TRAINER Nicky Henderson broke down in tears after his horse Constitution Hill claimed the Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Jockey Nico de Boinville led the pre-race favourite home as he won comfortably by 22 lengths from Jonbon – another horse trained by Henderson.
And the 71-year-old trainer was overcome with emotion following Constitution Hill’s triumph.
The tearful Brit said: “That was awesome. I know what the second horse is so… I’d have been very surprised if anything could have done that to Jonbon.
“He [Constitution Hill] is an extraordinary animal.
“The hype horse earlier in the year was Jonbon – then this fella woke up from his slumbers.
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“Then I stopped asking Barry Geraghty ‘what was this slow coach he flogged me?!'”
“He [Constitution Hill] can travel so easily and then pick it up.
“To find gears at the end of a headlong gallop like that is extraordinary.”
Owner Michael Buckley then intervened and said to Henderson: “You’re a genius, man.”
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Meanwhile, jockey De Boinville was buzzing to clinch victory in the opening race of this year’s Cheltenham Festival – where fans have returned after last year’s edition was held behind closed doors.
He told the BBC: “It couldn’t have gone any better if I’m honest.
“I wasn’t worried about false start at all – it just told me there would be a lot of pace so to be on the button.
“He’s a very straightforward horse. You just have to sit and point. The first two hurdles were probably the quickest he’s ever gone. I probably got there a bit earlier than I wanted to but he was just carrying me there.
“It was dead to the world last year and it was a very strange feeling. It’s fantastic to have everyone back and to feel the crowd’s emotion.”
