Constitution Hill owner Michael Buckley confirms plan for Gold Cup domination with his Cheltenham superstar
MICHAEL BUCKLEY has admitted his ultimate ambition for hurdling superstar Constitution Hill is to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The Nicky Henderson runner blew the Champion Hurdle field apart when hacking up by nine lengths under a hands and heels ride by Nico de Boinville last week.
De Boinville apologised to punters who'd back specials at multiple bookmakers for the horse to win by 10+ lengths, given his short price of 4/11.
He could return to defend his crown, though a decision on whether he may switch to fences for next season will be made in the next few months.
The horse is 5-6 best price to win the 2024 Champion Hurdle, with the Champion Chase (12-1) and Gold Cup (33-1) at much bigger odds.
Buckley, 77, wants Constitution Hill to go and do what no horse has done since Dawn Run 37 years ago and complete a Champion Hurdle - Gold Cup double.
But his first concern is making sure the electric six-year-old stays healthy after Aintree and beyond, and admits plenty of pluses in whatever decision the team decide on.
He said: "No decision has been made about what he’ll do in the future but if he's as proficient at jumping fences as he is hurdles, then my ambition would be to equal what Dawn Run did and try to win a Gold Cup.
"There’s a hell of a lot of water to cover from here to doing that, but that would be the ambition.
"We’ve honestly just got as far as this season. If he’s fine and well then we’ll go for the Aintree Hurdle and worry about his life on the racecourse in the summer.
"There’s an attraction for me, on the one hand, to move on to chasing and trying to do a Dawn Run but there’s another attraction in trying to win another Champion Hurdle – that would be Nicky’s tenth.
"There’s masses of pluses either way, I just pray the horse stays sound and he can try and hopefully become one of the great National Hunt horses. In age terms, he’s just at the beginning of his life."
That romping success in the Champion Hurdle came 30 minutes before an emotional winner when Honeysuckle won the Mares' Hurdle.
It was a huge win for Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead, with the mare running for her last time.
But it was also a poignant one following the death of De Bromhead's 13-year-old son, Jack last year.
Buckley reckons that hour of racing was the best he's ever experienced in his days in the sport.
He added: "It was remarkable and the pleasure I got from him was only enhanced by the pleasure I got for the De Bromheads after Honeysuckle won.
"For me it was the best hour I’ve had on a racecourse with those two results. It was fantastic.
"I’ve never had a day’s racing like that in my life. The only time I’ve had the reception of the crowd was when we went to Newcastle for the Fighting Fifth – he got a hell of a reception there.
"You realise how much the racing fans appreciate and love the horse. I was quite overwhelmed and it was very touching. Nicky and I walked back down the tunnel with everyone cheering and I think we both just ended up in tears.
"It was extraordinary and I’ve never had anything like it. It’s kind of the public to lease him back to me, so he can run in my colours."
Remember to gamble responsibly
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
