Lossiemouth claimed victory in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle on Thursday, with Constitution Hill once again leaving the crowd stunned by falling mid-race. Nicky Henderson’s highly regarded horse, the even-money favourite, had been aiming to recover from a surprise fall in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, but his hopes were dashed after a dramatic incident approaching the penultimate flight.
Having navigated the early stages of the race smoothly, Constitution Hill looked poised to put his Cheltenham setback behind him. However, Nico de Boinville, riding Constitution Hill, found himself boxed in as the field approached the second last hurdle. Unfortunately, both horse and jockey hit the ground, leaving the race wide open for Lossiemouth, who surged ahead to claim the victory at 5-4 under Paul Townend.
Lossiemouth’s trainer, Willie Mullins, expressed his disappointment for the connections of Constitution Hill but was gracious in victory. “I was disappointed for Michael Buckley, Nicky, Nico, and the connections of Constitution Hill – and for racing,” Mullins said. “We came here knowing our mare was in good shape, and we thought the two-and-a-half-mile trip would suit her better than the two miles at Kempton, but we never got to find out.”
Mullins also acknowledged the tactical decision made by Paul Townend, who pushed Lossiemouth to the lead. “When Paul made his move, it eventually paid off, but I was wondering if he had done it too soon. Nico has a great habit of looking under pressure and then finding another bit in the last furlong. A couple of times we’ve thought we had Nico beaten, but he’s actually got a little bit up his sleeve, so I did wonder if Paul had played his cards too early. But it was gifted to him, so what could he do?”
Looking ahead, Mullins hinted at Lossiemouth’s next possible race, saying, “I’d imagine we’ll go to Punchestown now as long as she comes out of this all right. That’s our normal plan.” However, Mullins avoided speculating about Lossiemouth’s future race options, adding, “I’m not getting into if she runs in the Champion Hurdle or Mares’ Hurdle! State Man will be going for the Champion Hurdle, so we’ll probably keep them apart.”
Constitution Hill’s fall is another setback for the superstar horse, whose racing future now remains uncertain as he looks to bounce back from this latest disappointment. Meanwhile, Lossiemouth’s impressive win has solidified her status as a contender for future top races, including Punchestown.
