LIZZIE KELLY: Constitution Hill’s laid-back temperament was inherited from my old mount Dingle

Potential wonder horse Constitution Hill is unusual because he possesses an extremely laid-back temperament — and I may know a reason why. I rode his mum, Queen Of The Stage, when she was trained by my stepfather, Nick Williams, and she was as quiet as a lamb.

We used to know her by her stable name of Dingle! She was so calm and reliable that you would not have been concerned about anyone in the stable riding her, even the more inexperienced riders.

I used to love riding her, she was a real trier. I was claiming 7lb as a conditional jockey when I won a Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Exeter riding Queen Of The Stage on December 18, 2014. It was a performance that was typical of her.

She travelled well, jumped soundly and dug deep.

In five subsequent races, we finished second once but arguably our best day together was finishing third to a Willie Mullins-trained hotpot in a Listed Mares’ Hurdle at Sandown in February 2015. Queen Of The Stage outran her 20-1 odds that day.

When former jockey Barry Geraghty was looking after Constitution Hill after he had bought him as a foal, all his three young daughters would ride him because he was so calm.

Obviously, Constitution Hill, Queen Of The Stage’s first foal, is in a different league ability wise to her but maybe his temperament was inherited from my old mount Dingle. 

I will be giving him an extra cheer on Tuesday afternoon for her.