Constitutions Ill Again -The Fragile Genius of Modern Racing

British racing’s golden boy, Constitution Hill, is once again in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Trainer Nicky Henderson has announced the unbeaten Champion Hurdle hero is lame and unlikely to make the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle. For fans starved of brilliance, it’s another letdown in what’s fast becoming a troubled career.

While Henderson has been quick to reassure the racing world that this is not a retirement announcement, the news throws an uncomfortable spotlight on Constitution Hill’s status as the modern-day superstar of jumps racing. The question is, can a horse that races once or twice a season truly be considered great? And what does this say about the evolution—or softening—of the sport itself?

Greatness Through Absence? Hardly.

Let’s call this what it is: a new reality where brilliance is rationed like a wartime commodity. Constitution Hill is undeniably exceptional, his effortless victories in the Supreme Novices' and Champion Hurdle evidence of a once-in-a-generation talent. But since that stunning Cheltenham triumph in March 2023, he’s raced just once—an exhibition win in the Christmas Hurdle.

Now, with lameness, respiratory issues, colic scares, and "unsuitable ground" all conspiring against him, his career risks being defined as much by the races he missed as the ones he won.

Compare this to the legends of yesteryear—greats like Arkle and Desert Orchid. These were warriors who graced the track eight, ten, even twelve times a season. They carried weight, battled rivals across all distances, and built their legacies through relentless competition. Constitution Hill, by contrast, is shaping up to be a show pony—spectacular but elusive.

Racing Has Gone Soft—And It’s Not Just the Humans

It’s hard not to see Constitution Hill as emblematic of a wider trend. Racing, like society, has gone soft.

• Horses: Modern stars race sparingly, wrapped in proverbial bubble wrap. Trainers fret over the slightest niggle, connections eye their breeding value, and the sport increasingly feels like it’s treating its thoroughbreds as Fabergé eggs rather than athletes.

• Humans: The tough-as-nails jump jockeys of yore have given way to a more sanitised generation of professionals—talented, yes, but often over-managed by a system obsessed with risk mitigation.

It’s not entirely unjustified. Modern racing places a greater emphasis on welfare, both equine and human, which is to be applauded. But has the pendulum swung too far? What’s the point of a "great" horse if it spends most of its career boxed away, emerging only for the odd procession at Cheltenham or Kempton?

Henderson’s Quandary: A Star That Rarely Races

Henderson’s exasperation is palpable. “We’re investigating,” he said, with the air of a man desperate for answers. “This is not a retirement call—he’s bright and breezy—but we have an issue.”

The problem for Henderson is that the perception of Constitution Hill is shifting. Fans aren’t seeing a warrior. They’re seeing a fragile genius who seems as much a victim of circumstance as a conqueror of hurdles.

Even worse, when Constitution Hill does race, he wins so easily that questions arise about the quality of his opposition. His gallop at Newbury this week, where stablemate Sir Gino (yes, Sir Gino) outshone him, only adds to the unease.

What Made the Old Greats Great

Racing’s heroes of old weren’t just brilliant—they were busy. Take Arkle, who ran 12 times in his glorious 1965-66 season, carrying monstrous weights week in, week out. Or Desert Orchid, whose versatility saw him compete across distances, going to war with different rivals in a single campaign.

These horses weren’t defined solely by Cheltenham. They built their greatness in the trenches—at Kempton, Ascot, Sandown, and Haydock. Constitution Hill, in contrast, feels like a horse whose career is being rationed for posterity rather than realised in the present.

The Fighting Fifth: A Hollow Contest

With Constitution Hill out, the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle has lost its star attraction. Henderson’s Sir Gino—previously an afterthought—has been installed as the even-money favourite, despite being pencilled in for a Kempton chase just days earlier. Mystical Power, at 6-4, looks a plausible challenger, but the race has gone from being a showdown to a sideshow.

For a contest that should have been a seasonal highlight, this is a massive blow. And for Constitution Hill’s connections, it’s another opportunity missed.

The Future of Constitution Hill—and Racing Itself

Can Constitution Hill still be considered great? Of course. Talent this rare deserves admiration, even if his career is a case of what could have been. But he can’t reach the pantheon of legends if his appearances remain fleeting.

For racing as a whole, Constitution Hill’s saga raises bigger questions. Are we coddling our stars to the point of irrelevance? Is the pursuit of welfare and breeding value undermining the very essence of competition?

Racing thrives on stories of struggle, resilience, and triumph—not on horses that disappear for a season because the ground was "too soft." It’s time to rethink how we balance welfare with spectacle. Because while Constitution Hill is a phenomenon, the sport needs its heroes to be more than just brilliant—they need to be visible.

Until then, the shadow of greatness will always loom larger than the horse himself.