Constitution Hill: Will Newcastle Races be champion horse’s redemption or downfall?
Written by Niamh Oherlihy on 27th November 2025
The long awaited return of the eight time grade one winner ‘Constitution Hill’ is getting closer by the day, as we wait in anticipation to see if he will triumph over the up and coming ‘The New Lion’ and ‘Anzadam’ in Newcastle this Saturday.
Newcastle’s BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle is set to return this Saturday, November 29 seeing Nicky Hendersons ‘Constitution Hill’ back in action after having back-to-back falls in Cheltenham and Aintree last spring and a disappointing run in Punchestown in May.
The 2022 Fighting Fifth Hurdle champion is looking to make a comeback and reclaim his crown at Newcastle.
There is plenty of optimism surrounding the horse as he is currently the joint favourite with most bookmakers and trainer Nicky Henderson has said: “He’s going to be no fitter or forwards or backwards than when he won it three years ago”.
However, this task won’t be easy as joint favourite ‘The New Lion’ is looking to roar and defend his unbeaten record over hurdles.
Trainer Dan Skelton hopes to point this rising star in the direction of the 2026 Champions Hurdle at Cheltenham where he would go head-to-head with ‘Constitution Hill‘, so all bets rely on this race.
The horse landed himself an impressive victory in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle in the Cheltenham festival last year, so he is not one to go unnoticed.
Due to injury ‘Constitution Hill’ will not be up against his main rival ‘Stateman’, but instead a lightly raced Anzadam will be representing the Irish and British champion trainer Willie Mullins in the North east this year.
Mullins trained this horse to victory after he won a grade three race in Fairyhouse last year, followed by a similar race in Naas. Like ‘The New Lion’, ‘Anzadam’ has an unbeaten record to defend.
The race starts at 2pm.
Tickets are still available here.
Will ‘Constitution Hill’ reclaim his title as ‘horse of the generation’ and break two unbeaten records or will he fall under the pressure again?
