Crowds gather to say Cheltenham farewell to Constitution Hill

Cheltenham Festival racegoers were given a chance to bid farewell to Constitution Hill as he paraded in front of fans in a final visit to the Prestbury Park track on Tuesday.

The Nicky Henderson-trained nine-year-old was once the undisputed champion of the hurdling world, but a string of falls has understandably triggered a change in tack and a switch to the Flat racing code.

His debut on the level was a runaway success at Southwell, confirming plans to leave behind his hurdling career and head to Cheltenham simply to parade for his many admirers rather than to contest the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

“It’s lovely that people have come to say hello to him, or goodbye” said Henderson.

“It’s not goodbye, it’s goodbye to Cheltenham, unless they have a veterans’ bumper one year… he might win it!

“It’s sad that it has come to this, but I suppose it was the only solution, the only answer to it. It does appear the consensus is that we’ve made the right decision.

“I dread to think what state Michael (Buckley, owner) and I would be in now if he was going to run in two hours. We’d be wrecked, at least we’ve saved ourselves from that!

“The great thing about these old National Hunt horses is that they are appreciated, they’re around for a long time. Everybody becomes part of the story.

“I’m very grateful to Cheltenham for letting him come, it was a nice way to thank the crowds that have supported him and all his friends. It’s lovely.”

As for future Flat plans for Constitution Hill, Henderson added: “There is a novice at Kempton (on March 25).

“We’ll try to sort out where we’ll go before the end of the week anyway, I’ve got the Flat programme book in a drawer for once we get through this week!”