Right time for forgotten horse

Kim Bailey on the new-style hurdles and repercussions from the budget

- Jennifer Donald

NOT often do I sit at home on a Saturday. As a trainer, it’s not something you want to be doing too often. We’ve had a good week, with plenty of winners, but even so...

So, with a glass of wine and a bowl of soup, I parked myself in front of the TV with great excitement to watch the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury and the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle for the return of the great Constitution Hill taking on the young pretender, The New Lion (report, p72).

Only two flights in and Constitution Hill fell, having stepped at a hurdle again. Two hurdles later, The New Lion thought about running out, and then drama number two unfolded when he came down two from home, stepping in the same way as Constitution Hill and taking a heavy fall when looking all over the winner.

It was left to the forgotten horse in the lineup, reigning Champion Hurdler Golden Ace, to grind it out. I’m absolutely thrilled for her trainer Jeremy Scott; you won’t meet a more special person who has been under a huge amount of pressure this season. There is much sadness, though, for Nicky Henderson and Dan Skelton – two very good horses on the deck, but thankfully both are OK.