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 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.
“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 said 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.”
