In a moment that sent shockwaves through the heart of British National Hunt racing, Constitution Hill, the once-unbeatable superstar, tumbled to the turf once more in the Grade 1 William Hill Aintree Hurdle on the opening day of the 2025 Randox Grand National Festival. The eight-year-old gelding, trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by the seasoned Nico de Boinville, entered the race as the red-hot 1/1 favourite, carrying the hopes of a nation eager for redemption after his shocking departure at Cheltenham just three weeks prior. What unfolded at Aintree Racecourse on April 3, however, was a cruel repeat of tragedy, leaving Constitution Hill in ruins and handing victory to the formidable Willie Mullins-trained Lossiemouth in a race that will be dissected for seasons to come.

The Merseyside sun beat down on a crowd of over 30,000 as the field of seven elite hurdlers paraded before the starter. Constitution Hill, owned by Michael Buckley, looked every inch the champion he had been, his coat gleaming under the spring light. Since bursting onto the scene with a breathtaking Champion Hurdle win at Prestbury Park in 2023, he had amassed a record that read like a fairytale: eight consecutive victories, including dominant displays in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and the Betfair International Hurdle at Cheltenham in January. Punters piled in, making him an unbackable 1/1 shot, while his chief market rival, the French-bred mare Lossiemouth at 5/4, loomed as the only credible threat. Trained by the Irish mastermind Mullins and piloted by Paul Townend, she had already claimed the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, edging out a valiant Brighterdaysahead by a neck.

From the off, the race crackled with tension. De Boinville settled Constitution Hill in a midfield position, tracking the leaders with the trademark fluency that had defined his career. The pace was measured, set by the outsider Break My Soul, allowing the principals to conserve energy over the two-mile circuit. As the runners swung into the back straight, Constitution Hill began to travel like a dream, his long, raking stride eating up the ground effortlessly. By the time they approached three out, he was third, full of running and poised to unleash his devastating turn of foot. De Boinville, sensing the moment, angled rightward to launch his bid, but in a split-second lapse that echoed the Cheltenham horror, the horse met the hurdle all wrong. His forelegs clipped the birch, pitching him forward in a sickening somersault. De Boinville was unceremoniously dislodged, rolling clear as Constitution Hill hit the deck hard, his momentum carrying him several strides beyond the obstacle.

The crowd gasped in unison, a collective intake of breath that hung heavy in the air. For the second time in as many outings, the horse who had seemed invincible was reduced to a heap, his dreams of a Champion Hurdle redemption shattered. Marshals rushed to his side, and initial reports confirmed that, miraculously, Constitution Hill rose to his feet unaided, appearing sound if shaken. De Boinville, bruised but composed, later recounted the sequence with a mix of disbelief and resolve: “He was traveling brilliantly, full of gas turning for home. I just needed a bit of room, and when I switched, he got in a bit close and paid the price. He had Lossiemouth right where we wanted her – I truly believe he was going to win it.”

With the favourite’s exit, the race transformed into a procession for Lossiemouth. The five-year-old, who had trailed Constitution Hill by two and a half lengths in their Kempton clash over Christmas, now faced uncharted waters. Townend, ever the opportunist, quickened the tempo aboard the grey mare, who responded with her characteristic grit. She powered up the run-in, kicking clear of the Gordon Elliott-trained Wodhooh, who rallied gamely from the front to claim second, two and three-quarter lengths adrift. The 17/2 shot Wodhooh, fresh from a strong showing in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, had led much of the way but couldn’t withstand Lossiemouth’s surge. Third place fell to the 28/1 outsider Take No Chances, with the rest of the field—Salver, Tellherthename, and Break My Soul—trailing in their wake.

For Mullins, the victory marked a stunning Grade One four-timer on the day, capping a dominant opening to the Grand National meeting. His yard, already buzzing from successes in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase with Impaire Et Passe and the Juvenile Hurdle aboard Murcia, now boasted a treble for Townend. “It’s bittersweet,” Mullins admitted post-race, his trademark humility shining through. “I felt for Michael, Nicky, and Nico – that’s two gut-wrenching falls in a row for a horse of Constitution Hill’s class. It’s a loss for racing, not just them. But Lossiemouth? She’s a warrior. This mare keeps delivering, and today’s her best yet.” Townend echoed the sentiment, praising his mount’s composure: “She jumped and traveled like a dream. When Constitution Hill went, she pricked her ears and took it up. She’s got that X-factor.”

Henderson, watching from the unsaddling enclosure, cut a forlorn figure, his face etched with the weight of recent misfortunes. Constitution Hill’s career has been a rollercoaster since his 2023 coronation: a bout of infection sidelined him last spring, lameness struck in the autumn, and a suspected colic episode required emergency veterinary intervention. Yet, each time, he roared back stronger—until now. “He’s a freak, no question,” Henderson said, voice steady despite the blow. “Nico had him in the perfect spot; he just came up a fraction too soon at that hurdle. We’ll get him vetted thoroughly, but he’s tough. Punchestown’s on the table if he’s right – we owe it to him to chase that redemption.” Whispers in the paddock suggest a potential shift to fences next season, but for now, the focus is recovery.

The fallout extended beyond the Buckley silks. De Boinville, who had partnered Constitution Hill to all but one of his wins, faced pointed questions about his positioning. Critics noted he had allowed Lossiemouth to slot inside on the turn, potentially boxing himself in, though supporters decried such analysis as hindsight born of heartbreak. Betting markets, meanwhile, reeled: Constitution Hill’s fall triggered a cascade of payouts on Lossiemouth, with bookmakers reporting seven-figure liabilities. In the broader context, the incident underscores the razor-thin margins of jump racing—where brilliance and blunder coexist in a heartbeat.

As the Grand National Festival unfolds this weekend, with the iconic steeplechase looming on Saturday, Aintree’s headlines belong to a tale of hubris humbled. Constitution Hill’s double downfall—a Cheltenham crash at the fifth followed by this Aintree unraveling—has dimmed his aura, yet it hasn’t extinguished the flame. At 700 words exactly, this story isn’t over; it’s merely paused, awaiting the next chapter in a saga that continues to captivate. For now, though, the crown rests uneasily on Lossiemouth’s brow, a reminder that in racing, as in life, the fall can precede the greatest rise.