Login
WATCH FREE
German Derby winner joins Nicky Henderson after €1.4 million sale
By Harry Allwood
Last Updated: Thu 10 Oct 2024
Nicky Henderson already has a hugely exciting squad of youngsters to look forward to over the coming months, but another youngster who has strengthened his team even further is German Derby winner Palladium who has joined the Seven Barrows yard having been purchased for €1.4million at the Arc sales in France on Saturday.
The three-year-old was purchased by Highflyer Bloodstock and has potentially become the most expensive horse to be sent over obstacles. The record is currently set by Regent's Stroll who fetched £660,000 at the Goffs Summer Sale at Doncaster in July and returned to Paul Nicholls.
Palladium, who finished last in the Preis von Europa behind Rebel's Romance on his latest start, will run in the colours of Lady Bamford and is expected to embark on a hurdles campaign at some point, although Henderson has said that his new recruit is set to race on the Flat again next season.
William Hill introduced him into their JCB Triumph Hurdle market at 25-1, and the exciting prospect was slashed into 14-1, but is now 16-1 with a couple of firms, including William Hill.
Watch above: a replay of Palladium winning the German Derby in July
Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “As the winning-most trainer in the history of the Triumph, you have to take note when Nicky Henderson picks up an expensive juvenile hurdling prospect.
“And that’s what the master of Seven Barrows seems to have done with Palladium, bought at the weekend for a whopping €1.4 million in France, reportedly making the son of Gleneagles the most expensive jumps recruit ever.
“The German Derby winner is surely going to be one of the classiest Flat horses to go hurdling this season, so we’ve entered him into the Triumph Hurdle market at 25-1. There’s clearly a long way to go until Cheltenham, but who knows, Henderson might just have another superstar on his hands.”
Constitution Hill in "terrific form"
Constitution Hill is reported to be in “terrific form” and with the winter’s main jumping action on the horizon, Nicky Henderson aims to have his string of stars “ready to rock and roll” sooner rather than later.
His unbeaten hurdler has long been National Hunt racing’s flagship name but an interrupted 2023-24 campaign saw him hit the track only once, when defending his Christmas Hurdle crown at Kempton on Boxing Day.
A respiratory problem discovered during a racecourse gallop at the same track scuppered a Champion Hurdle defence at Cheltenham and Constitution Hill then had a spell in a veterinary hospital due to a suspected colic at the end of March.
Having undergone a wind operation during the summer break, the Seven Barrows superstar is building up towards a return in Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle on November 30, with his handler pleased by what he is seeing at present.
Constitution Hill has not been seen since winning the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle in December last year
“Constitution Hill is in great form, we’re ticking along and all is in good shape,” said Henderson.
“Newcastle is the objective and so far so good, we couldn’t be happier, he’s in terrific form.”
Henderson is unlikely to have a runner at Chepstow’s traditional jumps curtain raiser this weekend, but is hoping to have plenty of representation by the time Cheltenham hosts its first two-day fixture of the new campaign later this month.
“They all look well and we’re where we want to be,” continued Henderson.
“We’re probably not going to have anything this weekend, but we’ll be ready for the weekend after and then that first Cheltenham meeting, we’ll be ready to rock and roll.”
Read these next:
Our Tipstar: Search for a Broadcaster competition is back! Click here to find out more and how you can be in with a chance of winning a LIVE shift on Racing TV plus £1,000!
Related posts
Under The Radar: Paddy Magee nominates three to follow
Ross Millar's Monday tips: "he is undeniably well handicapped"
Bond Thoroughbreds: the inside track on their top team
Trustyourinstinct flies home to land Curragh Cup
William Buick set to be reunited with Touleen at Ascot
Featured offers
Bet £10 get £40 in free bets with Kwiff
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Get a £50 free bet when you bet £50 with Coral
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with TalkSportBet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £40 in free bets + Money back 2nd to SP fav with BOYLE Sports
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with BallyBet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved