‘Like a machine’ – Constitution Hill shines on Flat debut

Constitution Hill – one of National Hunt racing’s biggest names – returned to winning ways with a commanding switch to the Flat at the Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes.

Having triumphed in his first 10 races, the once-seemingly unbeatable horse had fallen three times in four outings.

In an attempt to get back on track, trainer Nicky Henderson entered him in the mile-and-a-half Flat race at Southwell, before a possible tilt at March’s Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, which he won in 2023.

Starting 6-4 favourite and with five-time champion jockey Oisin Murphy in the saddle, the move paid off as the nine-year-old took to the front well before the line and held firm to win by nine-and-a-half lengths from Square Necker and Gambino.

“He felt like a machine,” Murphy told ITV afterwards.

“It went to plan. It would’ve been very easy for me to blast off in front, but I wanted to get in among them and give him an idea of what a Flat race is like.

“For a big horse that’s been jumping, he has a lot of speed and he’s a joy to ride.”

Henderson, meanwhile, said the emphatic display under the Nottinghamshire course’s floodlights would “open up a lot of doors”.

“We’ve got lots to look forward to and lots of decisions to make. There are all sorts of options, including the Champion Hurdle.”

He was swiftly made favourite with some bookmakers for this year’s race, with The New Lion and Brighterdaysahead also well backed.