Paddy Brennan has doubled down on his headline-making comments about Constitution Hill, insisting the Christmas Hurdle winner is “beatable” and believes Nico de Boinville's post-race reaction is good for the sport.
Speaking to Matt Chapman on Unbridled earlier this season, Brennan promised to take his co-host out to a “fancy dinner” in London if Nicky Henderson star makes a successful return in Kempton on Boxing Day.
After guiding Constitution Hill to victory over Lossiemouth at Christmas, racer de Boinville joked to Brennan to “stick him where the sun doesn't shine”.
The pair were later pictured together as Brennan congratulated de Boinville on the fantastic trip, but the former weight room favorite insists Lossiemouth can still have her day in the sun.
“I was in trouble early on at Kempton, and it wasn't good viewing for me,” Brennan said. “Losiemouth jumped in first and I thought: ‘She’s in big trouble.’ Maybe she couldn’t go that fast or maybe she didn’t show up.
“I don't mind being wrong, I will be wrong again. I will always have an opinion and sometimes they can be very loud and sometimes they are wrong,” he added.
“What we did in this case was to bring out a character. Who's ever seen this side of Nico de Boinville before? Nobody. It's boring sometimes.”
Nico de Boinville celebrates with the Kempton crowd after Constitution Hill's success this Christmas
When Chapman asked if he felt Constitution Hill was back to his best, Brennan said: “I think it's the first time you can watch him in a race and think he can beat him.
“I think Nico was unbelievable, he had a plan. Nico was always prepared if I emptied the tank but he never gave Constitution Hill a chance to empty his tank.
“He was always aware of his position, and he jumped incredibly well. There was one hurdle where he was a bit brave. You wouldn't want to keep going with that or he would fall to the ground.”
“About 10 steps before the last, where you would normally put the bit in his mouth and show it off, he quickly leaned over and squeezed it hard all the way to the line. That's where I thought he was beatable.
Brennan remains confident Lossiemouth can turn the tables on Constitution Hill in Cheltenham
“I couldn't believe how close she came (Loosemouth), considering everything. What gives you hope if you're Willie Mullins or Rich Ritchie is that she's only beaten by a few lengths and in the Champion Hurdle on slower ground, I probably would have done it.” “I don't rule her out, I'll stay by her side.”
“I totally disagree with that,” Chapman replied. “Constitution Hill is unbeatable.”
“He has been brilliant over hurdles before, in the last outing in the Champion Hurdle, but his jumps have been exceptional.”
Henderson also joined the phone panel for episode six and, perhaps surprisingly, sided with Brennan.
“I agree with Paddy, nothing is unbeatable but the Constitution is the one they have to overcome,” he said.
