Nicky Henderson tears up on ITV after Constitution Hill fall at Grand National festival

Trainer choked back tears after Constitution Hill fell once more at the . The horse, ridden by Nico de Boinville, participated in Thursday's Aintree Hurdle at the Grand National but fell at the second-to-last hurdle.

Lossiemouth ultimately went on to claim victory in the race. However, Constitution Hill's recent history has been marred by falls, including one in 's Champion Hurdle.

In an emotional on-camera conversation with (via the ), Henderson discussed the incident. And the legendary trainer was already tearful as he chatted with Matt Chapman.

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"It is [heartbreaking]. To do it twice, you couldn't believe it," he said. "He [Constitution Hill] is genuinely the best jumper you'll ever see. There is just this one per cent chance of doing what he's done, but he's done it twice.

"It does worry you, of course it does. But how can you iron it out? He'd been fantastic the whole way. There were a couple of hurdles, I haven't seen it properly at all, where he went in short.

"A year ago he'd have [gestured to going fast]. He was good and he was shortening up. That's what we were trying to get him to do. When you're three out and like that, you can't afford to do that, you've got to go."

Chapman then asked if Henderson and his team would consider running the horse at the Punchestown Festival in late April, provided he recovers fully in time. He responded: "We were starting to discuss it. I would've personally said yes. Those hurdles will suit him better."

During ITV Racing's coverage, ex-jockey gave his take on the incident. And he gave his analysis of exactly why the fall occurred: "It was such a tactical race. And it all changed at the bottom of the back straight.

"Harry Skelton in the orange, he moves out and as soon as he moves out, it leaves a gap and it tempts Nico. . .it's forcing Nico to gap, Nico doesn't really want to go.

"Danny Gilligan moves up, he pushes Harry Skelton forward to close that. Immediately after, Paul Townsend in pink surges forward, trapping Nico in the pocket as they turn. Nico was in command, but suddenly he's not.

"They head to the second last, Nico has loads of room, but he sits to let Constitution Hill take another stride. He [the horse] doesn't, he comes and flies on it. Nico pulls him back and the horse just steps. The horse didn't do as Nico instructed him."

De Boinville got up from the incident fairly immediately and appeared to be okay as he took a team van back to the paddock. Constitution hill also looked to be moving fairly freely, though any damage may run deeper.

It was an out-of-character slip for a horse who - as Henderson noted - has been hailed as one of the great jumpers of his era. The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner has eight Grade 1 victories to his name, including three Hurdle triumphs at Kempton Park.