Constitution Hill Poised for Second Flat Appearance at Kempton

[Wandering Eyes]

Constitution Hill is one of 10 entries for Wednesday's Virgin Bet Novice Stakes at Kempton Park, with Ryan Moore set to take over in the saddle from the suspended Oisin Murphy when the son of Blue Bresil attempts to build on a hugely impressive start to his Flat career at Southwell last month.

Trained by Nicky Henderson for owner Michael Buckley, Constitution Hill proved himself an outstanding hurdler when breaking the track record to win the G1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle by 22 lengths at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. He went on to win the following year's G1 Champion Hurdle but fell in the race last year. That tumble was followed by two more in 2025, in both the G1 Aintree Hurdle and the G1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle.

As a result of those jumping difficulties and the striking nature of his Southwell victory, by nine and a half lengths from the 85-rated Square Necker (Zarak), Constitution Hill's connections subsequently took the decision to bring the curtain down on his National Hunt career and focus on the Flat.

All being well, the next step on that road will come at Kempton's evening fixture next week, with Moore set to benefit from the misfortune of champion jockey Murphy when he takes the mount on the nine-year-old.

Henderson said, “Of course, it would have helped if he [Murphy] could have ridden him, because he knows him, but it's one of those unfortunate things.

“We're not running him for experience or anything like that. He doesn't need experience. The crux of it is that we probably need to get him a handicap mark and so this is the second leg.

“We've talked about the [G3] John Porter [Stakes, at Newbury on Saturday, April 18]. That is three and half weeks after Kempton. We could possibly do that and then he's had his three runs and he's got a mark which opens up all avenues.”

He added, “We've no idea what he is. Nobody knows what rating he'll get. You can't judge it after one run and nor can I. Let's see what he can do again.

“Nico [de Boinville] came and sat on him this morning, only because he's ridden him in all of his gallops and knows him very well. I asked him to sit on him and he said he felt in good form.”

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