Constitution Hill vs Istabraq – who’s the best? I know who I’d pick but maybe we’re all about to find out for good…
ISTABRAQ or Constitution Hill. Who was the best?
It’s a question that works people up on racing social media more than most!
And now we have the possibility that Constitution Hill will try and do an Istabraq, because the latter remains the only horse to have landed the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle and Grade 1 Punchestown Hurdle in the same season.
That was in 1999, when Istabraq not only won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, but went on to Liverpool to deny French Holly and Midnight Legend before heading back to Ireland to see off Decoupage and Limestone Lad, himself a hero of the turf but often over further than the minimum trip.
Istabraq was sent off at odds of 4-9, 1-2 and 1-4 for those three successes.
Now, 26 years later, Constitution Hill might be on for the unique double himself, after trainer Nicky Henderson told me at Newbury on Saturday that the possibility of both Aintree and Punchestown was on the agenda.
Non-believers think Henderson has no intention of running Constitution Hill in both events, and they also consider it insulting to mention Michael Buckley’s star in the same breath as Istabraq.
After all, JP McManus’ gelding won 23 of his 29 hurdle races and was a four-time victor at the Cheltenham Festival.
I’m not a non-believer. Never have been.
I’ve never seen a better hurdler than Constitution Hill.
He’s ridiculously quick over his hurdles. He leaves no margin for error. His engine is jet-propelled.
That, of course, comes with its own issues.
It meant Constitution Hill fell at Cheltenham as he bid to regain his Champion Hurdle title earlier this month.
He was just too brave, too carefree, a horse so good he’s become slapstick.
But class hurdlers often fall. Istabraq fell in two of his last five outings before retirement, something that is often forgotten.
Faugheen ‘The Machine’ once fell behind Apple’s Jade at Leopardstown, while triple Champion Hurdle hero See You Then fell in a Kingwell.
What a Kingwell that was, incidentally, with Kribensis denying Cruising Altitude and Floyd. The good old days!
Hurricane Fly never lost his rider in a race. But he wasn’t the quickest over a hurdle by any manner of means. He just had a massive engine.
Mock Henderson all you want. And only time will tell when and where Constitution Hill runs again this season and what he wins.
But rather than laughing at the suggestion of the master of Seven Barrows going to war twice in the space of a few weeks, why not get behind the idea and encourage trainer and owner they have had a great idea.
I don’t believe there has ever been a more talented hurdler than Constitution Hill.
And yes, in case you are wondering, in terms of natural talent better than Istabraq.
Let the abuse flow…
In other news, word on the street is that former top class Flat mare Emily Upjohn is in foal to brilliant Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Flightline.
Not much has been known about Emily Upjohn – a dual Group 1 victor and Coronation Cup heroine – since she was retired after a luckless run under Frankie Dettori in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf.
My understanding, though, is that the Lloyd-Webber team eventually sold her to Japan.
Industry insiders appear to know this, but you won’t find much on internet searches.
Emily Upjohn is by Sea the Stars out of a Barathea mare, a lovely pedigree on paper although she is by far the best outcome of her close relations.
Flightline only ran six times, but was unbeaten and his victory in the 2022 TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar had to be seen to be believed.
He romped in by nearly 24 from the Dubai World Cup hero Country Grammar.
The Tapit offspring would later hack up in the Breeders’ Cup Classic featuring belters like multiple top level performer Life is Good.
In Europe we are used to breeders desperate for a quick fix and speed, but the mating of Emily Upjohn and Flightline would certainly suggest a stamina influence, typical of the way the Japanese look at racing.
One day, the offspring of Emily Upjohn will be worth ‘A Day at the Races’ to see how they get on!
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