JUST as she did at Cheltenham in March, Golden Ace kept her head while all those around her were losing theirs.
In an incredible Fighting Fifth, Jeremy Scott’s wonderful mare capitalised on crashing falls from two big rivals – and there are now serious questions about Constitution Hill’s future.
The former champion’s head looks completely and utterly scrambled, and his clear lack of confidence was on show once again as he hit the deck for the third time in his last four runs.
This time he only made it as far as the second hurdle, but further drama was to come as The New Lion, far from perfect himself on the way round, fell two out when holding a narrow lead.
It was almost a carbon copy of an epic Champion Hurdle earlier this year, when State Man exited at the last and left the door open for Golden Ace to win the big one.
This time she still had the strong travelling Anzadam to deal with, but she was electric over the last and saw him off decisively to strike at 22-1.
It is another serious feather in Scott’s cap, considering Golden Ace was found to have phlegm in her airways after a below-par run at Wetherby four weeks’ ago.
He said: “I’m glad everyone is up OK, who could believe Constitution Hill coming down again?
“She’s run a brilliant race, I’m so pleased we’ve got her back from Wetherby. 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.”
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Scott continued: “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.”
As for Constitution Hill, Hendo was crestfallen after watching him crash out yet again, and he suggested there would be conversations with owner Michael Buckley over whether or not to continue over hurdles going forwards.
He said: “Thankfully both him and Nico are fine which is all that matters. What can you say? I can’t believe it.”
When asked what he would do with the horse next, he said: “Two mile maiden on the Flat? I would seriously think about it.
“Let’s give it some time. It shakes you to bits, it’s really sad. Can you keep going on asking him to do it?
“Poor Michael, I could cry for him. I don’t know why this has crept in, it’s hard to go on watching it and I can’t teach him anymore.
“Everybody has their own ideas about what to do and we have listened to every theory in the book and his jumping at home as been great, but you have to jump eight flights of hurdles and at the moment it’s something he doesn’t seem able to do.”
The bookies pushed him out to 10-1 (from 5s) for the Champion Hurdle, while The New Lion, who nearly ran out down the back straight, was left unchanged at 7-2.
Lossiemouth was tightened up into 6-4 (from 3-1) at the top of the market and Golden Ace was cut into 14-1.
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