Constitution Hill

The most remarkable number in the file, though, is a simple one: four races at Kempton Park, four wins. Every single time. The most recent came on 25 March 2026, and two of those victories arrived on Boxing Day — in 2023 and again in 2024 — which means Constitution Hill has twice been the best horse in the country on the biggest racing day of the year. Add a Class 1 win at Aintree in April 2023, another at Cheltenham in January 2025, and you start to understand the scale of what this horse has achieved.

Jockey Nico de Boinville has been the man in the saddle for almost all of it — 10 wins from 13 races together, a partnership that wins 77% of the time, which is an almost absurd number at this level. The trainer is Nicky Henderson, one of the great figures of the sport, based at Upper Lambourn in Berkshire. His yard has sent out 90 winners this season alone.

The honest part of the story is that something went wrong towards the end of last season. Henderson has been open about it: the team essentially took the horse apart and put him back together, checking everything including his eyes, restarting his jumping from scratch. "I don't know what happened," Henderson admitted, which at least tells you the concern was real. What followed was a careful return to form — two wins from the last six races — and the trainer's tone since has shifted noticeably. After a win at Southwell in February, Henderson spoke about Constitution Hill finally enjoying himself again, about doors opening, about having a lot to look forward to.

Last raced 66 days ago, the horse heads into this next race in good form and, by all accounts, in good spirits. For a horse that has spent years at the very top of the sport, that might be the most encouraging sign of all.