he didn’t really get home that day. We’ve just wanted to get him to relax.
“I’d personally say we’ll still go to Punchestown.”
Lossiemouth came for money before the off and won at 5-4 to complete an awesome Cheltenham-Aintree double after winning the Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival.
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