More calamity for Constitution Hill as Golden Ace takes Fighting Fifth Hurdle win
ACES UP: Golden Ace and Lorcan Williams win for trainer Jeremy Scott. Pic: Healy Racing
Golden Ace swept through to take victory in a dramatic renewal of the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle as both Constitution Hill and The New Lion came to grief.
The Nicky Henderson-trained Constitution Hill was the 6-4 favourite as he looked to get his career back on track following a disappointing end to last season, with Nico de Boinville in the saddle for a confident team following a pleasing racecourse gallop.
A neat jump at the first was followed by a familiar scene at the second, however, as Constitution Hill misjudged his stride and hit the deck before The New Lion then did the same thing at the penultimate flight having taken up the running.
It was Jeremy Scott-trained Golden Ace who was left to pick up the pieces as she was in last season's Champion Hurdle, and having brushed aside Anzadam and Nemean Lion, she took success under Lorcan Williams at 22-1.
Where it all went wrong for Constitution Hill & The New Lion! pic.twitter.com/FNgDRVr2sn
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 29, 2025
"I'm glad everyone is up OK, who could believe Constitution Hill coming down again?" said Scott.
"She's run a brilliant race, I'm so pleased we've got her back from Wetherby (beaten in a Listed race at the start of the month). We were really flummoxed because I thought we had her so well then.
"We were beaten nearly a mile from home and when we got her back and scoped her we found she had a bit of mucus so I guess that was the reason why, it was a bit of a shocker.
"We then scoped her again on the Tuesday and there was nothing there, we changed the way we travelled her up and stayed the night. Whether the travelling stressed her out I don't know, but she was good today."
Scott went on: "We must be everybody's nemesis! I'm just so glad after Wetherby as I could not get my head around it.
"Her jumping was very good today and we've beaten Anzadam whatever. I still don't think we're quite there, so there's hopefully more to come.
"I couldn't come up with a reason not to run, I didn't want to! It was either here or Kempton and I thought this would suit her better."
Golden Ace was cut to 14-1 from 25s by Paddy Power for the defence of her Champion Hurdle title in March, with Lossiemouth the 7-4 favourite and The New Lion next best on 9-2. Constitution Hill is now a 10-1 chance with the same firm.
Scott added: "Two Grade Ones now, that's not bad. I think we'll go for the International next before the Champion Hurdle."
Williams paid tribute to Scott and his team in their efforts to get the mare back on top form for this assignment.
He said: "I was aware of Constitution Hill early. I jumped off wide because she actually favours going a bit right when she jumps and every time Constitution Hill has hit the deck he's always fallen to his right.
"I thought if he makes any early mistakes I'll just be out of it on the straight, when he did (fall) I was lucky to be out of his way.
"Harry (Skelton on The New Lion) really upped it jumping the last down the back, which I was aware of, but I walked the course and I knew how far from home that was.
"She was a completely different mare to Wetherby so fair play to Jeremy Scott for getting her back to where she was. She jumped fantastic and in all fairness, Paul (Townend on Anzadam) probably helped in joining us and pushing us to the line.
"I'm just delighted.
"She's the flag bearer for us at the minute, she wasn't herself at Wetherby so it's a fantastic training performance from the team back home to get her back to this form."
Meanwhile Henderson has raised the possibility of running Constitution Hill on the Flat after the gelding fell yet again.
In a dramatic Grade One, De Boinville bounced the former champion out in front and ironic cheers rang out from the crowd when he cleared the first hurdle perfectly.
However, Constitution Hill got no further than the next flight, stepping at it and coming down.
"First and foremost he's fine, which is all that matters. That's the second time he's fallen, seemingly handing the race to someone else and they don't get round like the Champion Hurdle. The New Lion has gone as well, I hope he's all right too," Henderson told ITV Racing from Newbury.
"I loved the way he went and jumped the first and then, I just can't believe it."
When asked what will come next for his eight-times Grade One winner, the Seven Barrows handler replied: "A two-mile maiden on the Flat? Seriously, why not? I would think about it.
"It's getting to something, let's all think about it and let's not be rash but it's sad, it's really sad. You can't keep asking him to do it, it doesn't seem fair on anybody.
"Poor Michael (Buckley, owner), I could cry for him. We've done everything, why has this habit crept in? It's hard to go on watching it but I can't do any more.
"Everybody has got their own ideas and we've listened to every theory in the book, the work has been fantastic. His jumping has been great. His work has just been superb but you've got to jump eight flights of hurdles and at the moment that's just something he doesn't seem able to do."
The New Lion arrived unbeaten in four runs over hurdles but it was the first major setback of what has been a tremendous start to the season for Dan Skelton.
Skelton said: "That was dramatic and not what anyone wanted. He's OK, though.
"Going to the hurdle, I was just thinking what speed they were going as they were going so fast, proper two-mile championship speed, but he left a leg down, touched the top and that brought him down.
"We have to learn from it, there was nothing wrong with everything else. He flew one down the back and he was picking up nicely, I've no concerns about the trip - that's one thing I will say.
"It's not ideal to be on the floor, we'll dust ourselves down and get him jumping.
"I think he'd have won but that is only my opinion and he didn't stand up. It's just frustrating and not a great start to the year."
