Constitution Hill was named the highest-rated hurdler in the Anglo-Irish Jumps Classification on Thursday having been assessed with a mark of 170, 5lb higher than Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle.
The five-year-old landed the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle by 22 lengths at the Cheltenham Festival on just his third start but was ruled out of a clash with Honeysuckle in last month’s Paddy Power Champion Hurdle. They could finally meet in the Unibet Champion Hurdle next March.
His rating was the highest awarded to a novice hurdler since the classifications were introduced after the 1999-2000 season, and he eclipsed the 168 awarded to Iris’s Gift, who was second in the 2003 Stayers’ Hurdle behind Baracouda. It was also the highest given to a two-mile hurdler since 2019 Champion Hurdle winner Espoir D’Allen.
Andrew Mealor, BHA hurdles team leader, said: “The standout performance over hurdles in the last season was undoubtedly Constitution Hill’s top-class effort in the Supreme at Cheltenham.
“Constitution Hill looks to have the world at his feet as he heads into open company next season, although star mare Honeysuckle should not be forgotten of course, having yet again done all that was asked of her in another unbeaten campaign, including a second success in the Champion Hurdle.
