We’re back with season 2! Join Matt Chapman and Paddy Brennan for powerful opinions, thoughts and conversations throughout the National Hunt season.
The dynamic duo kick off the first episode of the series with analysis of Newbury Gallops Morning. Here he saw former Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill put through his paces alongside stablemates Therapist and Act Of Innocence.
Trainer Nicky Henderson was suitably impressed and told the press: “We’re not talking complete trash when we think he’s really healthy. He’s been great and I think everyone can see that. I think we’re getting there and there’s less than two weeks left (until Fighting Fifth) so the timing is good.”
In the opening episode of the second series of Unbridled, Matt Chapman declared that he was a huge fan of Seven Barrows horse work. He said: “Look at the tank! We saw the machine.
“This time last year you (Paddy Brennan) said Constitution Hill would never get Grade 1 and look how that turned out. He looked like a million bucks. He did a good job of dodging his stablemates.”
With memories of his disastrous outing at Kempton still fresh ahead of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, owners Michael Buckley and Nicky Henderson beamed when their star looked back on his brilliant best at the same track a year later. However, their smiles did not last as Constitution Hill gave up his unbeaten status in the spring and fell to Cheltenham and Aintree before losing by 27 lengths at Punchestown.
After refitting the base and further afield over the summer, the camp appears optimistic that the eight-year-old can do away with the memories of two disappointing years after he progressed smoothly on the Berkshire turf in preparation for a trip to Newcastle later this month.
Paddy Brennan remains unimpressed and said: “We learned nothing here. There was a flat rider on a National Hunt horse.
“He won’t get a first grade at all in that performance yesterday. We haven’t learned anything. Don’t get too carried away.”
Soon after, Matt Chapman called jockey Nico de Boinville’s number to gauge his opinion. The rider who answered the call said: “I was happy with Constitution Hill. It was routine work. The horse I worked with got the fountain perfectly.”
Watch full episodes of Unbridled on the At The Races YouTube channel…
