Champion Hurdler Constitution Hill Routs Rivals On Flat Debut

[Wandering Eyes]

Former Champion Hurdle hero Constitution Hill (Blue Bresil) attracted a bumper crowd for his Flat debut at Friday evening's Southwell fixture and sent supporters home contented after witnessing the nine-year-old romp to an impressive 9 1/2-length tally in the 12-furlong SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes.

Bounding along within range of the pace through halfway, the 6-4 favourite was accompanied by raucous cheers when surging forward on the bridle in the home straight and lengthened clear in imperious fashion to easily overpower Square Necker (Zarak) by daylight.

“He felt like a machine at home,” said Oisin Murphy. “There wasn't a lot of strength in depth in that race and if he was to continue on the Flat he'd have tougher assignments, but the feel was exactly the same. For a big horse that has been jumping, he has a lot of speed and he's a joy to ride. Everything went to plan and it's great he's got such a reception. I wanted to get in amongst them and give him an idea of what a Flat race was like because obviously his next assignment, if he runs on the Flat, it would probably be in a black-type race.”

Holding fire on committing to a campaign on the level, winning trainer Nicky Henderson added, “That was amazing and to come and do that was unreal. He has enjoyed it, I think Oisin did and we did in the end. I thought we'd nearly be making the running, but Oisin seemed happy to sit there. It was just extraordinary, he came through a gap and quickened up so well. Oisin did say he has a career [on the Flat], but we should have sorted this out about four years ago. We'd be travelling around the world! There's been a few tears over the last year or so, so it's nice to be back with positive vibes. We've got lots to look forward to, but he's not a summer Flat horse and there's all sorts of options, including the Champion Hurdle.”

Constitution Hill won his first 10 outings over jumps, with the 2023 Champion Hurdle one of eight victories at Grade 1 level, but hit the buffers with a trio of falls and one fifth-place finish last year. He is the first of seven foals and one of two winners from as many runners out of the dual scorer Queen Of The Stage (King's Theatre). His fourth dam Deep Adventure (Deep Run) is an unraced half-sister to 1973 Arkle winner Denys Adventure (Saint Denys). The March-foaled bay is a full-brother to three-year-old and two-year-old fillies and kin to a yearling filly by Golden Horn.

 

ALL CLASS!

CONSTITUTION HILL strikes in the SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes IN STYLE!@oismurphy @sevenbarrows @Southwell_Races pic.twitter.com/bKKndP9qzJ

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 20, 2026

 

7th-Southwell, £40,000, Nov, 2-20, 4yo/up, 12f 14y (AWT), 2:34.47, st.
CONSTITUTION HILL (GB) (g, 9, Blue Bresil {Fr}–Queen Of The Stage {Ire}, by King's Theatre {Ire}) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $29,083. O-Michael Buckley; B-Mrs S A Noott; T-Nicky Henderson. *€16,500 Wlg '17 TIRNNH; £120,000 4yo '21 GOFP2P.

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