CONSTITUTION HILL electrified Kempton Park with an emotionally-charged win in the Christmas Hurdle.
Tearful Nicky Henderson could barely bring himself to watch as the seven-year-old made his long-awaited return to action.
But he needn’t have worried as the horse jumped and travelled with all his old zest as he downed Lossiemouth by two and a half lengths in front of a raucous crowd.
The horse and his trainer were greeted with huge cheers after the race and Hendo smiled: “He’s back.”
It has been a long and bumpy road to this point for Constitution Hill, who has had several well-documented health issues over the last 12 months.
He missed the Cheltenham Festival in March because of a chest infection and nearly died after a serious bout of colic, while it looked odds-against he would make it to Kempton after he was found to be lame barely four weeks ago.
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It has tormented poor Hendo, who lives and breathes this horse, and he looked like a man who’d had the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders as the 5-6 favourite passed the post in front.
This wasn’t Constitution Hill at his absolute peak, and in truth it’s doubtful whether Lossiemouth was at her very best either.
Paul Townend was niggling away at her from a long way out as Burdett Road set a searching gallop under Harry Cobden.
But Constitution Hill was still giving her 7lbs and returning from a year on the sidelines, so it was a hell of a performance and the crowd showed their appreciation as they roared him over the line.
Hendo said: “He is back where he belongs and I think he is very nearly as good as he was in his pomp, he was bound to be a bit rusty today.
“Nico said he would improve plenty for it, he said he had a good blow going down to the last which he was entitled to off that strong gallop.
“At times, getting him back has been a bit of a struggle but the last three weeks have been very, very good. He did a piece of work about three weeks ago when Nico just came back in and said he was back.
“We were forced to miss the Fighting Fifth when he picked up that niggle and we were very fortunate to have a fellow called Sir Gino on the subs bench.”
The bookies slashed the winner into 4-6 from 2-1 for the Champion Hurdle in March, and Hendo said he’d take his time before plotting the horse’s route to the Festival.
He said: “I’d like to see how he takes this race before we make any decisions about where we go next.
“We’ve been pretty hard on him to get him fit and we’ll see how he is, but this is a huge relief.”
BANBRIDGE broke French hearts as he mowed down bold frontrunner Il Est Francais in the King George VI Chase.
Joseph O’Brien’s 7-1 shot came with a strong late run to give Paul Townend a massive pick-me-up after Lossiemouth’s defeat at the hands of Constitution Hill.
But it was hard not to feel sorry for Il Est Francais, who tried to replicate his jaw-dropping win in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on this card 12 months ago.
Last year he went a relentless gallop from the front, jumped like a stag and cruised home hard-held under James Reveley.
It was almost a carbon copy, except this time his jockey started to send out one or two distress signals after the second last.
The petrol tank was visibly starting to empty and the eye was immediately drawn to Townend’s red cap as Banbridge began to eat up ground on the run to the final fence.
He was neat and quick and galloped past the tired leader with barely 100 yards to run, with L’Homme Presse running a rock-solid third on his first run of the season.
Townend said: “He is an incredibly smart horse and he did so well to run down the lead horse who went a very strong gallop and had us on the stretch.
“I haven’t been a part of this day too much over the years because I’ve been riding at Leopardstown, but Ruby always says to me how special it is at Kempton on Boxing Day.
“I was very lucky to be here to ride Lossie, who was very disappointing, but I think this just about makes up for it.”
France-based Noel George, trainer of the brave runner-up, was gutted but proud of the six-year-old’s performance.
He said: “He has run a brilliant race, he looked the winner turning for home but he has just got a little tired between the last two.
“He has had a few issues this horse so I’m unbelievably proud. We will be back to have another go next year.”
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